[Aaron]

See I knew u guys would be interested in this...

And SH & Jack are correct that I observe a number of different factors to try and pick out the serious trolls from the noise.

And it's no exact science of course.

Some of it is just kiddie pranking, and some just Internet noise.

But some posters exhibit a dexterity of conversational skill coupled with unpopular views which make further scrutiny interesting.

The NeoNazi guys are easier to spot for example, although they have made significant strides over the past few years in "assimilating".

But the corporate or interest trollers tend to be more subtle & "hip" to the whole forum reality.

Slippery little suckers.

You could potentially influence quite a few opinions with a reasonable sounding argument in the right forums after all, so it's natural to expect others to think of this too.

In the end though, their ability to troll here is a consequence of the openness which makes this place valuable.

So we tolerate the special interest nonsense to protect & preserve all of our right to share information freely.

RockDoc is quite correct to wonder who sets the standard.

The answer is simple... I do... this is just my considered opinion after all & I'm not making any specific allegations.

The problem with social engineering is like Malcolm says... Life finds a way.

Good luck with that.

[Kylon]

This should be stickied.

Also, you should have on each forum "Beware of Corporate Trolls", and an explanation of what a corp troll is and all that.

THat way newbies would keep that in mind, weakening the capacity of corporate trollers, while allowing the same amount of freedom we have here.

[TheDude]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Aaron', 'R')ockDoc is quite correct to wonder who sets the standard.

The answer is simple... I do...

[pea-jay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'B')ut the corporate or interest trollers tend to be more subtle & "hip" to the whole forum reality.

Slippery little suckers.

[jboogy]

I think Jack's wikipedia entry kinda' touches on my feelings in the matter , if somebody comes on and promotes a viewpoint opposite of the consesus while being DECEPTIVE about who or what he/she really is and what their(or their employers) agenda really is , then to me that's a troll, I take a dim view of dishonesty in general though. You piss me off though Aaron , you can do all this mega complicated s**t with the computer and I can't get a stinkin emoticon to appear .WTF? P.S. your blue man hypnotized me again today.

[killJOY]

[edit]

[Chaparral]

Hmmmm. Am I heading up to the environment forum to do battle with one of those trolls right now?

How does one cook these trolls, and do they really taste just like chicken?

[Aaron]

Most interesting who has peeked in on this thread but not posted to it.

And who has...

---------------------------------

It's a tough call.

Do I post something so I don't look like a troll or just keep my head down and hope I'm overlooked.

hehe

Sorry... couldn't resist.|

[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jboogy', '.')..You piss me off though Aaron , you can do all this mega complicated s**t with the computer and I can't get a stinkin' emoticon to appear...

[lateralus]

Why not just put a bounty on Corporate trolls, say if you pick one out then you win a new pack of tomato seeds or something?

Or a new dvd player. (I'd like to turn in PMS, I think he works for Dick Cheney's office. )

I expect my dvd player in the mail shortly, and throw in the tomato seeds as well.

[Chaparral]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Aaron', 'M')ost interesting who has peeked in on this thread but not posted to it.

And who has...

---------------------------------

It's a tough call.

Do I post something so I don't look like a troll or just keep my head down and hope I'm overlooked.

hehe

Sorry... couldn't resist.|

[lateralus]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Chaparral', 'Y')ou know what I really like? Fishing trips where the very first cast you make in the entire day, you get a bite. Of course today, it seems as if that may have been the only bite.

[MacG]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Aaron', 'M')ost interesting who has peeked in on this thread but not posted to it.

And who has...

---------------------------------

It's a tough call.

Do I post something so I don't look like a troll or just keep my head down and hope I'm overlooked.

hehe

Sorry... couldn't resist.|

[Chaparral]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('lateralus', 'I')f you have something against sarcastic Canadians spit it out.

[lateralus]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Chaparral', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('lateralus', 'I')f you have something against sarcastic Canadians spit it out.

[lateralus]

Sorry Chaparral, thanks for the Pm. Thought you were jabbing at me. Been a long day. Cheers.

(Must say the fava beans was a good one though)

[Twilight]

A simpler explanation would be completely average individuals posting from work during lunchbreaks and taking precautions against detection by their own network admin. Or has that possibility already been discounted?

I think propaganda people have bigger fish to fry than this web forum.

[NEOPO]

All I want to know is what kind of troll am I and is there a cure?

Geesh Beave I have never wanted to be a mod before this day as I would love to know if the brick walls I have been known to bang my head up against were corporate built or other.
Maybe a mod of the Hall of Flames?

I just typed something and erased it so tell me what I said
I would very seriously like to know who the corporate trolls are though...
Rwwff/agentr?
How do you know one of the mod's isnt a troll? <twilight zone music>

[TITAN]

Personally, I could care less if an admin here at work knew which websites I was visiting.

Actually, I would hope they knew and snooped around a bit. Maybe they would be enlightened...

[Tanada]

Aaron, I sure hope you get paid well for this, I struggle to find time on here while working an 8-5 job plus every third weekend while not making my wife feel neglected. Fortunately, or rather not, she is salary and works late 3 or 4 days a week.

I wouldn't worry about Trolls, they multiply faster the more attention you give them. Ignoring them helps, but not much else does unless you are an Admin and can block their access. Then it becomes the game of value judgements, which I personally don't want to play reguarding other peoples motivations. My standard response to small trolls is, don't feed them, but occasionally I still rise to the bait

As everyone knows I consider many on here misinformed abot Fission, but i don;t think most of them are insincere in their beleifs. Anyone who comes out with numbers can be debated, and the glory of the Internet is, numbers flow like electrons