hi stellar - the child's current goal is to work for college humor. thats his starter job when he is in high school. he says he has to go to college in nyc so he can work there at the same time. he thinks once you are done with college, you are done with the college humor franchise.

sorry if some j-hole has been bothering you.

I'd ask, what am I missing, but I bet it's not all that interesting.

Heh, good luck to the child. This is clever stuff. Looking forward to it. No bother to me, just a energy wasted.

I have to admit that I sometime use them for amusement while I’m waiting for the coffee to brew (kind of like a car wreck…you just can’t look away sometimes).

They also act as a pretty good highlighter for trolls, not that they are that hard to spot anyways.

You, turkish devil and damned devil's sister and friend, secretary to Lucifer himself. What the devil kind of knight are you, that can't slay a hedgehog with your naked arse? The devil shits, and your army eats. You will not, you son of a bitch, make subjects of Christian sons; we've no fear of your army, by land and by sea we will battle with thee.

You Babylonian scullion, Macedonian wheelwright, brewer of Jerusalem, goat-fucker of Alexandria, swineherd of Greater and Lesser Egypt, Armenian pig, Podolian thief, catamite of Tartary, hangman of Kamyanets, and fool of all the world and underworld, an idiot before God, grandson of the Serpent, and the crick in our dick. Pig's snout, mare's arse, slaughterhouse cur, unchristened brow!

So the Zaporozhians declare, you lowlife. You won't even be herding Christian pigs. Now we'll conclude, for we don't know the date and don't own a calendar; the moon's in the sky, the year in the book, the day's the same over here as it is over there; for this kiss our arse!

They're great for getting the top of a really big creme brulee nice and brown and crunchy. Or for adding smoky depth to your spareribs.

:-)

(I'd ask who's flaming now, but I honestly don't care.)

My goodness, Nan, what are you into (and it's only mid-day).

I kinda like to see the trolls and Misrepresented Conservatives and who-all show up on your blog and get whalloped. But I understand - it must get tiresome and they require more reason to live than serving our amusement...

eloquent in many ways. rated

nan, can you send these off to them? I much prefer them to being called the things they call me.

Creme brulee, the new flame war.

mark; they do

Myriad, it does take a toll on my energy field:)

perhaps you should copy those comments and create a new Friday wrap-up of stupid people and the stupid comments they leave. You'd probably make the cover! Or at least they'd make College Humor video out of it.

Damn - I was just about to start one!

Oh yes! Every few months a new crop shows up. This latest one is a doozy. We will overcome...

Though I know it's an energy drain, the fact that you sometimes draw trolls to your posts is a testament to how effective your writing is. People only don troll garb and comment all nasty when you've struck a nerve. You should get a prize for "OSer Most Likely To Inspire Halfwits To Attack."

Flame wars? Or online debating?

Stellaa's idea of a troll is someone who has the audacity to question her nutty assertions. She likes to throw down the gauntlet then run away.

Look at her post about the "American Right". The entire post was a flaming bash on her political enemy. When someone finally takes an opposing position to her comments, she calls it a flame war and deletes comments.

I know I know. I had my first trolls the past 2 weeks..... Yuck

Likely I missed something here, but I revert back to..."Sticks and stones..."
and your graciousness well displayed here.

There's reasoned, rational debate, and then there's a flame war. But while rational debate is good, it's so fun to watch a nice flame war. You don't even need to have the popcorn cooked. You can just put it by the computer and watch.

I certainly hope that my back and forth with you does not constitute a flame war in your book.

Tony, hell no. I love our back and forth. What we do is not a flame war. You post, you comment and you don't do the passive aggressive stuff. You are never a bully. You argue, I love to argue.

John, you accuse liberals of victimhood. I am tired of conservativ/libertarian/republican/ whatever it is you call yourself victimhood. Stop the whining.

Brilliant clip, just wonderful!

Everyone should read Stellaa's post here: http://www.open.salon.com/blog/stellaa/2009/11/03/american_distaste_for_government

Then read the comments. The first 30 or so comments are all pats on the back for a nice bash on conservatives.

My comments specifically addressed her assertions. I posted a quote from her and then argued against it. How is that a "flame war"?

It only became heated because Stellaa could not defend her own comments. She could not offer anything to back up her assertions. Other than that, it was a rather tame discussion.

Everyone here should read that blog: http://www.open.salon.com/blog/stellaa/2009/11/03/american_distaste_for_government

I got told to get here with marshmallows.

Ready!

Marshmellows!!! Yum.

Bwahaha! Killer video, Stellaa. Your blog, your rules. I remember back when and the wars where more common. I think the old timers get it, at least on this sight. Used to be a massive conflagration every two or three weeks. Maybe we've matured. Not me personally, but most everybody else.

I will avoid the obvious pull to bait the trolls, but I have kept a bag of popcorn beside my laptop just in case I can get some available passive aggressive energy to pop it for me sans microwave.

