How to Deal with Trolls

[David Emme]

From an openoffice.org mailing list:
=====

Greetings,

At the users list, we don't check people's backgrounds before
subscription. There is always a chance that a troll might appear on the
list.

How do you deal with trolls?

You ignore them.

Yes, I'm serious. Let me explain.

A troll is not interested in resolution. A troll enjoys the argument
itself. The troll's goal is to infuriate you, and keep the argument
going as long as possible. Outside the internet community, these people
are known as "antagonists". This is a real mental condition, not a
personality trait. There are people who honestly enjoy seeing a fight
and provoking people.

Whenever you respond to a troll, you are playing into his hands. You are
doing exactly what he wants. To respond to a troll post is to give the
troll the satisfaction of knowing that he's got you. And the troll will
also know that he can get you again.

To respond to a trolling post is to encourage the troll.

Trolls are prone to two logical falacies in their arguments:

1) Straw man:

Creating a caricature of your argument (this is the straw man)
and attacking that, instead of your actual argument.

Example:

A: Please clean your side of the room.
B: Oh, so now I have to do everything you say?

2) Ad hominem:

Attacking the person, instead of the argument.

Example:

A: I support gun control.
B: Well obviously you are a moron.
These two logical fallacies, as incorrect as they are, are difficult to
counter. An argumenter who uses them can maintain an argument almost
indefinitely. Furthermore, he can easily increase the heat of the
argument and frustrate you.

The troll is not interested in a resolution to the argument. In fact, he
will avoid it at all cost. His satisfaction derives from seeing you lose
your cool. The only way to handle a troll is to not give him this
satisfaction. This may not stop the post, but it will at least put a cap
on them. Furthermore, it will make it easier to expose the troll, so one
can then consider banishment from the list.

Please consider these points carefully before replying to the next
trolling post you see here, or anywhere else for that matter.

Thank you for your time.

--
"Sometimes what seems to be enough smoke to guarantee a robust
fire is actually just a cloud of dust from a passing bandwagon."
- Daniel Dennett

[Darryl Kerkeslager]

My understanding was that you should keep them posting until the sun came up
....

Darryl Kerkeslager
"David Emme" <de***@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:cj****************@theriver.com@21*********** @[e-mail]...

From an openoffice.org mailing list:
=====

Greetings,

At the users list, we don't check people's backgrounds before
subscription. There is always a chance that a troll might appear on the
list.

How do you deal with trolls?

You ignore them.

Yes, I'm serious. Let me explain.

A troll is not interested in resolution. A troll enjoys the argument
itself. The troll's goal is to infuriate you, and keep the argument
going as long as possible. Outside the internet community, these people
are known as "antagonists". This is a real mental condition, not a
personality trait. There are people who honestly enjoy seeing a fight
and provoking people.

Whenever you respond to a troll, you are playing into his hands. You are
doing exactly what he wants. To respond to a troll post is to give the
troll the satisfaction of knowing that he's got you. And the troll will
also know that he can get you again.

To respond to a trolling post is to encourage the troll.

Trolls are prone to two logical falacies in their arguments:

1) Straw man:

Creating a caricature of your argument (this is the straw man)
and attacking that, instead of your actual argument.

Example:

A: Please clean your side of the room.
B: Oh, so now I have to do everything you say?

2) Ad hominem:

Attacking the person, instead of the argument.

Example:

A: I support gun control.
B: Well obviously you are a moron.
These two logical fallacies, as incorrect as they are, are difficult to
counter. An argumenter who uses them can maintain an argument almost
indefinitely. Furthermore, he can easily increase the heat of the
argument and frustrate you.

The troll is not interested in a resolution to the argument. In fact, he
will avoid it at all cost. His satisfaction derives from seeing you lose
your cool. The only way to handle a troll is to not give him this
satisfaction. This may not stop the post, but it will at least put a cap
on them. Furthermore, it will make it easier to expose the troll, so one
can then consider banishment from the list.

Please consider these points carefully before replying to the next
trolling post you see here, or anywhere else for that matter.

Thank you for your time.

--
"Sometimes what seems to be enough smoke to guarantee a robust
fire is actually just a cloud of dust from a passing bandwagon."
- Daniel Dennett