GIFTs, Duty Calls, and Trolls

On the internet you encounter all types. Some people are a joy to be around and make everyone's life better. Other people are more difficult to deal with.

Penny Arcade nailed one category of people on the net.

Penny Arcade: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19
XKCD nailed another type of person.

Duty Calls: http://xkcd.com/386/
 

I've seen both of the these types on discussion forums. Often they are been banned for being trolls. In the case of John Gabriel's Fuckwad, the person just needs to learn manners. It is tougher being or dealing with the person in the XKCD example. Sometimes the person (or the audience) isn't particularly well informed or can not express their ideas clearly. Forums sometimes get caught in the throes of group think and epistemic closure. Even if the poster is correct they might be banned or ostracized as trolls for just thinking differently. The reality is that very smart well informed people do come to different conclusions. There might not be a correct answer.

I tend to forgive both of these types because we've all been there.

... and then there are trolls.

Trolls are those hateful people who live for creating controversy, bullying, spewing hate, sexism, racism, and just being rude.

The conventional internet wisdom is to not feed the trolls. However, when a troll hides behind semi-anonymous screen names it might be best to document their behavior so others can avoid them.

 

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