NationStates

Calling another player "troll" in discussion threads is getting out of hand.

The moderators have decided to add a new violation category, trollnaming, which can fall under the categories of flaming, flamebaiting, trolling, or simply spam, depending on moderators' interpretation of use. Warnings for trollnaming will be handed out to egregious violators at first, in hopes of curbing this practice. If that fails to get people's attention, the penalties may be applied to anyone using the term "troll" as a substitute for actual debating.

This specifically does NOT apply to Moderation forum reports. If you feel another player is trolling, report it, and we will act as necessary. Note also that the usual "Mods-as-weapons" rules apply. If a player consistently misuses moderation reports to shut another player down, they'll be subject to Mods-as-weapons warnings as well.

I applaud you Fris, or whoever masterminded this new rule. Troll is a flame and should be treated as such.

finally, because people calling other people trolls just for disagreeing with them is really annoying

I am sure the potentially useful rule will be applied poorly to the continual protection of antisocial, immature users (I'm not naming names) who always stand right behind the rulebreaking borderline and game the system, to punish the people who call them out.

Nonetheless I applaud the effort though I think it will be a failure.

all hail the mods for this necessary, wonderful and amazing new rule thank you so much!

Questers wrote:all hail the mods for this necessary, wonderful and amazing new rule thank you so much!

i applaud you mat for saying this very good thing.

Does anyone else here think that "trollnaming" is a creepily doublethink name? If it's flaming why not just call it flaming?

I respect the goals of the rule here, (though a rose by any other name....) but, the name is kind of creepy.

A very unnecessary rule which restricts users' speech and ultimately is protecting a VERY small, VERY thin skinned minority of people. If you have a problem with being called a troll on an internet forum, I highly suggest you take a trip to just about every other site on the internet which allows users to submit comments/posts. I am generally skeptical of the phrase "modtyranny" but I think this is definitely a reach.

No endorse wrote:Does anyone else here think that "trollnaming" is a creepily doublethink name? If it's flaming why not just call it flaming?

Because reasons spelled out in the OP.

What about calling poe's law? Does that fit under trollnaming?

Sailsia wrote:A very unnecessary rule which restricts users' speech and ultimately is protecting a VERY small, VERY thin skinned minority of people. If you have a problem with being called a troll on an internet forum, I highly suggest you take a trip to just about every other site on the internet which allows users to submit comments/posts. I am generally skeptical of the phrase "modtyranny" but I think this is definitely a reach.

It's become a growing concern because it's being used to shut down debate, which isn't what this forum is for.

To paraphrase Max, people will state silly things. The whole point of having General is to allow other people to point out just how silly or factually incorrect such a thing is.

The problem has been though, as of late, that what we've been getting is:

Poster A: Makes thread with some kind of remark that is outside the POV of just about everyone else.

Posters B-J: TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL!

Poster A: I'M NOT A TROLL!

Poster K: No, but you're wrong because of...

POSTERS L-X: TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL! TROLL!

Poster A: I'M NOT A TROLL! I'M NOT! I'M NOT I'M NOT!

The post actually addressing the original topic is lost in pages of troll remarks and the OP gets to spend more time defending themselves against it than to actually defend their statement. Eventually we wander by and have to lock the whole thing because the thread has become naught but AM NOT and ARE SO posts repeated endlessly. Which, getting back to Max's statement, isn't what we want. We're not every other commenting/debate sites, we're NationStates.

United Dependencies wrote:What about calling poe's law? Does that fit under trollnaming?

Depends, are you actually adding anything else to the debate?

To clarify, what we're after is posts that just scream "troll" without actually bothering to address the arguments put forward.

I'm glad you're cracking down on this introllerable conduct.

It definitely makes this forum more conducive to discussion and debate. Those who complain about freedom of speech should realize that there's no such thing as freedom of speech on this website.

will this cover trollpics as well?

*is offended*

Trollgaard wrote:*is offended*

^ He has "troll" in his name.

Bring on the red text. Bring it.

Qazox wrote:will this cover trollpics as well?

Yes.

Again, if you think it's a troll, report it in Moderation.

Page wrote:

Trollgaard wrote:*is offended*

^ He has "troll" in his name.

Bring on the red text. Bring it.

あたまが。。。いたい。

Thank goodness. Abuse of the term was getting out of hand.

Can we have an exception for Yug who everyone knows is a troll?

Does calling yourself a troll count?

San Leggera wrote:Does calling yourself a troll count?

Isn't there already a punishment for admitting one is trolling? Would calling one's own self a troll count as admitting one is trolling?

Dear trollers,

Aha!, You've been trolled!

What an inconvenience!

Azrael wrote:

San Leggera wrote:Does calling yourself a troll count?

Isn't there already a punishment for admitting one is trolling? Would calling one's own self a troll count as admitting one is trolling?

There's a difference between calling yourself a troll and admitting that you were trolling.

I think you are adding a lot of work for yourselves, there is trolling that is self policed.

If someone is called out for being a troll, they can either defend it or ignore it. The question they need to learn to ask themselves, "is why does everyone think this is a troll".

Good move. Any chance you can add the "fixed" thing as well?