when you engage with the trolls

[MitchiestInge]

. . . is it a personal thing (actually engaging emotionally) or are you communicating with a wider, more silent audience or are there other motivations?

I can't work out why more people don't ignore them, but every now and then the exchanges are unintentionally funny or interesting - although mostly it gets very dull very quickly. Wondering what's in it for them too.

Ifoundmygspot - I have only come across your posts once on the feminist forum. I reported one of your posts and it was deleted because it was a personal attack. (You called someone insane).

You may have suffered injustice at the hands of the feminist forum, on other threads on which I was not present, but I think you might find it a friendlier place if you didn't insult people and question their mental health because you disagree with them.

Nice post FromGirders .

Beachcomber, I remember that thread and I didn't call the poster insane, I called their assumption insane.

I think people have to understand that 'feminism' is a very misleading term as it encompasses such a huge diversity of opinion, and much like any other group of generally like minded people you will get extremists, and their voices are usually the loudest and their opinions are vociferously defended and usually those holding them will try and say you aren't a true whatever if you don't see things from their point of view.

I'm delurking again to post on this topic hoping that now that the derailment seems to be tapering off, this post might get noticed.

I don't often post, but I read a lot so that when I do post, I post carefully. The problem seems to be that by the time I post, the thread, whatever it may be, has already been derailed. Thus, it seems, anything I post gets lost in the sea of derailment. That is, it feels as if no one notices anything I post even to say it's shite because they are busy defending the basic tenets of feminism again. As a result, I never have any idea if anything I'm saying has any worth or if it is worthless. And it discourages me from posting, because what is the point if no one will engage because they haven't got time to do so?

So, I suppose in that sense, unfortunate as it is, the derailers have won and effectively silenced this woman. I'm sorry about that, but I have limited reserves of assertion and I've reached mine.

Many threads go 'off topic'...not just in this section, but I rarely if ever see that called 'derailing' elsewhere. (See my previous post for possible reason)

Please don't be put off- if there's one thing we can do, whether MNHQ endorse it or not, it's to make a conscious effort to engage with newer posters who aren't derailing. I'd hate for you to feel unwelcome.

"And it discourages me from posting, because what is the point if no one will engage because they haven't got time to do so?"

i agree that it is boring to talk to yourself, and even more boring to have to read some posters saying the same thing over and over again. i do think there is always a point in posting - i often don't comment on someone's post because of the single-thread nature of here, and by the time i could comment the conversation has moved on massively but that doesn't mean that i haven't taken on board what they said.

maybe we should have an agreed convention for people who are derailing? so someone who is determinedly posting in a derailing way should get called on it? Shameless Thread Derailing? they could be announced with STD alerts...

The post wouldn't have been deleted in that case Ifoundmygspot, and I wouldn't have reported it. I can assure you it was the poster you called insane not the views (the word 'you') was in the sentence. It was phrased as a question.

Has this thread just been derailed ?

skrumle, 'STD' has other connotations where I come from :)

really??

I believe that was the point, Gspot. Much like Manky Rectal Abcess.

I'm glad you posted that mumwithdice. You have identified very well one of the major issues with derailing/intentional disruption. They are both silencing. And they silence genuine posters who wish to contribute positively.

There's a difference between "going off-topic" and "being dragged deliberately away from the topic in hand in order to make everyone give up in fury and frustration."

Yes- I enjoy a pleasant meander. But derailment tends to inspire feelings which would sound like "ggnnnnnnnnnnnah" if verbalised.

Well, its probably not to post anything else on this thread that is contentious, but I really need to get off my chest some thoughts about people who drive at 20mph in a 40mph zone, if thats OK.

I have noticed while driving around that there are some people who drive at 20mph in a 40 zone, just to piss others off.

These 20 mph drivers should not be mistaken with those who drive slowly because they are unsure of the road. You can generally tell the difference as the ones who drive at 20 to piss people off only drive at 20 in a 40 zone, are very boring if you are in the car with them and will not be seen driving on any other roads in the district.

The believe that the best thing to do when you see such drivers is to overtake them serenely and calmly. Do not comment on their driving, or suggest they pull over as that is what they want you to do. If you drive up to their bumpers or criticise their driving they will protest! ?Oh you mean drivers,? they will say. ?I?m not doing anything wrong! I?m not breaking any rules of the road! I?m merely driving calmly and sensibly and those people who criticise my driving are aggressive drivers who think they own the road.?

Unfortunately when this happens, some other drivers who perhaps may drive at 20mph as they are unsure of the road, will see the criticisms and the protests and join in, saying ?Oh you horrible aggressive drivers. Don?t you know the roads are for everyone?? As they don?t understand that the other driver is doing it just to annoy people.

The fact is that this is an open road that can be driven on by any number of drivers. When faced with the ones who drive at 20 to piss you off, drive on by. Overtake them and impress other, reasonable drivers with your superior driving skills. Then there will be no road rage and the ones who are driving at 20 as they are unsure of the road will join in, start driving faster and realise that some of the others are just on the road to annoy them.

In summary: If there is someone in front of you, driving at 20mph just to piss you off, spoil their fun by driving on by. After all, what fun is there in doing something to annoy others if it doesn?t work?

Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts about annoying drivers.

ooo maybe it's a wry comment on the derailing