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by Jef McDonald
Monday, Jul. 02, 2001 at 2:00 AM
No organization for protest created "BioFizzle" in San Diego
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by Wavy Gravy
Monday, Jul. 02, 2001 at 2:03 AM
We were beat, on to WOODSTOCK!!!!!!!
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by sdsach
Monday, Jul. 02, 2001 at 2:11 AM
Since la.indymedia.org / sandiego.indymedia.org has recently received a surge of
attention in the wake of the BIO conference, it's fitting to take note of some of the
unfortunately unwelcome attention that inevitably comes along with the largely
welcome kind. I refer to the noticeable uptick in insulting and baiting invectives with
which the site is here and there littered of late. While it shouldn't overly concern us, we
should use common sense in handling it. On Usenet, there is a word for the authors of
this kind of material. They are called "trolls." The definition of "troll" from the Computer
Jargon Dictionary is:
troll v.,n.
1. [From the Usenet group alt.folklore.urban] To utter a posting on
Usenet designed to attract predictable responses or flames; or, the post
itself. Derives from the phrase "trolling for newbies" which in turn comes
from mainstream "trolling", a style of fishing in which one trails bait through
a likely spot hoping for a bite. The well-constructed troll is a post that
induces lots of newbies and flamers to make themselves look even more
clueless than they already do, while subtly conveying to the more savvy
and experienced that it is in fact a deliberate troll. If you don't fall for the
joke, you get to be in on it. See also YHBT. 2. An individual who
chronically trolls in sense 1; regularly posts specious arguments, flames or
personal attacks to a newsgroup, discussion list, or in email for no other
purpose than to annoy someone or disrupt a discussion. Trolls are
recognizable by the fact that they have no real interest in learning about
the topic at hand - they simply want to utter flame bait. Like the ugly
creatures they are named after, they exhibit no redeeming characteristics,
and as such, they are recognized as a lower form of life on the net, as in,
"Oh, ignore him, he's just a troll." Compare kook. 3. [Berkeley] Computer
lab monitor. A popular campus job for CS students. Duties include helping
newbies and ensuring that lab policies are followed. Probably so-called
because it involves lurking in dark cavelike corners.
Some people claim that the troll (sense 1) is properly a narrower category
than flame bait, that a troll is categorized by containing some assertion
that is wrong but not overtly controversial. See also Troll-O-Meter.
The use of `troll' in either sense is a live metaphor that readily produces
elaborations and combining forms. For example, one not infrequently
sees the warning "Do not feed the troll" as part of a followup to troll
postings.
Now, having defined the term, it becomes much easier to detect and figure out what
to do with them. As the venerable Jargon Dictionary points out above, the sage
counsel of every veteran is "don't feed the animals." Ignore them. They will tire of their
antics much quicker if they don't get the responses they want. Remember, by
definition, they're not here because they take any kind of active interest in the opinions
of others, least of all anyone here. Whether they're cops, rightwing agitators, or
whatever else, it's pointless to engage them.
What's another surefire sign of a troll? How about someone posting a message to the
newswire that
reads, "What on earth was all that protesting about? Much todo about nothing! I never
could figure it out!" Somehow, they managed to follow the news close enough to pick
up on the existence of this site, managed to wade past the numerous detailed
arguments (albeit amidst some admixture of their own and other's incoherent
diatribes), but never could figure out what anyone was protesting?
Or how about someone posting a series of insults, repeated over and over again,
while resolutely ignoring any rational arguments. That's another surefire sign of a troll.
Obviously true trolls will not take the trouble to read and respond to detailed
arguments. They are not here to challenge themselves with intellectual polemics.
Anyhow, you get the picture: Don't feed the trolls!
Thanks in advance,
Guy Berliner
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by LA-IMC
Monday, Jul. 02, 2001 at 3:03 AM
Three duplicate postings of this article (with duplicate comments) were hidden.
la.indymedia.org
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by zigs
Monday, Jul. 02, 2001 at 12:24 PM
This is another duplicate. It's the same article posted a few stories down under a different title "Activists ponder...". Please delete this post also and all the other duplicates.There are several re-psts with the same story littered throughout this site. Thank you.
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by LA
Monday, Jul. 02, 2001 at 1:44 PM
The only reason these post are showing up is to get a reaction. Just ignore them. If you waste your time and energy coming up with comebacks you are only feeding their egos and doing exactly what they want, to get a reation out of you.
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by Mrs. Malaprop
Monday, Jul. 02, 2001 at 5:53 PM
No, don't encourage Guy (aka sdsach) to quit responding!!! It's fun watching someone so inebriated in the exuberance of their own verbosity!!! Guy's malapropisms are hilarious!!!!
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by lacy
Monday, Jul. 02, 2001 at 6:20 PM
lacymc59@hotmail.com
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by IC
Monday, Jul. 02, 2001 at 8:50 PM
I agree... Huhh? is the only response I could come up with too... This GUY musta spent HOURS on his reply.
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