Trolls on ECF?

[PapaSloth]

What a boring job for some intern at a government office.
"OK, we need you to read this forum in its entirety for the next 60 days. Post something you read from google every once in awhile to keep suspicions low, but NEVER reply to your original post. We hear it's suicide. Here's a redbull, Marty will fill out your time sheets."

YOU MEAN I CAN GET PAID FOR THAT? I do that already! Why did no one tell me I could get free Redbull!

 

[minimalsaint]

YOU MEAN I CAN GET PAID FOR THAT? I do that already! Why did no one tell me I could get free Redbull!

It can all be yours for the low, low price of selling your soul to Uncle Sam!

 

[Sarin]

Or perhaps everyone will just ignore it and move on.

Pahahahahahahahah, OP's the master troll

 

[danfinger]

A lot of folks disagree with what we do on here as moderators. Most times things can be reasoned out via PM's or Rule Reminders. Usually asking for clarification will get you your answer. Have you taken that step?

Yes.

...

Are you re-visiting us after a past misadventure, ...?!

No.

 

[Dusty_D]

Yes.

...



No.

Colour me confused, but feel free to reach out via PM if you'd like some clarification on stuff here.

 

[LMS62]

I think the definition/meaning of "troll" must vary some from poster to poster. I say this because I have seen many posts where as soon as there is a serious disagreement, regardless of the topic, someone is quickly called a troll.

 

[minimalsaint]

..... .....

 

[Iffy]

Posting repeated criticism of Moderators or their moderation activities.

Since I haven't read all da rules, just need to know which one forbids da first criticism!

BTW, due to da topic, gotta ask, is GN! back?

 

[minimalsaint]

Posting repeated criticism of Moderators or their moderation activities.

Since I haven't read all da rules, just need to know which one forbids da first criticism!

BTW, due to da topic, gotta ask, is GN! back?

I think we all miss him in our own little way.

 

[Dusty_D]

Posting repeated criticism of Moderators or their moderation activities.

Since I haven't read all da rules, just need to know which one forbids da first criticism!

BTW, due to da topic, gotta ask, is GN! back?

The first one or two will get deleted. Then there will be a Reminder or two. After that.. game on!

GN! who dat?!

 

[sub4me]

I don't fall into any of those categories but I have been accused. I can assure you, I'm not:

--ANTZ --Government --Big tobacco --Big Pharma

I vape. But I'll call BS whenever I see someone inflating the echo chamber around here. Example:

"The vape I exhale is healthier than the air in the rest of the room"

Balderdash. And anyone who thinks this is not only fooling themselves but spreading some serious BS. I won't hesitate to tell them so.


Example2:

"I am very considerate of others while I stealth vape in the restaurant/movie theater/grocery store"

Really? You are really not considerate, and you are really not as stealth as you think you are. You seriously can't go 45 minutes or an hour during a meal or shopping without puffing? Try flexing your self control FFS. You must have some if you quit the stinkies! Keep going!


Example3:

"That person in my office complained about my vaping. Now I can't vape in the office. I should be able to complain that complaint infringes my rights as a vaper"

No. There are no 'rights as a vaper'. Sorry. You don't get paid to vape. You get paid to work and not annoy/distract your fellow workers from their jobs. Don't like it? Start your own business.


For those three examples I have been called a troll. I think anyone who tries to call BS on the feedback loop around here automatically gets the troll label.

And Dog help you if you've got a low post count! That's the first thing the mods look at when trying to figure out who's post gets deleted. Poster with a few thousand posts can call people all manner of derogatory names and not get called on it.

I can agree with these comments because as a newer member here I've seen a lot of the above going on. Just as most boards there are those that are friendly and helpful and there are those that insult others because someone disagrees with them. I've had insults hurled at me because certain members don't agree with what I post and its rather uncomfortable at times when certain members follow every post you make just to argue with you. But I can certainly say it does happen.

Were not gonna all agree on everything and I'm fine with that, infact I totally understand and expect that not everyone will agree. But I often see direct attacks made just because of disagreements and most of the time those types of attacks are made by the same handful of members who insist they have to be right and most times have to have the last word, it can and does make for a unfriendly place at times.

