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Trolls - And How To Recognize Them

184.151.36.73
Posted on January 23, 2015 at 17:22:26
SJK
 The Audio Asylum is a unique and special place for many of us. But, with a combination of paid subscribers and people who can't or don't want to do so, we have an interesting mix of contributors.

With the anonymity of the Internet, this has resulted in a number of people who will start a topic that is seemingly topical, but is really nothing more than an opportunity for them to flatter their fragile ego's.

How could we have known that there could have been so many of those poor creatures amongst us?

But that's not what this is about - it's not for us to provide psychoanalysis for people who may not welcome our commentary on their mental stability.

This is how trolls can be recognized.

1. Someone who doesn't normally respond to posts, but has a habit of starting new posts on a frequent and regular basis.

2. Posts that are started take one of two forms. They are either copycat, a repeat of what others have already done - (the sign of an incompetent troll) or they are on a completely different subject or topic that has not been mentioned recently or ever (the sign of an accomplished and dedicated troll).

3. Whether competent or otherwise, we now have another subset - the lazy and the ambitious troll. A lazy troll will post some foolishness, such as "If you won the lottery what stereo would you buy" and then never ever answer any of the respondents. An ambitious troll, of which there are few (because that would require some effort) will only respond in a contradictory or argumentative fashion.

4. How do you recognize this behaviour? It's not that easy, which makes the competent trolls difficult to recognize.

This is what I've learned. When you see a topic that isn't topical, or derivative, or deliberately provocative, before responding do this.

- Have a look at who was the original poster.

- Consider whether the OP is one you know or recognize.

- Review the general tone of the conversations taking place and ask yourself if this is something that you need to respond to. Remember - the intent and purpose of a troll is to provoke a reaction in others, that's how their fragile ego's are satisfied.

- Here's the most important point, and one that I continually fail to follow. Have a look to see if the OP has replied to any post in the thread that they started. If not, that begs the question. If you weren't interested, why did you bother starting a topic in the first place?

I now have a mental list of participants on the AA who I will never respond to nor even read their posts. It's just static, white noise and isn't worth any effort.

Does this all sound too complicated? Yes and no. As a species who relies on verbal, and recently with written communication we have a unique ability to recognize and process a lot of information in a short time.

Learning how to recognize and avoiding responding to trolls is a skill that can only make our community better for all of us.

Have a great weekend!

Note: Feel free to add to this list, but let's not make this personal.


 

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trolls, gnomes, etc.., posted on January 23, 2015 at 17:56:55
bullethead
 sometimes it is fun though to read the responses to trolls, it makes for great entertainment. You are right though, if they don't respond that makes it dull out and the flame goes out quick after a week or so.

I know a few, actually I think I accused one or two as being an AI bot, an artificial intelligence program. You never know :)

 

Torches and pitchforks remedy., posted on January 23, 2015 at 19:23:52
soulfood
Audiophile

Posts: 3725
Joined: August 9, 2001
 "How could we have known that there could have been so many of those poor creatures amongst us?"

LOL

 

RE: trolls, gnomes, etc.., posted on January 23, 2015 at 19:30:52
SJK
 All in all, though it's a sad reflection on the Internet as a form of casual communication. I suppose the bigger question is whether these types of people even existed before or is it a new phenomenon.

There were always vicious gossips and people who listen in on a party line, but is it the anonymity that turns people into jerks?

Google's short lived attempt to have people use their real names may have had some merit.

 

RE: Torches and pitchforks remedy., posted on January 23, 2015 at 19:32:50
SJK
 Maybe we could throw them into the village pond. If they sink, they're innocent.

 

Speaking of trolls, posted on January 24, 2015 at 00:27:47
Goober58
 I think you've summed up the attention seeker quite well.

This next one is different and you touched on it in your comment. When someone asks for our opinion or experiences on some topic but fails to give us their opinion or share their experiences in the original post. Sometimes these are actually decent topics but I always wonder why someone wants us to provide our information without providing us with their insights. You know like what are your top 10 records, best preamp you've ever heard, etc. If it's an interesting topic I want to read what they think too. These don't usually bother me too much but really it's as more fun/enlightening for me to read the experiences of others than to just give mine.

IMO the worst kind of troll is the guy looking for an ego boost or some kind of validation. Revealed by overt defensiveness including name calling when confronted by someone with a differing opinion. As if a response is an attack, rude or confrontational if it doesn't stroke their ego or reinforce the belief/action they are attempting to justify. I actually hate that kind of stuff - IMO this kind of stink actually diminishes the value of these forums.


 

RE: Trolls - And How To Recognize Them, posted on January 24, 2015 at 07:13:09
rick_m
Audiophile

Posts: 6230
Location: Oregon
Joined: August 11, 2005
 Oh...

You mean like someone who isn't a contributer, has been a member less than three months, has less that 100 posts (virtually all off-topic) and just posted yet another completely off-topic diatribe on General?

A feckless Troll fer sure.

But the irony factor is good!

