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No, I don’t mean that. I don’t mean I’m unkind or want to hurt others. I mean I want to express a less than popular opinion to get more people to respond sometimes.
Oh ... ok. But what's the motive in wanting to get more people to respond to a thread???
We discussed posters who seem to say things in order to drive traffic for City Data. Revenue and all that.
If it's just expressing an unpopular opinion that you hold, there's no trouble in that. But if you're doing it just to stir the pot......why?
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"81 Years, NOT 91 Felonies"
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthernProper
Oh ... ok. But what's the motive in wanting to get more people to respond to a thread???
We discussed posters who seem to say things in order to drive traffic for City Data. Revenue and all that.
If it's just expressing an unpopular opinion that you hold, there's no trouble in that. But if you're doing it just to stir the pot......why?
Could be that they have a Beavis & Butthead definition of what's cool. They get a charge out of shocking or distressing other people. They probably imagine what they think is (by their lights) "the cool crowd" cheering them on exchanging high-fives and patting each other on the back. Maybe they even imagine some special someone they're falling for cheering them on too. When in fact, no self-respecting person would ever date them -- unless that self-respecting person was just as clueless about the world as the troller is (or imagines him/her to be).
No, I don’t mean that. I don’t mean I’m unkind or want to hurt others. I mean I want to express a less than popular opinion to get more people to respond sometimes.
I don't get that. What the object is. I will express an unpopular opinion to examine it as an intellectual pursuit, or because it's a truth that is important to say to counter 'the narrative' if there is one being pushed.
Maybe they even imagine some special someone they're falling for cheering them on too. When in fact, no self-respecting person would ever date them -- unless that self-respecting person was just as clueless about the world as the troller is (or imagines him/her to be).
Someone who joins a discussion for the sole purpose of causing trouble is a troll.
So why do you do enjoy getting a rise out of people?
Spite?
Arrogance?
Because you can get away with it?
You enjoy being unkind?
You're miserable, so you want to hurt others?
I agree with all of this.Trolls need a life, and a bit more fresh air. Discussion boards are fun. But unless someone is crippled or home convalescing from an illness, I would hope that people would have a life. Or maybe the boards are soap operas 2017 style.
I agree with all of this.Trolls need a life, and a bit more fresh air. Discussion boards are fun. But unless someone is crippled or home convalescing from an illness, I would hope that people would have a life. Or maybe the boards are soap operas 2017 style.
I don't get that. What the object is. I will express an unpopular opinion to examine it as an intellectual pursuit, or because it's a truth that is important to say to counter 'the narrative' if there is one being pushed.
Sometimes expressing an unpopular opinion 'opens' the topic to more active discussion because it will make others of a like mind to feel more comfortable going against that popular opinion too. It can be intimidating to be the first person to say "hey I don't agree with the rest of you and here's why". But once that barrier has been broken others will also usually start chiming in with their own 'unpopular' thoughts on the subject. A discussion that only examines one point of view isn't as enriching as one that looks at things from many different angles.
Sometimes expressing an unpopular opinion 'opens' the topic to more active discussion because it will make others of a like mind to feel more comfortable going against that popular opinion too. It can be intimidating to be the first person to say "hey I don't agree with the rest of you and here's why". But once that barrier has been broken others will also usually start chiming in with their own 'unpopular' thoughts on the subject. A discussion that only examines one point of view isn't as enriching as one that looks at things from many different angles.
True and that's why I don't believe unpopular opinions are "trolls" necessarily. That may legitimately be their opinion. It's okay to have unpopular opinions and it's okay to disagree with the majority.
True and that's why I don't believe unpopular opinions are "trolls" necessarily. That may legitimately be their opinion. It's okay to have unpopular opinions and it's okay to disagree with the majority.
But it's not okay to call the other side brainless, uninformed, idiots, lemmings, sheep, etc. That's where they're just looking for a fight.
And trolls will follow people from thread to thread trying to pick a fight. I've gotten a few messages here from people telling me their stories about it ......
The allegation that trolling is "allowed" here on City-Data.
I agree that there is quite a bit of trolling here, although the frequency of it does vary from forum to forum. But my view is that it being present is not the same thing as being "allowed", which implies that nothing is done about it.
My analogy is drivers who speed. There is a lot speeding, but it is not "allowed". Lots of traffic stops are made for speeding, and the fines, at least in California, are pretty draconian.
Moderators here delete lots of posts, and lots of portions of posts, for various forms of trolling. Also, lots of infractions, including temporary bans, are issued. Does that put an end to all trolling? No it doesn't, any more than speeding by drivers will ever be ended totally.
One thing to keep in mind: There is no system in place whereby moderators read all posts in all threads. They rely on reports by other users to call problem posts to their attention. It may take a day or two for a reported post to be reviewed, although I have also seen it happen within minutes. I have to wonder if everyone who has complained about the prevalence of trolling has done his or her part by reporting posts which violate the Terms of Service (rules)?
Given the number of deleted posts and locked threads that I am aware of personally, I don't think it's accurate or fair to accuse City-Data of fostering trolling to drive up activity. Given the personal stories recounted here, trolling certainly drives AWAY a lot of people.
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