 

[Dusty_D]

I can agree with these comments because as a newer member here I've seen a lot of the above going on. Just as most boards there are those that are friendly and helpful and there are those that insult others because someone disagrees with them. I've had insults hurled at me because certain members don't agree with what I post and its rather uncomfortable at times when certain members follow every post you make just to argue with you. But I can certainly say it does happen.

Were not gonna all agree on everything and I'm fine with that, infact I totally understand and expect that not everyone will agree. But I often see direct attacks made just because of disagreements and most of the time those types of attacks are made by the same handful of members who insist they have to be right and most times have to have the last word, it can and does make for a unfriendly place at times.

Yes, we do see that here, and once things get out of hand most of those get reported in. You can do that too.. It's the little triangle with the exclamation mark on it. It's at the bottom of every post. This brings the post in question to our attention and we can step in as required. Hopefully, before you are scarred or driven away.

ECF is a HUGE place and we cannot watch every single thread. A lot goes by in little nooks and crannies that we never see, unless reported.

There are ofcourse some parts of the forum where having a tougher hide helps.

Overall, the members here do an excellent job of getting a new member settled and on their way.

 

[sub4me]

Oh yes I'm aware of the button and thank you for pointing that out, but I have no intention of reporting anyone that's just not my style. I would more prefer to use much stronger language towards some responses but I hold myself back because I realize that's not allowed here. I know some guys get heated over certain topics but many times its way overboard in my opinion. Sure we all like to be right and we all have own beliefs and opinions but beating someone over the head with your opinion because they don't agree doesn't make you right.

 

[six]

There's another sort of troll we don't see much of any more but we used to all the time... Shills/Unregistered Suppliers. The moderators do a great job of busting unregistered suppliers these days, and shilling just seems to have almost completely gone away.

Back in 2011/2012, there were all sorts of cig-a-like and knock-off ego vendors with "affiliate programs". That generated all sorts of nonsense on this forum and others....

I think there might occasionally be an ANTZ troll... I've seen a few posts that really can't be explained any other way. And, I think occasionally I see posts that seem to be trolling for anything negative about e-cigs and trying to get people to form opinions that aren't based on accurate information. That could be anyone from ANTZ to BT to BP. --- But, ECF users self-police that stuff very efficiently and those sort of trolls get met with actual and accurate information very quickly.

 

[sub4me]

LOL, it seems like those trying to sell here unregistered get deleted instantly. I tried to look at a post and it was gone before I could even read it.

 

[Dusty_D]

There's another sort of troll we don't see much of any more but we used to all the time... Shills/Unregistered Suppliers. The moderators do a great job of busting unregistered suppliers these days, and shilling just seems to have almost completely gone away.

Back in 2011/2012, there were all sorts of cig-a-like and knock-off ego vendors with "affiliate programs". That generated all sorts of nonsense on this forum and others....

Not without help of those excellent members I referred to.. oh! and the Report button!

 

[Dusty_D]

LOL, it seems like those trying to sell here unregistered get deleted instantly. I tried to look at a post and it was gone before I could even read it.

Sorry about that..

 

[JimmyDB]

Government trolls?
I don't think they are interested in using their resources this way.

Big Pharma trolls? Maybe.
Not so sure I have seen anyone I could pin that tag on though.

Big Tobacco trolls? Maybe.
Yeah, maybe.

What are your thoughts?

And I fully expect this thread to be closed quite quickly, although I hope it isn't.
But if it is, I will understand, as it may get very contentious.

Or perhaps everyone will just ignore it and move on.

I absolutely think there are trolls here, but I'm not exactly worried about trolls... I'm more worried about spies, spreaders of misinformation and those that come here to tear apart the community,... but yes, by my 'old-school' definition of what a troll is... they are here.

 

[JimmyDB]

Wow, kudos to you.
You're right on top of things!

That was such a troll move... so I will act in kind.

 

[JimmyDB]

What kind of evidence can we gather? I'm down for some investigation and if it warrants I'll call em out on it!

Ssshhhhh... first rule of troll hunting is not to talk about troll hunting (in public).

it was either that or...

Ssshhhh... I'm huntin twolls.