The thing that always kills me: the tone hasn't changed since the 3rd grade when the bullies stomped around at recess doing their best to spoil any friendly games that were going. Being a 5'3" shorty, I have known a certain amount of physical intimidation from big loud men, but online I can be as assertive as necessary. Besides, I really don't get why folks go out of their way to be an irritant. Trollhood: It's like aspiring to be toxic.

I spent the greater portion of my legal education sitting between two doctors who were law students, one liberal and the other a conservative. We went to coffee together on breaks, we argued, we studied together, we were friends, we made each other better. We made each other aware of the actual thought that went into one anothers positions and we respected one anothers efforts and attacked the weaknesses we found without being asshats to one another. So I know it is possible.

John Knight,

Ponder your own behaviour before asking us to ponder someone else’s.

Here’s an example:
Squeakin' By creates a new blog and says “The purpose of this blog is to offer money saving tips and advice to folks” and asks “No politics, religion or judgement/condescension on this blog please. Let's just help each other out.”

All the commenters but one (you) seem to like the idea and offer support and some cost cutting ideas.

Your contribution was: “Cost saving advice: don't vote for socialists and Marxists.”

Perhaps you didn’t read the blog or understand the blog's purpose ( but still choose to comment), or you choose to ignore the request for “no politics”.

Which one was it?

Or maybe you are just a troll.

rated for honesty and laughs

A line from Red Dawn leaps to mind "You're gonna burn yourself up with all that hate kid" "It keeps me warm" I noticed that your troll didn't come see the post that he asked for. Or so much as respond to the PM I sent containing it. Put up or shut up Johnny

I don't know what this is about but got a kick of reading nantehay's comment up on top. "the crick in our dick" lol hilarious.

I really don't get it. There are people on OS whose positions irritate me ... I don't bother reading them, much less comment.

I can see nothing wrong with constructive criticism or honest, well-argued disagreement, but inflammatory, derogatory comments made simply to antagonize are, like violence, the last refuge of the incompetent. (You know who you are.)

You folks are obsessed with this "trolling" thing. The obsession is very childish. I would love to see some examples of "trolling". Since joining here last week, I've been called a "troll" probably a dozen times. For what? Because I disagree? Because I can be harsh? Or is it simply that you feel conservatives in general are "trolls"? Are there any liberals on the site who you consider to be a "troll"?

I love that video!
I don't know about this flame war. Not keeping up with it.

John,
This is a troll. Excuse me while I quote from your most recent post:
"Which leads me to another observation. Women are really bad, generally speaking, at rational discourse. They are great at telling you how they feel, which explains why Open Salon reads like an open diary.

Engage most any female on this site with an opposing viewpoint; fake it if you must. The women here seem to be offended at the very idea of being questioned. The response will most often be that you really should not be posting here and that you are most likely an [fill in pejorative here]."


What you have done here is thrown out your basic third grade "I hate girls," plaint to see how many folks will either a) pile on, or b) call you on your bullshit. Having read through your post, I can conclude that you've come to OS, don't like what you see, blame it on women--because, you've decided after your days of study--that we are irrational creatures incapable of rational argument--and thus, you don't know what OS is. But, you don't like it. Damnit. And why doesn't it change to accommodate you?
And yet, you hang around.
See, if I went to a site where I didn't like the content (say Free Republic), I would simply stay away. I wouldn't attempt to bait anyone into an argument, mostly because you cannot speak rationally to someone who still believes that our current president was not born in the USA. Not to mention the fact that sites such as FR immediately delete the comments of anyone who disagrees with its party line. So much for the First Amendment.
See, I believe that when Thomas Jefferson greatly improved John Locke's Second Treatise on Government by changing the word "property" to "happiness," he envisioned a system far in the future where the individual was free to write whatever they damn well pleased on their blog posts, and were free to delete those who simply showed up to shit in the living room, so to speak.

And by the way? That "who" in your last sentence? Should be whom.

finger,

I'm a "troll" for writing that on my own blog? You don't like my opinion so you call it trolling. That is ridiculous. You are confirming my assertion that a "troll" is simply someone you disagree with.

@fingerlakeswanderer: thank you.


Troll tactics:
-reversal of blame- harass and insult other members, and when someone replies in kind, play the victim. which of course leads to:

-cry 'group think' or "herd mentality".... if everyone cant stand your obsessive annoyance, it must mean that they are brainwashed drones following the orders of some mysterious leader. after all, in a normal and constructive social setting harrasment and stalking would be welcomed and encouraged

-play 'Savior of the forums'.
they always do this and its a dead giveaway. whenever someone signs of claiming to want to bring peace to the forum, get ready for some trolling as they will attack contributing veterans and accuse them of killing discussion. one failed attempt after another to rally everyone behind them.

- the only post you posted attacked a large swath of posters and was filled with hatred against women (typical troll characteristic).

- You went to every one of the posts on gay marriage and the Maine election and posted something inflamatory.
-

I wonder how many people here actually read Stellaa's blog on the "American Right". The comments centered around the assertions she made. It wasn't a "flame war" nor was there any "trolling".

