"Talking to a Troll" Topic

I had an unusual opportunity recently to have a dialogue via email with someone who trolled TMP.

He claimed to be a former Supporting Member. He returned to TMP as a troll to 'do battle' against his imagined enemies here. He repeatedly referred to the TMP community in derogatory terms – incels, people living in basements, and who need protection from the real world. He obviously felt superior, which seemed odd contrasted with his poorly written emails. (I asked about his educational background, but he didn't want to talk about it.)

He had a fixation about wanting to know the exact rule he had broken. Seemed like an OCD type behavior. Surely he didn't think I'd say, "gosh, you're right, Mr. Troll, welcome back to TMP"? I told him there was no point in discussing forum rules with him at this point, as he's not a TMP member any more and never will be again. So he insulted me again and once more demanded to know the Specific Rule he broke.

He showed little interest in the hobby.

So I would sum up this type of troll as:

1. Convinced he is superior to the TMP community, and is driven to convert TMP members to his point of view (or to shame them for disagreeing with him).

2. Gets fixated on 'rules' while being blind to his own antisocial behavior (and the obvious consequences thereof).

3. Despite his perceived superiority, is actually poorly educated or not that intelligent.

Thought I'd pass this along…

Why pass this along Bill? It does nothing for the hobby or for the site. This is between you and the Troll.
Ignore them and focus on TMP.

I think it helps to understand the psychology of the trolls.

It might also lead to more effective forum policies.

There is only one rule.

Don't. Feed. The. Troll.

Think I'm with Murph on this one, I'm just not interested.

I try to ignore or avoid the Trolls and their behaviour. I'm really not interested in what makes them tick, I dont want to understand them or empathise with them. This is my hobby time and I dont want waste it on Trolls and their behaviour. Clearly this guy is a moron and a waste of time.

I'm glad Bill and his team are deleting their posts and blocking their accounts and frankly thats the exact job of a moderator.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject"--Winston Churchill

I am with nsolomon

I agree with Murphy and the others. I'm not interested in understanding the psychology of a troll and if I was, I'd ask a psychologist not a forum editor.

DBDD

The Evangelical Troll is the worst: like why Games Workshop is bad or you're an idiot for not playing Empire 16th Edition.

It's a case of live and let live. I like Bolt Action, Black Seas and you're not going to convince me any is better. It's like they are unsure of their positions and need validation. Luckily I'm so full of myself I don't care what you think.

Metatron on youtube has dealt with folks like this, if you want a good fun watch, go to this YouTube link LOL!

It is too bad you can't get some kind of restraining order…

I don't mind the idea of being able to email you to talk about it or asking about it, Bill. Sometimes you need to be able to appeal to the referee as it were. Actually, your email is a bit hard to figure out.

I actually did get banned once. I made some joke comment and the young ladies banned me because they thought it was political, when I thought it was pretty innocent common thing to say. I was lucky enough to contact you and ask about it.

But this example you are saying is strictly and blatantly trolling for the sake of disruption.

Sometimes you need that review to confirm it.

TMP the play by email Wargame! You could be on to something here Bill

Opponents
Rules
Disagreement

It's a wargame ;)

I don't mind the idea of being able to email you to talk about it or asking about it, Bill.

And we try to make a practice of communicating with the person, usually Editor Gwen does this, if we think there is any chance of a misunderstanding or of the person changing their behavior.

The challenge in dealing with serial trolls, and the point I was trying to make in my initial post, is that their mental pathology gets in the way. They have tremendous vanity issues, so if we ask them to go away, their knee-jerk response is to immediately come back and cause more trouble. This is especially true because trolls often have a 'savior complex' where they think they uniquely can 'save' a forum by fighting against their imagined enemies.

There's also a few "Trolls' in Convention games; I've run many games at con's & shop game days & have had a couple of guys that that sign up for my games & invariably argue the rules or fudge on their moves. They know that my 1st commandment is that of a D&D Dungeon Master--"The Games Master is always right." I wonder why they waste a game slot to do so.

Despite his perceived superiority, is actually poorly educated or not that intelligent.

Sounds like the standard for trolls …

It is too bad you can't get some kind of restraining order…

Or kick the troll's … well you know the rest …

Herkybird – thanks! That was hilarious. Made my day.

What Murphy said – I've no interest in Trolls or their
interchanges with Bill or his assistants.

What Murphy said – I've no interest in Trolls or their
interchanges with Bill or his assistants.

Then don't read the topic.

But trolls and how to deal with them is a germane subject for discussion in any online community. And I think a general understanding of trolls and their psychology of useful for anyone on social media.

I did get one more email from the troll, but it was incomprehensible. Which reminds me that some trolls are likely drunk when trolling! We've had a few 'drunk posters' on TMP over the years, most of them benign souls.

useful advice, I've always found, is to ignore critters
seeking attention – as long as they are not destructive.

Got this advice from a person who intro'd me to running
a BBS way back about 40 years ago.

Works with cats and dogs, too.

"The Evangelical Troll is the worst: like why Games Workshop is bad"

That's not trolling that's just true.