Troll register

Say, what would you all say about a big web site, done up properly, where people could write in about Internet forum trolls? It would be a professionally done site where a team would review submissions and if they are approved they will be posted up to warn others about their activities. That way someone with the same username, IP address, ect could be watched in case they try anything. What do you think?

 

I think 2 things:

1. 1984.
2. Everybody deserves a second chance.

Also, I think it's very likely something like you're suggesting will be developed at some point in the near future, but I'm not sure if it's a good thing.

 

It would be prudent to log every IP address of every person who has done a Google and Wiki search of Osama bin Laden. Even those who just type his name and post it on message boards.

 

That's an absurd idea, James.Really hope you're joking.

 

Lame idea.

Who's to say that I couldn't "nominate" somebody that I simply didn't like, regardless of their trolling history? They'd be on the message boards' "no-fly" list simply because I thought they should be on it.

No, banning trolls is the responsibility of the local mods on the local forum. Besides, who'd want to take that shiny new banstick away from Lowbacca when he just got his issued?

 

I think he was being sarcastic.

 

I think as it stands, there's not a lot of discussion potential here.

Nancy, do you have a general focus here, where you're interested in discussing the overall implications of such an idea, or are you soliciting an idea specifically for the JC forums?

 

the problem is that there is noting to regulate testimony.
go to Girl don't date him and I'll bet there are plenty of lies about decent guys.
etc.

 

I'd highlight that in the initial post, it says the site would allow potential trolls to be monitored, not banned before they post.
That said, the time involved to check people against such a list to see if they are a troll is grossly ineffective. If they're going to troll, it will be quite apparent, and if they're not, then it would not matter if they're on the list or not.

 

Indeed, I see relatively little to gain from such an idea. As long as a user is not trolling on a particular forum, his behavior on other sites is pretty insignificant to the site in question. If he does start misbehaving on the site, he can be eliminated from that site fairly easily. If trolling were more serious, had the potential to cause greater and longer-lasting damage, there might be more point in pursuing something like this, but the amount of serious harm that can be done by a troll on a reasonably well-policed forum or wiki is minimal, so the work in putting such a thing into place would seem greater than the potential benefits.

-Paul

 

Mr44, I'd entirely disagree there's scope for discussion. Internet trolling is easy enough to deal with, and poses an insignificant threat to internet communities. Thus the solution proposed is not proportionate to the scope of trolling as a whole. A more effectively officious way to police the internet would be to make a list of people who said bad words or took the Lord's name in vain.

E_S

 

The idea would be a big, professionally done site, like say trollregister.com, where people can send in submissions and a review panel looks at the various links, forum threads, ect to determine whether or not to add them to the list. For example if someone was to send in complaints about 'username' with links to his activities, the review team would look and see that they are clearly being what's known as an 'evil clown', for example, someone who generally posts only to hurt others, and add them to the register. However petty things like 'this person is an atheist and discussing atheism' or 'he disagrees with me about Iraq' wouldn't fly.

 

FTW

 

So hypothetically speaking, given the problems trolling causes would a site where people name and shame them be a good idea?

 

I think trolls would knock themselves over to make it onto the site. By the time the people running the site "investigated" the 'complaints' the troll's username would be changed and the cycle would begin again.

Best policy is to ignore/ban them on a case by case basis rather than give them a shiny website to boast about.

 

I could have sworn I'd locked this travesty.

E_S

 

I think trolls would knock themselves over to make it onto the site.

Ah, the "infamy factor." I think that would be a concern as well, especially with something with as far a reach as the internet. Would such a set-up limit such behavior, or serve to encourage it?

 

Troll register rears its ugly head...


So! A big professionally done up site.
*Superwatto gets in character*
How's thee going to pay for all this, huh?

 

Yeah, I was thinking that. One of the things to remember with trolls is that they're pathetic, having to pull their crap on the Internet, usually on some unsuspecting party or someone who can't defend themselves, because they're so **** scarred of getting their head kicked in for acting the way they do in real life. They are so pathetic that they would likely feel that it's an honor to be blacklisted.

 

This could easily be run on ESCHELON servers, and since it's part of an established clandestine network, they could use wetworks teams to liquidate the odd troll. Random covert assassinations would send shockwaves of fear throughout the troll community which in turn would prompt them to correct their wicked ways.

ES

 

This kind of action is not needed. Given my history modding 3SA in the year up to and during the release of Revenge of the Sith, I can fairly say I've dealt with my fair share of forum trolls in my time, and invariably they are harmless. Sure, they are a nuisance for me, the mod, to deal with, but on the other hand thats part of what modding is, so I can't complain.
And as far as their effect on the forum/community, its actually minimal. Effectively the mods can erase any sign that the troll was ever there. Their account can be banned and their post's/threads removed. It takes all of about 30 seconds to carry out these moderator functions. No big deal for me, no big deal for the community. Trolls VASTLY over-estimate their importance. The experiance from 3SA, which was trolled on a daily basis, is that they did not damage or effect the community spirit of that forum.

So, not only would nancyallen's proposal be unworkable, it would also be entirely undeeded.

 

one forums troll is another forums head admin - there's no single line of argeement of what is, and what is not a troll.

 

Yes, watch the flames. There are ways to disagree and ways not to. This was definitely a way not to.

 

Watch the flames, dude.

Remember, two wrongs don't make a right. But three lefts do.