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Trolling and Debating. What's the Difference?

sanjuro said:
This is a good example of trolling.

He makes a fairly general statement, then uses a word like indoctrination.

Personally, I find BARF to be moderate. There are some fairly conservative viewpoints here. I enjoy the debate though.
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Hell it's polled out in the sink as like 60% white collar for chrissakes
 
Last few post are fine examples. Anyone who might oppose something their pushing. Gets the troll label.
 
Bronto said:
Last few post are fine examples. Anyone who might oppose something their pushing. Gets the troll label.
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So you deny that your post was intended to be productive and coaxe a responce?
 
Bronto said:
Last few post are fine examples. Anyone who might oppose something their pushing. Gets the troll label.
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I think it is when you disagree then offer nothing to prove your point.

I thought you were trolling, then I offerred several points to back my argument.

You accused BARF of being "constant leftist propaganda". It is an enraging accusation, and with no backing facts, like how BARFers always support unions or gun control, it is like baiting a hook for someone to bite.
 
Melissa said:
but Piney, this describes everyone and all things in the world.
Why you so harsh?


(sulking away back into the dark night weeping tearful salty H2O)
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ahh caint hep it :dunno
 
I do disagree with you on the "making statements as facts" part. There should be an area of flexibility on the reader's part which prevents them from locking onto something so literally. If someone says, "mods are jerks", the reader should know that while the person may be speaking in absolutes, they don't mean it in absolutes. To me, it's more the reader being a bit robotic, as well as the writer misspeaking, than it is trolling.
 
byke said:
I do disagree with you on the "making statements as facts" part. There should be an area of flexibility on the reader's part which prevents them from locking onto something so literally. If someone says, "mods are jerks", the reader should know that while the person may be speaking in absolutes, they don't mean it in absolutes. To me, it's more the reader being a bit robotic, as well as the writer misspeaking, than it is trolling.
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a quick check indicates that 90% of your facts are 99% incorrect :twofinger

You make a good point, but I think it depends where you are in the conversation when you whip out the opinions given as facts.

As an opening statement, that seems pretty trolly-o to me

I think DucatiHoney kinda covered this too, if you can manage to have some co-operative relationships, instead of just adversarial ones, it indicates (to me) that trolling isn't your primary goal
 
byke said:
I do disagree with you on the "making statements as facts" part. There should be an area of flexibility on the reader's part which prevents them from locking onto something so literally. If someone says, "mods are jerks", the reader should know that while the person may be speaking in absolutes, they don't mean it in absolutes. To me, it's more the reader being a bit robotic, as well as the writer misspeaking, than it is trolling.
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Exactly. If someone says "Harley riders are mostly into it for the lifestyle", it's pretty fucking obvious that it's just an opinion, so there is no need for him to add "IMHO" to it.

Also if someone says "VW's are not exactly one of the most reliable cars you can buy" (as several people here have in fact said).......It's most likely based on an assortment of personal experiences, articles, and secondhand he-said she-said that they have accumulated over the years. There usually isn't going to be one single source. So to call them a troll unless they list each of those bits of information complete with source, dates and names is pretty silly IMO.
 
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planegray said:
a quick check indicates that 90% of your facts are 99% incorrect :twofinger

You make a good point, but I think it depends where you are in the conversation when you whip out the opinions given as facts.

As an opening statement, that seems pretty trolly-o to me

I think DucatiHoney kinda covered this too, if you can manage to have some co-operative relationships, instead of just adversarial ones, it indicates (to me) that trolling isn't your primary goal
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Haha, a great example. I'll agree that with you on the context, especially when discussing detailed statistics, or anything scientific. I don't agree with DucHon either because some people do want to debate everything and that probably appears argumentative, but I don't view that as trolling...unless we can agree that all lawyers are trolls IRL. :p Perhaps if someone wants to debate everything and be rude about it, maybe then...or maybe they're just from New York. :teeth
 
byke said:
Haha, a great example. I'll agree that with you on the context, especially when discussing detailed statistics, or anything scientific. I don't agree with DucHon either because some people do want to debate everything and that probably appears argumentative, but I don't view that as trolling...unless we can agree that all lawyers are trolls IRL. :p Perhaps if someone wants to debate everything and be rude about it, maybe then...or maybe they're just from New York. :teeth
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I should have mentioned that I don't think that ALL trolling is bad, when debating/arguing it's one of the tools we all use... too much though, and not only do we think you're not too bright (because of your lack of tools to communicate with) but your intentions become suspect.

Yeah, there are some folks that just can't agree with anyone, I think that's another symptom of someone who primarily trolls......nothing really constructive to offer, but occasionally entertaining.
 
planegray said:
:sigh


Alan would've posted a picture of a Hitler cat........ just sayin' :twofinger
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You happy now?

467848.jpg
 
A lot of it has to do with tone, intent (or perceived intent) and whether or not the "argument" has anything to do with the debate at all.

Some people will just disagree to disagree, and this is a form of trolling. It's an active endeavor. Some people do it even if they agree with the person and they just want to piss them off.

Trolls for the most part have some system down with their arguments. Good ones are linear with arguments but falter once that script is shot down and generally disappear.
Bad ones will stay stupid shit and then fight about grammar when they haven't actually come up with anything other than a "lol fgts".

However, it is really difficult to discern the first from someone who is debating. A lot of people call troll when the argument gets off topic and they start bringing up wikipedia articles and dictionary definitions or just start generally talking at people instead of to them. However, these people are usually just so passionate about their opinion that they will make an ass of themselves before walking away or admitting they're beat.

Trolling at its core is acting stupid or angry or whatever just to get a reaction. Whether it's posting gore and porn spam on Neopets to someone coming in and adamantly stating things that serve only to rile people up (if someone came on here and joined just to post that everyone on a motorcycle deserves to die and then posted crash aftermath photos, etc.)

It is called a bit too often these days. Trolls used to be obvious things everyone hated while now it's just used as an insult like "idiot".
 
Daks said:
Some people will just disagree to disagree, and this is a form of trolling. It's an active endeavor. Some people do it even if they agree with the person and they just want to piss them off.
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I call this playing Devil's advocate. Many times a thread completely becomes one sided. Playing Devil's advocate should be serious representation.

Autta try it sometimes going against the popular notion. There isn't any rewards beyond attempting to have a balanced discussion. Example next time a BARF Religious thread bash starts. Try being the Christian among atheists.
 
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