I'm pissed!! (political trolls and hacks)

im just not getting it, the moderators do not want to moderate so the members have to "kill them with silence". This method will only make members feel singled out when their posts get removed.
Change the rules so members are not breaking them or enforce the board rules that we have.

[edit on 25-2-2010 by zaiger]

reply to post by Dock9


The site's stated agenda is this: "We're working to roll back decades of governmental largesse, to root out political fraud and corruption, and to champion causes which further conservatism in America. And we always have fun doing it. Hoo-yah!"


It makes you wonder because they state one thing on the homepage and do another thing in the forums. To top it all off they let ad hominem attacks run rampant.

[edit on 25-2-2010 by LuxFestinus]

I don't understand,

This shouldn't even be an issue,

That's what you have moderators for,

I read many of the topics, in one the OP is begging for a mod to intervene , under another topic I just read, there is cussing,

Originally posted by EMPIRE
reply to post by ownbestenemy

 

For some people here tact and wit are foreign concepts. They are oblivious to such things and might as well be asleep or worse.

You're correct, of course. For some, tact and wit are beyond their reach. They may choose not to employ either tact or wit in their online presentation. They may not have been raised in an environment that placed much value on tact and wit. They may believe, or have been raised to believe, that 'straight-talking' is a measure of one's integrity

We're online, which is the equivalent of being in a strange city in an unexplored country. We're speaking to strangers. We have no reason to trust them or their claims or professed opinions

Some come here to gain attention and rewards via any means at their disposal

Others are dying and wish to make something known

Yet others are struggling with demons and attempt to allay them via online sparring

Others come for entertainment, for a laugh, or to provoke others either for the sake of it or to simply in the hope it will cause others to see an issue differently

There are as many reasons for online participation as there are participants

If it were simply a meeting place for those wishing to exercise their proficiency in tact and wit, the place would echo emptily

We need to recognise and accept that people are going to express themselves in ways to which we may not be accustomed, in a manner of which we may not approve

.... and that's before we learn to recognise and accept that others are going to have wildly differing opinions and --- shock, horror --- may not appreciate how WE express ourselves and may not agree with us

Originally posted by psyko45
My two cents...This sounds like censorship of an open intelectual forum.

While the opening post alluded to the general idea that habitual political trolls unable to contribute without tossing about insults may be banned, the most important point is that we'll no longer give their complaints credence.

If you are convince that our efforts to inspire civilized discourse is censorship, there's little I can do to convince you that you're wrong.

reply to post by whatukno


Yes, good examples you brought up whatukno.

I have a few to add to that list:

Being a troll can also include calling people racists or claiming that they want to ruthlessly murder a lot of people. It could also entail any unjustifiable insults such as claiming people to be "out for blood" on a constant basis.

They aren't too common but I think they should be included since I've had them used against me quite often.



reply to post by EMPIRE


This post is about political trolling and insults yet you can't even post in here without referring so someone as a "hack" or and "idiot"?

Perhaps ATS should simply crack down on all personal insults in general, even outside of political discussion because it seems to be a rampant thing going on.

Originally posted by Meesterjojo
So, while I appreciate your view point, and while perhaps I'm not included in your lengthy statement, I fear that you, OP/Site Owner Guy, may be overlooking some of this. I can't say for certain, and it's just a hunch.

The majority of those responding in this thread seem to understand the very simple concept of focusing on the issues/topics, and not each other.

Your examples had little to do with the habitual slagging and flaming between members in political threads.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


So you have already made up your mind as to who the trolls are?How else can you ignore their complaints?

reply to post by Stormdancer777


That is what i was saying on page two. This thread kind of comes off like, please don't troll anymore we are not going to stop anyone just please don't or we will get angry.

reply to post by jackflap


You're quite "safe" in addressing the issue, concern and/or topic at hand ... it's when and those who chose to address the individual that things get a bit questionable/actionable.

On-topic and NOT on-Person ... would seem a Safe sojourn and journey, no matter.

Originally posted by Alxandro
Have you ever noticed how whenever someone like SO, Springer or certain Super Mods happen to chime in out of the blue on any particular topic, certain members quickly respond by giving them a quick star and a quick response?

Are you discounting that with hundreds of members online, and a mass-U2U sent out to all active members, that there may simply be a lot who agree with the sentiment of the thread?

Originally posted by whatukno


We all can disagree without being disagreeable.



It's fine to disagree. I often disagree with members on here. Typically we enjoy a few rounds of political discourse showing our views on the subject and remaining civil. While I may not agree with them, the fact that each of us can remain civil in that discussion shows respect.

