Trolls

coati · January 30, 2002, 05:20 PM

I'm new to online forums. TFL consistently holds my interest and has high standards. It's one of a very few that I read.

My question: trolls. There is an individual who breathlessly posts arcane and obtuse musings on velocity, bullet shape, barrel length, and the like. Apparently this person has reinvented himself using several names and is quickly identifiable by moderators. They rein the threads in quickly.

Some members attempt to engage but seem hesitant, observing that any response may expose the thin reasoning of the thread-starter. Or, maybe, they're afraid of where the topic may go.

Is this person
a) trying to create a disturbance
b) an ATF agent, searching out actionable behavior
c) a nut?

I understand that discussing him (or her, to be fair) might draw some unwanted attention. It seems like that his threads would drop like last year's grapefruit, left alone. I'm just curious, for the sake of the medium more than for his alleged expertise in firearms.

**Rich Lucibella** · January 30, 2002, 06:03 PM

coati-
What does a troll feed most upon?

Answer: Attention. Good attention, bad attention...it doesn't matter. The answer is Attention. Like many of you, we strain at the bit not to engage Trolls publicly. And so you quietly see them disappear....without attention. Long time Members know this to be the way we work and, almost invariably, support us by not engaging.

No insult intended, coati. It is a reasonable question. However, if the answer is clear, I ask that all others do us a favor by letting this thread quietly sink.

Luci's Law of Internet Discussion Management #242:

Quote:

Dont' feed the Trolls!

Rich

yankytrash · January 30, 2002, 06:25 PM

Quote:

b) an ATF agent, searching out actionable behavior

Ohhhhhhhh, I guess that's why that guy was asking about machine gun parts and some user by the name of "coati".

I was wonderin...

**Mike Irwin** · January 31, 2002, 12:31 PM

That's just damned rude, Yankee.

January 30, 2002, 05:20 PM	#1
coati Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2001 Location: Just outside the beltway, VA Posts: 288	Trolls I'm new to online forums. TFL consistently holds my interest and has high standards. It's one of a very few that I read. My question: trolls. There is an individual who breathlessly posts arcane and obtuse musings on velocity, bullet shape, barrel length, and the like. Apparently this person has reinvented himself using several names and is quickly identifiable by moderators. They rein the threads in quickly. Some members attempt to engage but seem hesitant, observing that any response may expose the thin reasoning of the thread-starter. Or, maybe, they're afraid of where the topic may go. Is this person a) trying to create a disturbance b) an ATF agent, searching out actionable behavior c) a nut? I understand that discussing him (or her, to be fair) might draw some unwanted attention. It seems like that his threads would drop like last year's grapefruit, left alone. I'm just curious, for the sake of the medium more than for his alleged expertise in firearms. __________________ coati

January 31, 2002, 12:31 PM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,379	That's just damned rude, Yankee. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

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