Trolls AB FAQ Permalink

"Troll" can be both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it means "those who exhibit internet trolling behavior". As a verb, it means, basically, "doing what internet trolls do". If you are called that, it means you've done, or at least they think you did something negative to someone, either toward them, or toward someone else.

In answer to a duplicate question of "I heard people talking about trolls on AB, what are they?" New Window, I responded as follows:

Wikipedia has a number of articles on the various types of Internet Trolls New Window, including an essay entitled, "What is a troll?" New Window, that, while written specifically for Wikipedia, pretty much could be translated for Answerbag.

So, all in all, a Troll is simply someone who wants to disrupt a website. On Answerbag, they will:

1. downrate (without commenting)
   1. good and bad answers (MORE THAN ONE!)
   2. anyone they don't agree with
   3. a person they dislike
   4. and more
2. argue all the time, usually nastily
3. call the person they're arguing with and anyone who attempts to intervene vile names
4. if they actually comment (argue/name-calling), they're usually very low-level trolls
5. ask nasty questions about Answerbag or Answerbag members
6. other "bad" things (if you think of any more that "trolls" do, let me know)

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Handling Trolls AB FAQ Permalink

Joel (Answerbag founder) asked and answered the question "How do I deal with a troll on Answerbag?" New Window in the category "Troll Peeves", to explain. Here's the answer:

I answered another question, "What exactly are you suppose to do when your being Trolled?" New Window that turned out to be a duplicate of Joel's. Here's my answer:

Someone asked the question "I've been heavily targeted by trolls the last few days. I am going to go back on leave as this is not fun like I thought it would be. Someone let me know if they fix that k? I'll explain more in an answer." New Window

Here's the answer noted in the question:

They created screenshots of many downrates, and posted them in the question as another answer, so everyone could see that they weren't making it up. See the source for the following "answer" to the question:

And, I answered with what I think is the definitive answer for when you are REALLY being hit hard:

So, the best thing you can if you are trolled is:

1. for a few downrates:
   1. to try to ignore them
      Many long-time users who are trolled a lot leave their ratings turned off so they don't even see them.
   2. leave a little comment for them and let it go
      This not only tells others you've been downrated, but if your comment points out how correct your answer is, or explains the answer further, then others who read it may "posi-troll" you (see below), and show their support in comments. (Makes the troll look bad.)
   3. Send an email to Answerbag Admin () with:
      1. the URL of the question, or Permalink of the answer. on which the situation occurred
      2. the problem as you see it
      3. screen shots of your activity or feedback page(s), showing the list of downrates (if necessary) NOTE: You may wish to turn off the answers and comments, so only ratings appear.
2. for nastiness or almost anything else, first and foremost, DO NOT RETALIATE IN KIND. If you can state your case without being nasty back, you make the trolls look bad. If you do retaliate, then YOU look bad, too, and may be PBed, as well.
   Then:
   1. contact a Community Leader (see ABUG - Policing Answerbag - Community Leaders section) with the URL of the question, or the Permalink of the answer in which it occurs. They are usually faster than the site admins at this.
   2. on the page on which it occurs,
      1. scroll to the bottom of the page
      2. click Feedback (the page URL will be loaded automatically)
      3. fill out the form with with the problem as you see it
   3. Send an email to Answerbag Admin () with:
      1. the URL of the question, or Permalink of the answer, on which the situation occurred
      2. the problem as you see it
      3. screen shot(s) of the nastiness (The questions, answers, or comments may be "cleaned up" before staff sees it. That's one of the Community Leaders' jobs.)

Arisztid New Window has created a comprehensive guide to dealing with clones and trolls, asking, then answering, the question "What is the most effective way to get rid of a clone (someone who is mimicking a real AB member's name and/or picture) or an out and out troll? My answer shall be inside:" New Window. The answer is quite long, so I have not reproduced any of it here. Click the question or New Window, following it. I may put it on an ABUG Appendix page. We'll see.

There are also several members of AB who are members of the Anti-Troll Club called COAT ("Coalition of Anti Trolls"). Almost all may be recognized as they have "COAT of" following their names. Find one that's on, or been on in the last few minutes (check their activity), and tell them in their last comment thread that you have been trolled and where. They will probably marshal the troops, and you should be posi-trolled by at least a few of them.

From Arisztid's Profile:

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Posi-Trolls AB FAQ Permalink

"Posi-Troll" (Positive Troll) can be both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it means "those who exhibit posi-trolling behavior". As a verb, it means, basically, "doing what posi-trolls do". If you are called that, it means you've done, or at least they think you did, something positive toward someone, either toward them, or toward someone else.

Posi-Trolls , or as some call them, "Post-Trolls", are members who reverse the "damaging" downrates done by Trolls (see above). They will occasionally posi-troll a whole question's answers, or if they find out someone's been trolled, all of that person's trolled questions or answers. They will, sometimes, simply find someone they like, and posi-troll their answers.

This is normally a good thing, but if a posi-troller simply does it for the latter reason only, and don't actually read the answers, making sure they are good, they are doing a bit of a disservice to both Answerbag and the person they are posi-trolling. To Answerbag, as the idea is to have the best answers at the top of each question's list of answers. Posi-trolling (as can trolling) can change that order, so a "bad" answer, or one that's not quite as good, can be the "Top Answer" for a given question. Posi-trolling questions falls into the same category. For the person, they may believe that their answer or question is the best, and not strive to do better.

Posi-trolling is seen in a positive light, but please posi-troll with Answerbag's and the person's interests in mind.

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