Oh but I happen to agree with basically all of that. It was simply the first part that I didn’t understand.
If we are talking about non-fantasy trolls. Then from what I understand, they are defined as people who say a statement meant to rile up a second group and make them overreact, only for a third party to respond to the second party, also overreacting, whereas the second and third group continually bicker back and forth. The goal for the troll is to simply sit back, eat popcorn, watching the fire he/she started from a distance.
EDIT: Hence the phrase from trade chat many years ago: “Don’t feed the troll”. Which was meant as a warning to anyone else in the chat, who was about to become the second or third party.
Show me one time I did that. You are lying to cover yourself for going ballistic for no reason at all and making some pretty crazy claims.
And by the way, I thought you were ignoring me, isn’t that what you claimed? Frankly you probably might as well because this are the last words I’m throwing in your direction.
No hard feelings.
Also don’t worry. I have complete and utter respect for the fact that you won’t elaborate on a personal subject, for you or your friend.
To be honest, I’m the same, if I think someone is wrong, I’d rather tell them -why- I think they’re wrong, I don’t just want to silence them, because there is always the chance that they may have a compelling argument that explains their thought processes for me to consider, and equally the chance that I may be able to explain to them why they are wrong in their attitudes.
I am pretty sure that is because these are real life concerns that actually do effect some posters, which are logically therefore more emotive than “Nerf Druids Now!” type posts.
I admire your conviction in that, perhaps I am too old (Read jaded and Cynical) to share that view, some people will want to appear the contrarian ‘badman’ just because its the internet.
Leaving aside whether or not Trump is an idiot (I think my opinion on that is fairly clear) It is a known factor that there are groups of people who are paid to spread disinformation on social media sites, there was an interview with a guy who worked for one of them, he wasn’t Russian, I think his company was based in Romania I believe (That is not a slander against Romanian people in the slightest, the few I know are lovely people, maybe not that Vlad Dracula fella, but thats back when it was Wallachia:P ) Apparently it is really well paid work. I sort of wish I knew how to get into it, I’d be proper good at issuing Propaganda! (That is definitely a joke)
Also this.
There is an increasing misapprehension that somehow, if you are expressing unpleasant views, directly insulting people or being racist, sexist or transphobic, (or just any kind of nasty attitude) that a) the world is owed your opinion, and b) you should be able to express it without consequence.
Usually people will bang on about ‘My Freedom of Speech’ without understanding what the term means. You absolutely have the Freedom to say what you like. Likewise, society has the right to censure (not censor) you, and to enact social punishments upon you, especially if you have already agreed to be socially censured if you break the rules.
If you play a game of football, you agree to abide by the rules, if you break those rules, you get sent off. You absolutely have the right to break those rules, no one can take that away from you, but you can’t then be surprised when no one wants to play with you and you are not invited to play in the future.
I don’t think anyone was suggesting we have these people perform an Auto de Fe.
Even worse, the Forumaki tribe of Trolls. They are believed to have dwelt near the Well of Eternity, but moved away because of the Dark Trolls hogging all the best real estate, they travelled far and wide, eventually they formed their own Empire, based around the vast cities of Zul’Reddit, Zul’Twitch and Zul’Pol.
They are known for their almost xenophobic hatred towards anyone who believes in modern ethics and morality, and insist that history is a perversion that must be reversed, and that being a warrior who fights for righteousness and justice, and equity for all is a grave sin, and frequently use it as an insult in their battlecries.
They’re so bad that the Amani sent envoys to Silvermoon going “Look, ah know we nat be friends, but dese guys, seriously, if cha want to go and do to dem, what cha did to us, We’ll even hold cha beer whilst cha do, mon”
Since the topic is forum behaviour, I have to agree with you Benjamin, this shouldn’t be allowed also. If I disagree with you on a subject, I should debate on that subject and that subject only, definitely not following all your posts and harassing all of them or derailing the threads.
I think we (I mean all posters, myself included) need to remember that it is a person we are talking to, not an avatar or a race or whatever people seem to take offence at.
So if I disagree with something you say Benjamin I would hope I do this in a reasonable manner, the same way I would want you to respond to me. The fact that we have opposing views should never be an issue
I’m curious about this. So you post in one topic and then people follow you to every other post you make and do what? Reply about that topic or something totally irrelevant?
There is examples of what he’s talking about in this thread tbh, People bringing up stuff from other topics, Doesn’t matter if they are right and wrong it should be dropped in another thread. Not pointing fingers or copying the posts as it will start an argument.
Back when these new forums were implemented I got into an argument with someone and we both got a short time out (deserved tbh) and that guy followed me around from thread to thread for days harassing me he even popped back up about six months later and started again. Some people just can’t let things go always aim to be the bigger person and ignore people like that and if it gets really bad contact the CMs/GMs about it because they will deal with harassment.
I don’t believe anyone is immune to being moderated. However I am genuinely curious that someone would waste their time obsessing with another poster and follow them around everywhere they go.
I am not saying it does not happen. I do not feel if someone repeatedly replies to me that I’m being targetted. Hence I asked for clarification. I still haven’t seen it, that’s not to say it’s not real.
I guess people are scared to give examples for fear of action.
If seen topics get locked on other forums and just cleaned up while being locked then unlocked with a warning to keep discussion on topic, but its a lot of work i do understand its not always possible, mods are people to.
Not sure I understand what you mean here, if a topic is getting heated and a moderator intervenes with a “calm it down guys” posters then have a chance to walk away and cool off before it goes too far and they say something that results in a ban and/or the closure of the topic and which they also later regret because they only said it in the heat of the moment.
If a trouble maker carries on I’m sure a moderator will be able to see that they are doing it on purpose and just issue the appropriate action but others will have walked away from being baited
Oh look, someone else that can’t tell the difference between a controversial or sensitive topic and a post presented in a non civil way loaded with insults, profanities and threats.
Please try and get your head around the fact that they are 2 different things.
Also please read my other posts here as I’ve explained and clarified my original post several times.
As others have mentioned the flagging system isn’t really fit for purpose and needs some adjustment. A text field for an explanation as to why we think the post is worthy of lagging would be a good start. The options offered don’t cover everything.
Hopefully this discussion has raised a few points (moderation system, Flagging) that the Blizzard community team have seen and can produce some feedback for the higher ups to consider making a change or 2.
This is just plain wrong. No one should be afraid to voice their opinion or feel that stating their position on a particular topic will draw unwanted insults and threats.
If people start feeling that way then we lose valuable input on issues regarding the game and in the end we all lose.
My main point was that misbehaviour of others shouldn’t lead to the closure of a topic. I have seen good discussions that have been shut down, just because someone in the topic couldn’t behave.
Even if said person does it unintentionally and in the heat of the moment, I don’t think everyone else should have their discussion shut down aswell.
Think we are kind of on the same page then really, I’m talking about preventative measures to avoid closing topics all together.
Sometimes the arguments go on and get to the point of no return then its topic closed bans given out, if a moderator intercedes earlier with a simple “things are starting to get a little heated here, time to walk away and cool down guys” then most reasonable posters wouldn’t end up hitting that point of getting banned or topics closed.
It will probably be impossible to always moderate in a preventative way, since this would require moderators to always be up-to-date on every topic.
The flaw I see in the current system is that insensitive / inflammatory posts get hidden, but that doesn’t cause the discussion that spawned from that hidden post to stop.
he even popped back up about six months later and started again. Some people just can’t let things go 
always aim to be the bigger person and ignore people like that and if it gets really bad contact the CMs/GMs about it because they will deal with harassment.
