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A “troll” is someone who visits sites just to stir up controversy or to scream about one pet topic. (Think of the classic monster troll, but also think about trolling as it aplies to fishing – motoring around a lake with a line out in the water trying to hook fish who will grab at the bait going by. Most of the worst trolls usually “fish” in multiple places and are notified when people respond to their comments. Often they use “pre-canned”, cut-and-paste comments initially to hook commenters.) In the case of the Mormon blogging world, it often is someone who really is anti-Mormon and can’t engage in a constructive conversation about the Church. Some trolls even pose as faithful members – usually conservative, sometimes liberal – and make obnoxious comments in order to make others believe those comments are coming from members. It’s sad – and it’s a real indication of really deep issues – and it happens much more frequently than most participants realize. Some trolls are very good at disguising their intent – good at throwing constant little barbs into conversations while appearing to be sincere. Since the internet can allow someone to project any personna they want, admins at group sites have to walk a fine line between accepting and believing people they don’t know and always being aware of the possibility that someone is a troll. It can be exhausting.
Finally, there also are people who are “trollish” – those who aren’t trolls in the purest sense, but who “act like one” in the way they comment.
I believe it has more to do with fishing than one of these -> Got it. Whose that trip trapping over my bridge? 
I’m on here off and on. I haven’t read all the board discussions. I’m sure the reason for this post is to have people be on the look out. Or maybe you suspect a few people of being trolls or you have had issues with trolls.
I do enjoy this website for reasons that it is a pro Mormon site that allows us to discuss some of the tough issues.
I have been on an LDS site that had a forum and a chat room. It was a LDS sites for Yong Single Adults. I had a few doubts. I gladly shared with some people some of my doubts. Instead of showing concern or giving me some kind of insight or feedback they all seemed to turn on me. Everyone in the chat room had the attitude of “HOW DARE YOU!!” One of the guys who helped run the site and chat room snapped and accused me of being a troll!!??
I had been a member of this site for about a year before this happened. Most of the people in the chat room used the site often. I felt they kind of half way knew my character based on my posts. To have them all suddenly turn on me was a little scary.
Honestly I had originally found this site through the New Order Mormon chat forum. Some people on that site saw where I was with my faith and basically told me to watch my step because everyone was pretty much allowed to speak their mind on the matter of the LDS church and Mormonism altogether. If I wanted a slightly safer place that would give some support to my situation to go here to staylds.com
So Basically all this “JIBBA JABBA” is just to say that if there is an issue with Trolls I am confident that they will reveal themselves. I am also confident that the moderators will take care of them.
However I wouldn’t point the finger at someone and say “Your a Troll” or ” Your posts sound Trollish to me!”
Because you may offend or hurt someone who honestly is just having a faith issues and needs a place to for a little bit of aid and support. Which is what this place is meant for.
I am not a troll however I do live near the Fremont Troll. He is a cool guy. When I have kids I’m going to take my kids there and take a picture. and then throw my voice out so it echos back and says ” Have you been good this year!?” HE HE HE HE HEEEEE!!!
Actually, greenapples, someone posted something about porn with a note that said “Not a troll” – then someone asked what a troll is – so I wrote this in a separate post to not derail the other thread. It’s strictly informational.
oh….. I see…. We moderate with a lot heavier hand at this site than other sites might do. Sometimes we are over sensitive. But we try to talk to people and clarify things when we pull a topic or have concerns. To clarify, we moderate with a lot heavier hand than some of the other NOM-ish and or anti sites do (I think that’s what Brian meant). We clearly moderate much less than places like BCC or Times & Seasons, or any of your favorite apologist sites. greenapples wrote:I’m on here off and on.
I have been on an LDS site that had a forum and a chat room. It was an LDS site for Young Single Adults. I had a few doubts. I gladly shared with some people some of my doubts. Instead of showing concern or giving me some kind of insight or feedback they all seemed to turn on me. Everyone in the chat room had the attitude of “HOW DARE YOU!!” One of the guys who helped run the site and chat room snapped and accused me of being a troll!!??
I had the same experience at another LDS site. I expressed concern I had with one of the Church policies that seemed heavy-handed, and everyone ganged up on me, called me to repentence, told me the fault was with me.tcetera. When they came out with weak reasons, I rebutted them and was astounded at how riled up they got at me about it. Eventually the moderator closed the thread and I went away baffled at how defensive they were. Perhaps they thought I was a troll or something. I left that discussion feeling more entrenched in my belief the policy needed work so it added more good as it subtracted from one’s LDS experience.
And since then, there are several personalities there I can always count on to support others who disagree with me at that site.
Then I came here and noticed someone had started a thread on the same subject and there were no judgmental comments from anyone, just support and opinions, but no calls to repentence to the topic starter. And not everyone was in agreement on the subject either. I posted the same beliefs I had in the other forum and the people here didn’t object at all. This is definitely a safer place to share doubts and get constructive suggestions. How therapeutic.
I’m sure there are people who like to see an argument so they try to bait people, just for fun. But I think it is a fine line, in discerning if it’s someone with a ligitament concern & a troll. I think a troll may be bluntly rude & argumentative in every word, whereas others may have a complaint, but it’s often balanced with other ideas. It’s annoying when someone is considered a “troll” & attacked by many, when the group attacking are acting more trollish.
SilentDawning wrote:Then I came here and noticed someone had started a thread on the same subject and there were no judgmental comments from anyone, just support and opinions, but no calls to repentence to the topic starter. And not everyone was in agreement on the subject either. I posted the same beliefs I had in the other forum and the people here didn’t object at all. This is definitely a safer place to share doubts and get constructive suggestions. How therapeutic.
I agree. I enjoy hearing different viewpoints & get bored when everyone’s thinking exactly alike. It’s nice to get empathy when we need support. It’s also good to get fresh perspectives – can be helpful in either reconsidering one’s beliefs or even validating them. It shows maturity to disagree with respect & even validation for another’s oppinion. Of course, emotions get involved & when everyone follows – it can be interpreted as ALL roses… or ALL thorns…when it’s both.Sometimes all you want is to be heard and treated with respect. Even if someone doesn’t agree, just feeling like you can say something when you have something to say and not feel like you’ll have to do battle, to me, is very important. Amen, GB. Fwiw, being an admin at a group site has aspects that I really don’t like. The overall good is worth it to me, but it isn’t fun in those regards.
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