Forum trolls can wreck the happy atmosphere of a forum and cause loyal members to become discouraged and leave. Whenever possible, I try to discourage forum trolling. How do you deal with forum trolls?
Obviously, you want to discourage mean behavior on a forum. But some heated debates can actually revitalize an otherwise dead forum and make it an interesting place to be.Obviously, you want to discourage mean behavior on a forum. But some heated debates can actually revitalize an otherwise dead forum and make it an interesting place to be.
On the forum where I mod, I discourage trolls by deleting their comments. Within a short time, they get the idea they are not welcome and go troll elsewhere.On the forum where I mod, I discourage trolls by deleting their comments. Within a short time, they get the idea they are not welcome and go troll elsewhere.
This is imperative for a decent forum. I said decent because I had been to one local forum that is anything goes which means you are welcome whether you are a spammer or troll and even flaming is not curtailed. But for an orderly forum, I had encountered trolls who are in there to pick fights. I had a long post about an issue that is not controversial. And then someone replied with one word source with a question mark. I was irritated by that and I consider him a troll. Isn’t it impolite to ask the source that way? Just the word source followed by a question mark. I had made a long post and at least I deserve a polite question. Anyway, that’s my stand on trolls – get them out of the forum as soon as you can.This is imperative for a decent forum. I said decent because I had been to one local forum that is anything goes which means you are welcome whether you are a spammer or troll and even flaming is not curtailed. But for an orderly forum, I had encountered trolls who are in there to pick fights. I had a long post about an issue that is not controversial. And then someone replied with one word source with a question mark. I was irritated by that and I consider him a troll. Isn’t it impolite to ask the source that way? Just the word source followed by a question mark. I had made a long post and at least I deserve a polite question. Anyway, that’s my stand on trolls – get them out of the forum as soon as you can.