Rick

 

Beat me to it. -nt, posted on January 24, 2015 at 07:19:16
jsm71
Audiophile

Posts: 1123
Location: Cincinnati OH
Joined: June 16, 2011
 -

 

RE: Trolls - And How To Recognize Them, posted on January 24, 2015 at 07:25:24
Brian Levy
Audiophile

Posts: 2438
Location: Toronto
Joined: June 5, 2000
 Ao can not be a troll as my wife calls me an ogre. Others say I am a son of a bitch and a bastard though the latter is not factually true.
Don Brian Levy, J.D.
Toronto ON Canada

 

Thanks Dad. nt, posted on January 24, 2015 at 07:29:38
dancingseamonkey
Audiophile

Posts: 3455
Location: New Orleans, birth place of jazz.
Joined: May 1, 2006
Contributor
  Since: November 24, 2009
 nt


"Trying is the first step towards failure."
Homer Simpson

 

Nah, posted on January 24, 2015 at 08:30:02
mt10425
Audiophile

Posts: 2399
Location: 3 hours west of Chicago
Joined: January 23, 2004
 gotta be another label for them. :)



"It's all fun and games until someone doesn't pick up on the sarcasm"

 

Easily recognized ..., posted on January 24, 2015 at 09:17:04
reelsmith.
Audiophile

Posts: 13131
Location: CT
Joined: June 7, 2005
Contributor
  Since: January 19, 2010

Dean.





reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.


 

RE: Trolls - And How To Recognize Them, Spot on Rick M , posted on January 24, 2015 at 09:51:20
A.Wayne
Audiophile

Posts: 2527
Location: Front row center
Joined: November 30, 2011
 The irony is off the chain ....... Lol

 

You lost me there....., posted on January 24, 2015 at 10:19:43
SJK
 I am a contributor, and have been since 2001. I cancelled my StephenJK account and created this one to harmonize with other web sites I visit.

Does the number of posts I've made provide some legitimacy?

 

RE: Thanks Dad. nt, posted on January 24, 2015 at 10:21:02
SJK
 It may be obvious to you......

 

" poor creatures ", posted on January 24, 2015 at 10:25:22
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 I won't pass judgment on them although they can be annoying at times. "We" seem to validate them too often by responding to their posts at all. I don't read too much into it. You can't often know who or what you are dealing with on the Internet.

I like Rick M's post about the OP to this thread. Ironically funny. That brings me to another point. Some people that may have lots of experience and info in our hobby just don't like this medium for self expression and either avoid or don't participate in it. Then they are those that do participate but don't really have the social skills that work best in this environment.

Who knows!


E
T


ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: " poor creatures ", posted on January 24, 2015 at 10:29:20
SJK
 Except that Rick is wrong, you may want to read my response to him.

And then, consider that someone posting a serious topic is ridiculed for doing so. Ironic indeed.

 

RE: Easily recognized ..., posted on January 24, 2015 at 11:03:24
Garg0yle
Audiophile

Posts: 859
Joined: December 1, 2014
 ...apparently not.





△This message will self destruct in 10 seconds△

 

Would a show of hands be helpful? Nt, posted on January 24, 2015 at 11:05:01
geoffkait
 Nt

 

RE: Would a show of hands be helpful? Nt, posted on January 24, 2015 at 12:09:03
zako
Audiophile

Posts: 935
Location: Mo.
Joined: March 29, 2004
 And who,s looking down their knose,s????? TISK TISK...

 

RE: " poor creatures ", posted on January 24, 2015 at 13:21:59
Goober58
 "Then they are those that do participate but don't really have the social skills that work best in this environment."

Now that's ironically funny. The most socially adept people I know are politicians, salesmen and other swindlers. And yes these kinds of folks demand a high degree of tact and compliance from others in order to most smoothly work best in this environment. The ego-booster/validater is this type of exploiting troll in it's embryonic stage.

 

RE: Thanks Dad. nt, posted on January 24, 2015 at 13:44:20
thebordas
 Get a life Professor and let freedom ring! I think everyone can take care of themselves....no need to start a Troll Hunt. Hope that throws them off my scent:) That was too close:()

 

'a serious topic', posted on January 24, 2015 at 14:17:45
mt10425
Audiophile

Posts: 2399
Location: 3 hours west of Chicago
Joined: January 23, 2004
 How serious is this? Life changing? Wow, you've got my attention now.



"It's all fun and games until someone doesn't pick up on the sarcasm"

 

I find calling someone a troll is usually not a good idea., posted on January 24, 2015 at 15:09:08
Nuit
 First the calling out is usually done by a total a-hole who is actually the bigger 'troll like' person.
Second, it is a simple 'smear tactic'. Calling someone a name to insult them. No different than any other amazing variety of insults ranging from words like Buffoon, to Communist, to "N" (you know what word that is) to jackass, perv.. Moron, simpleton.. You get the idea.
So all in all it really is just another worthless insult.
Now in discussions the word Troll may be useful as a descriptor... But as a thing to call someone, never.

 

RE: Trolls - And How To Recognize Them, posted on January 24, 2015 at 15:11:52
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Nevermind the trolls- how about the gremilns that create the pop-ups on this site?

 

Us a pop up blocker. Good anywhere, forever.., posted on January 24, 2015 at 15:35:12
Nuit
 adblock plus is free and well rated.

