viewtopic.php?f=5&t=519605
My thread (which I must stress that only I post in) has just been locked. Given that this is something I do to entertain myself and others, I am nonplussed. The reason given for the lock and warning was an almost implausibly general "troll/bait/spam". Certainly runs the gamut, huh? I don't think this is fair. My history of being warned (once, three years ago!) for satirizing men writing women was brought up as part of the reason. I would note two things:
1: While I stand by the fact that what the mod referenced was feminist in nature (I was making fun of people who actually write that way about women and explained as much) I have since toned that down and never replicated it out of respect for the fact that some people might still be offended by it.
2: It has nothing to do with the thread that was locked.
The Mod opens by contending that my introduction was baity/trolly. Who was I baiting? Who was I trolling? Myself? The thread is just me. Nobody else posts in it, nobody else certainly has to read it. I shall post the introduction, which, frankly, I think is quite obviously self deprecating and humorous here:
OOC: Folks, I'll be up front with you. This is satire. In case you're not very educated, that means that all the parts you like and think are good were interpreted correctly and all the parts you don't and think were shitty were intentionally that way and you just don't get it.
THE PIECE is very high-minded. The piece is very cerebral. The piece is allegorical. The piece is noteworthy. The piece is eclectic. The piece, this piece, would be well received at Cannes or Sundance. Essentially, what I'm saying is that it's not very good.
It is an introduction that opens by saying it is satire and ends by saying that it isn't very good. How this can be seen as baiting and not an attempt at humor, I don't know. The Mod proceeded to critique the substance of the style by saying that good satire doesn't inform you it is satire. And yet, in a fit of irony, he took it seriously enough to lock it.
I'm going to quote what trolling is under the OSRS:
"Trolling/Baiting/Gloating: Trolling is defined as posts that are made with the aim of angering people. (like 'ALL JEWS ARE [insert vile comment here]' for example). Someone disagreeing with you does not equate to trolling. Intent is incredibly important and will be judged by the moderators to the best of their abilities. Honest belief does not excuse trolling. Disagreements are expected and conducting yourself in a civil manner is ideal. Trollbaiting is the action of making posts that attract trolls. A prime example of trollbaiting would be gloating over the results of an election."
My gosh. If I wanted to anger people, I wouldn't be posting attempts at humor in Roleplaying. I'd be in General. And the idea of baiting... I mean, who or what am I baiting? It's a closed thread! Nobody else can respond!
The final accusation lumped into the very broad "troll/bait/spam" accusation is, of course, spam. This one is ridiculous on its face. Spam is low effort. I put work and effort into my posts. He doesn't appreciate the results of them? Fine. But that doesn't make something spam.
My nation is run by a Windmill Committee that suppresses knowledge of windmills. My flag is cropped off center. I am very clearly a humorous nation. I write what I write to make people laugh and bring them pleasure. I have been incredibly fortunate enough to have some people reach out to me (one today, about the post that was locked funnily enough) to tell me they enjoy it. I cropped out his name. You'll note the conversation in TG took place before the thread was locked:
https://imgur.com/35PWqKB
That is why I do what I do. To entertain people and make them happy. Not to anger them. Not to bait nonexistent boogeymen. And certainly not to spam the forums.