[REPORT] Trolling and Baiting?

[Infected Mushroom]

In response to a disclosure that some unfortunate things have happened to me, a number of posters have in my view, acted without civility and possibly veered into baiting and trolling. I've only reported the posts that I believe may be in violation of the rules.

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Alright guys. I need to stay away from this website for a few weeks (I’m posting from a public computer).

I was teaching some material about Hong Kong as a city and briefly said “Hong Kong was once part of the UK.” A kid went home, mentioned it to the parents, parents called some other people up.

The manager told me “Hey look, we watched the CCTV of your class, it’s not like you were promoting sedition or anything, but we have to be careful. Next time someone brings up the British, the Americans, China/Hong Kong, Taiwan in any context just tell them “let’s move on. We’re not going there.””

He mentions that I should take a few weeks off while this is being investigated. “I’m on your side.”

Now I meant absolutely nothing by saying that (in fact, someone else asked me if Hong Kong was once part of the UK and all I did was confirm It; I avoid politics). It was supposedly problematic because of the word choice, it wasn’t “part of the UK” (that implies a voluntary union somehow), it was colonized, occupied and stolen.

Anyways, for the sake of prudence and lying low, I need to leave this website for a few weeks/months until this hopefully blows over.

Common IM L

Neanderthaland is directly/indirectly calling me a liar, completely uncalled for given the context (this is literally spreading a false rumour, as both someone who lives in Hong Kong (check the IP) and went to law school, this is completely unacceptable and there's just no grounds for spreading this kind of offesive falseness).

Quite seriously: do not believe anything IM says about their personal life. They lied about Law School, they're probably lying about living in HK, and - while I have no particular reason to disbelieve that they're Canadian - I wouldn't take their word for it either.

...

In addition, I'd like to argue that there's an intent to bait/troll from these series of closely related posts by Tarsonis when taken together.

Alright guys. I need to stay away from this website for a few weeks (I’m posting from a public computer).

I was teaching some material about Hong Kong as a city and briefly said “Hong Kong was once part of the UK.” A kid went home, mentioned it to the parents, parents called some other people up.

The manager told me “Hey look, we watched the CCTV of your class, it’s not like you were promoting sedition or anything, but we have to be careful. Next time someone brings up the British, the Americans, China/Hong Kong, Taiwan in any context just tell them “let’s move on. We’re not going there.””

He mentions that I should take a few weeks off while this is being investigated. “I’m on your side.”

Now I meant absolutely nothing by saying that (in fact, someone else asked me if Hong Kong was once part of the UK and all I did was confirm It; I avoid politics). It was supposedly problematic because of the word choice, it wasn’t “part of the UK” (that implies a voluntary union somehow), it was colonized, occupied and stolen.

Anyways, for the sake of prudence and lying low, I need to leave this website for a few weeks/months until this hopefully blows over.

The utter irony is palpable that you ran afoul of the authoritarian government you simp so hard for. I hope nothing happens to you, but I hope you do learn a valuable lesson about why all those dictatorial regimes are bad. Oh who am I kidding, of course you won't.

I do not mean to place myself where I do not belong, but... Tarsonis, isn't that a little cold of you? Granted, you did mention that you hope nothing happens to Infected Mushroom, but still. Maybe there could be some time before talking about learning lessons until things blow over, you know?

^{I am simply saying this to promote a more positive, engaging discussion rather than leave anything to chance in terms of possible misunderstandings/arguments that may or may not arise from talking about lessons in this instance.}

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That being said, to move onto more positive things, how is everyone doing today? I sure hope you are all well, and if you're having a bad day, I know that things can be hard, especially recently with all the chaos of the modern world, but don't let it get to you, for you are stronger than even you believe, you can get through whatever may be stressing you, and I believe in you completely!

Perhaps, but frankly IM has earned it. The amount of cheerleading he does for authoritarian regimes, celebrating atrocities and murder, I really don't give a shit if it's cold-hearted or not. I don't wish harm on him, but he's getting a first hand look about why those places he idolizes are actually dumpster fires. And I hope he learns something.