 

RE: You lost me there....., posted on January 24, 2015 at 16:22:23
rick_m
Audiophile

Posts: 6230
Location: Oregon
Joined: August 11, 2005
 "Does the number of posts I've made provide some legitimacy?"

Of course, that and their content. How else do we know one another?

Rick

 

RE: " poor creatures ", posted on January 24, 2015 at 16:57:52
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 I was only pondering what I have seen over ten years or so here. I certainly do not think I have the answers if you will but I did post what I have seen often. There is no 100% pro"troll"type in my opinion.

Hey I made a funny


E
T


ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: Trolls - And How To Recognize Them, posted on January 24, 2015 at 17:01:58
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 when I log in I only get the one ad in the middle. Also a proxy server like Proxomitron which is free will block lots of stuff. It replaces ads with the word "ad" in brackets.


E
T


ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: Trolls - And How To Recognize Them, posted on January 25, 2015 at 04:24:30
middleground
 Freedom is a wonderful thing...

 

here's my definition:......, posted on January 26, 2015 at 03:56:05
wangmr
Audiophile

Posts: 2410
Location: Downtown
Joined: November 29, 2012
 call this a counter-revolutionary troll---

1. one who can't pass up a troll-looking posting and has to draw attention to the observation (seen as FACT)

2. one who finds all manner of motives for a posting in the way of insincerity so troll-like

3. one who delights in looking superior to supposed-troll-posting therefore advertising 'I'm not one, myself'

Basically, the respondent (?) can't discipline him or herself to pass up a suspected posting.

roger wang

 

Use their real names, posted on January 26, 2015 at 04:34:32
geoffkait
 Use their real names? You mean like Bob Smith and Dave Jones? Or say SJK?

 

As in, "I'm hungry for a troll burger"?, posted on January 26, 2015 at 06:52:31
genungo
 What a shocking reversal...

 

"Build it and they will come." Nt, posted on January 26, 2015 at 07:25:52
geoffkait
 Nt

 

Where do you fit...., posted on January 26, 2015 at 08:09:59
wangmr
Audiophile

Posts: 2410
Location: Downtown
Joined: November 29, 2012
 in my multi-part definition.

roger wang

 

Nice troll. nt, posted on January 26, 2015 at 08:32:30
tinear
Audiophile

Posts: 65782
Location: Kansas City, KS
Joined: April 9, 2006
 dv

 

Touché! nt, posted on January 26, 2015 at 08:33:49
tinear
Audiophile

Posts: 65782
Location: Kansas City, KS
Joined: April 9, 2006
 fdsa

 

Musetap and 3---Sox: alert! nt, posted on January 26, 2015 at 08:34:43
tinear
Audiophile

Posts: 65782
Location: Kansas City, KS
Joined: April 9, 2006
 fds

 

"call this a counter-revolutionary troll--- ", posted on January 26, 2015 at 09:13:37
soulfood
Audiophile

Posts: 3725
Joined: August 9, 2001
 You're a what? :^)

 

RE: Where do you fit...., posted on January 26, 2015 at 09:34:20
genungo
 I'm hoping that I don't fit into your definition.

 

RE: "call this a counter-revolutionary troll--- ", posted on January 27, 2015 at 05:45:53
wangmr
Audiophile

Posts: 2410
Location: Downtown
Joined: November 29, 2012
 okay, then: counter over-the-counter counter-revolutionary troll.

roger wang

 

RE: "call this a counter-revolutionary troll--- ", posted on January 27, 2015 at 08:18:32
soulfood
Audiophile

Posts: 3725
Joined: August 9, 2001
 "okay, then: counter over-the-counter counter-revolutionary troll."

It doesn't make Troll advocacy palatable. I understand, Trolls can't reconcile remorse or the insidious nature of their behavior. I know...why bother.

 

+1 -nt, posted on January 28, 2015 at 04:37:09
soulfood
Audiophile

Posts: 3725
Joined: August 9, 2001
 nt

 

RE: +1 -nt, posted on January 31, 2015 at 07:17:57
bh46118
Audiophile

Posts: 217
Joined: December 15, 2010
 At certain times all human beings are capable of "troll" like behavior, and most internet forums would make a good case study for a psychology class. On some forums if you mention that you own or like a certain brand or product even one time, you are attacked instantly for being a "fanboy". Most of the silly internet terms used to deride others are mostly high school like and irritating. If someone is an ass, just don't pay attention to them.

 

RE: +1 -nt, posted on February 1, 2015 at 08:53:31
soulfood
Audiophile

Posts: 3725
Joined: August 9, 2001
 "At certain times all human beings are capable of "troll" like behavior, and most internet forums would make a good case study for a psychology class."

I don't agree however, I'm not sure if you are embellishing what the OP is saying or simply speaking from your own perspective.

"If someone is an ass, just don't pay attention to them."

Too vague to respond.

 

RE: Use their real names, posted on February 1, 2015 at 22:44:30
TheBrewmaster
Audiophile

Posts: 365
Location: Southern U.S.
Joined: January 20, 2013
 Haha good point. +1

 

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