And you and I have done this a number of times and not just politics, although we tend to have less differences of opinion in other topics. And if things seemed a little heated we usually clarify that it is nothing personal, especially if someone else takes it that way (or points it out). I could mention the names of other members that are the same.

However there is one member that will chap my behind and boil my blood, but does in such a cleverly worded way that I just have to admire it. (and remind myself to cool down before replying)

Me too,

Originally posted by gwydionblack
Perhaps ATS should simply crack down on all personal insults in general, even outside of political discussion because it seems to be a rampant thing going on.

Here Here.

SO and this thread seem to be focused on the political but I agree it is rampant across the entire ATS spectrum. Wit and humor are one thing but name calling and personal attacks and insults are BADFORM! I'd post a few examples but I figure it would be singling them out and give them the Notoriety they desperately seek.

Originally posted by zaiger
im just not getting it, the moderators do not want to moderate so the members have to "kill them with silence".
[edit on 25-2-2010 by zaiger]

It's called personal responsibility. It helps you to learn self discipline. When participants learn to moderate themselves they will begin to display more dignity and to use their energy more wisely. Why should you always need someone else to police the board when you yourself have the power to make a difference?

It also teaches the troll that he cannot push your buttons because you are wise to his tactics and you are above engaging.

Those who get sucked into arguing are usually in an ego-based pissing contest. Those who are wiser are participating in other threads working toward solutions and proving ground for viewpoints.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


sprigers thread 116 flags

Maybe some but not all.

I haven't posted on logged into this site in over four months for the very same reason that Skeptic Overlord is bringing to the table right now.

I saw it building up way back then and I saw ATS ignoring it, trying to resolve it, at at times somewhat encouraging it, so I threw in the towel and became a casual observer. Watching as the idea of "denying ignorance" took a nosedive off the roof of a tall building.

Why get involved in any discussions when things were just going further and further into the deep end of stupidity?

Not only that, but the same sort of lunacy was being rewarded with stars, applause and flags.

It started building with those ridiculous birth certificate threads, and when I found out that eventually ATS provided some of that alleged "evidence" to a staunch "birther" member to present for debate (at first provided secretly but later revealed) as if it was authentic I knew this place was going to get ugly real fast.

It wasn't even about left or right but common sense and the toleration of utter nonsense. Just looking at that obvious fraud was nauseating and when it was revealed as such, the thread didn't even get labeled a hoax. That was a sad day for ATS in my opinion. I even said that ATS would go down hill from there and low and behold here we are now.

Some of the mods supported the same kind of bogus evidence and pathetic claims presented by the same groups of people, so don't believe for a second it was just the "members" pushing this place over the edge. When garabage gets support like that it ENCOURAGES the trash/mudslingers till we're all inundated with muck.

Muck not even worth debating.

I loved this site since I first came here in 2006 and watching it degenerate was awkward and repulsive to the point of wanting to avoid it but since there were people here that I still respected and opinions I still appreciated I checked in from time to time to read the good content presented (which is usually ignored) and wade through the rest of the more popular garbage.

So...now that this is my first post after quite some time, let me just say that I am glad you're pissed(!) finally and hope that actually amounts to some real changes.

I'd love to stop occasionally lurking and get back to being involved.

- Lee

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


I just left a post on "cluster headaches". My whining may have ventured into "trolling for sympathy". But again it may be just trolling for what ever reason. I appologize if thats how I came accross near the end of my post. But my comments were in my view relative to that post. There were important issues I felt I needed to address and that segway seemed to make sense. It was in my view a very important topic, and having experienced that and related problems, my "trolling for sympathy" was in my view stark and clear on an important matter.

I have (I don't think) ever used this forum just to score political points. I have made political referance when it only seemed to address another issue on the board. I sometimes find such an approach required to "connect the dots". I also really try to never insult, hurt, demean, etc. any one. I don't like it when people do it to me, so I never try to do it to any one else. There are topics sometimes that are in my view bigoted, or very mean spirted I just don't post on that topic. Period.

Last, any one can check my posts and see if they think I missed the mark entirely. And if some one thinks I did miss the mark and are "trolling for dollars", so to speak, please let me know. Thanks All, Arbiture.

reply to post by Alethea


i also said Change the rules so members are not breaking them or enforce the board rules that we have. By registering on ATS we make an agreement to follow the T&Cs, what is the point of anyone keeping that agreement if the boards are not going to be moderated?

reply to post by SLAYER69

it is rampant across the entire ATS spectrum.

Yes, it is bad, I thought the attacks by a poster on me were very vicious this weekend, to the point I allowed myself to get caught in the drama, until the mods finally stepped in,

BTW I learned not to complain.