Please pardon my ignorance, then! I just believe it is better to perceive people in the most optimistic outlook regardless of their apparent political beliefs! (in most instances, there are things that even I cannot ignore) if you believe they have earned it, you are 100% entitled to your belief. I just want NS in general to be a more positive place, you know?

I respect that but this isn't an "assume the best" moment from my perspective. But I've been on this site for 18 years and have interacted with IM for 8 of them. Just who and what he is, is well established.

With Xi, he sort has to simp for his regime, or else he may disappear..

Trust me when I say, this is not a case of toeing a line he otherwise wouldn't.

Can you see now why I so fanatically defend and argue for the freedom of speech and democracy?

Nah. IM loves Big Brother.

I respectfully ask for a review of the above posts. Thank you for your time.

[Roavin]

Common IM L

This is certainly somewhat rude but not actionable.

Neanderthaland is directly/indirectly calling me a liar, completely uncalled for given the context (this is literally spreading a false rumour, as both someone who lives in Hong Kong (check the IP) and went to law school, this is completely unacceptable and there's just no grounds for spreading this kind of offesive falseness).

We not the arbiters of truth here. You may very well be all the things you claim, or none of them, and we won't or, in most cases, can't know. If other players question your portrayal of yourself (and do so within reason and within the bounds of all the other rules), that's fine. Most people that pretend to be something else usually out themselves with inconsistencies, so if you are who you say you are and keep your story straight, a few nay-sayers won't make a dent on your reputation in that regard.

In addition, I'd like to argue that there's an intent to bait/troll from these series of closely related posts by Tarsonis when taken together.

The first two posts you mentioned seem like mild Schadenfreude, but not excessively so — they're not hoping for you to get hurt (and in fact explicitly say so in both posts). Considerate in its rudeness, one could say.

The other posts are unnecessary but here, too, I'm inclined to let it slide as-is: All of them were in reply to other posts, not self-initiated, and ceased quickly. If Tarsonis were to continue this tangent, that would be a different matter, but that arc is already quite a few pages back.

[Infected Mushroom]

Thank you for the detailed review and ruling.

Respectfully, I would like to request a second opinion. I’d like to appeal all posts but would like to bring up the following specific points:

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Regarding Port Caverton, I feel it is more than excessively rude.

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Regarding Tarsonis:

I honestly don’t see how any degree of “mild schadenfreude” in direct response to another poster’s expression of said misfortune, can in any situation be anything but foreseeable provocation (bait to trolling).

If someone said they broke up with a special someone and another poster went “you kind of deserve this, don’t wish physical harm though” there’s no way it’s not actionable. If someone said “I ran into some trouble at an interview today” and another poster said “you kind of deserve this, don’t wish physical harm though,” a line would be crossed. There’s simply no way someone gets behind a computer, types such a thing up, and doesn’t have at least some understanding that they are baiting/trolling.

The 2 “schandenfraude” posts have the additional context of being closely connected to 2 other unfriendly posts. Respectfully, I think that establishes something actionable.

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Regarding Neanderthaland:

He’s not simply saying “they are not to be believed,” he’s TELLING other people not to believe me and it’s in response to a situation where I have mentioned a situation of misfortune. That is a calculated gambit of provocation.

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Thank you for your time and I would appreciate a second opinion even it’s a short confirmation of the ruling.

[United Calanworie]

Second opinion: Not actionable. I think that the best possible thing to do here would be to put these posters on your Foe list, and not engage with them. They're tapdancing on the line, yes, but they're too close to the not actionable side for me to issue a warning here.

[Infected Mushroom]

Second opinion: Not actionable. I think that the best possible thing to do here would be to put these posters on your Foe list, and not engage with them. They're tapdancing on the line, yes, but they're too close to the not actionable side for me to issue a warning here.

I will take the advice.

Thanks for taking a look. Cheers.