Of course, its her blog so she can do whatever she wants as far as the comments go. But it says a lot about her that she would write such a harsh post and then get mad when a couple of people point out the flaws in her assertions. She deleted my comments, turned off commenting on the blog, then writes this lame post about a supposed "flame war". Of course, she immediately gets the obligatory set of pats on the back even though none of the commenters have any idea what "flame war" Stellaa was referring to.

There was no "flame war", Stellaa. There was no "trolling". And there was no "bullying". There was just you taking your ball and walking away because you couldn't answer the questions posed to you.

How does finger's comments not qualify as "trolling"?

Figure it out John, stop being shrill.

I brought chocolate, anyone got graham crackers?

I still have a whole bag of marshmallows here.

I'm waiting for the flames to get a little higher...

Stellaa,

Do you ever give an actual answer to a question? I don't even understand what you are saying. You just throw things out there and let others come to your defense. Then, you basically say, "yeah, what he said."

Fingerlake is an obvious troll here. But he's a liberal troll so no one cares.

I've heard that if you take small marshmallows and throw them to chickens, they peck at them and get them stuck on their beaks, like little corks.

actually, John. I've asked stellaa to remove my last comment. I slipped to your level, and that's ridiculous. I'm better than that. I apologize to the OS community for being so crass.

He is she. I know her, she posts for a long time. I repeat:
cry 'group think' or "herd mentality".... if everyone cant stand your obsessive annoyance, it must mean that they are brainwashed drones following the orders of some mysterious leader. after all, in a normal and constructive social setting harrasment and stalking would be welcomed and encouraged


@Marcel love the image of the chickens.

Not sure how you've stooped to my level when I never wrote something like that.

That is big of you to ask for it to be removed. But why didn't Stellaa or anyone else call it out?

Stellaa said "Figure it out John, stop being shrill." She obviously thought there was nothing wrong with it.

I loved the video, life's too short for flame war

John, I think you got enough attention. I did not even mention names, yet you assumed this was about you. So, just enjoy the video and get a grip. Go put together a post that tells us what is it that you stand for? Honestly, we are really looking for articulate conservative thinkers.

I've also heard that if the chickens get wise to the marshmallows, you can switch to colored ones and start all over again. (I'm sure there's a metaphor in this)

What's the correct onomatopoeia is for that sound that comes right after "war?" Huh doesn't quite cut it. Regardez mon visage ... énormément drôle!

Yes, I'm sure you are, Stellaa. Based on what you wrote in your "American Right" blog I don't think you know what conservatism is.

FingerLake is a troll and you, John, are not [wow] (and profess not to understand the term) (and commented repeatedly on that post of Stellaa's quite off-the-point, with your personal notion of *conservative* as opposed to what was being referred to, namely Republican tea-bag types, and then complaining... (your FEEEEEEElings)...

Gee, the consummate troll! Well, close. Not foul-mouthed and disgusting enough for first-class, but pretty good.

Stacey: Regardez mon visage, am I bovered?

@ Myriad, :)

Uhm, I was out all day, but are there any marshmallows left? I'm kinda hungry. And the rest of this has become a big yawn. (no offence to you stellaa)

Wrong Myriad. Stella did not mention "tea-bag types". Nor did she refer to those on the fringe right. Here's exactly who she referred to in her own words:

"I am confounded by a paradox in thinking by conservatives and libertarians. Let me see if I can break it down and not fall in the pit of confusion and distortion that they come seem to embrace with gusto.

This is how the conservative thinking goes: " - Stellaa

She also mentioned Reagan. I addressed her exact points.

I'm with you on this. Got your back even.

Question: Does it count as a flame when somebody spits on your team right on your own blog? Jeez.

@ the John - when you go forward from our revolution and cite documents which came after as substantive proof that we shouldn't have had that revolution , I'm not at a loss for words. Oh good God no. I have them alright. Huh.

Hi Stellaa .

@ Buffy, Hi.

@Sally, they got to get called out.

(Passing Janie a marshmallow)...Pull up a chair.

You haven't missed much. Just the usual people with no manners deciding to pour their penii into thimbles and bitch away on a site where we've all kind of just decided to get along...until of course, we have the audacity to speak of issues other than political ones.

God help those of us who have children. Or parents. Or recognize the impact of our political decision on those very people.

And the most telling thing? You don't even have to call people out by name. I'm not sure if it's arrogance or ignorance that makes them think its all about them. But I am truly thankful I don't have to sit across the table from those harbouring mean-assed fuckwad views.

Ahhhhhhhhh! Troll words! I am guilty! Take me away!

Deleting Dufosity. Sounds like the makings of a fine post. ~R~

I would like to submit my application to be the new troll. I am: 1) controversial. 2.) good at irrational debate. 3.) I have nothing in common with anyone, anywhere, save for other HN's.
Not only that, I'm better looking than the old troll.
Thank you for considering my application.
With regards,
Andy "The Devil of OS" Heizeler

Andy, you failed. You had to call me either a dummy, a ditz or idiot. Nope, not troll material.

Andy, you failed. You had to call me either a dummy, a ditz or idiot. Nope, not troll material.

Go get'em Stellaa, we can read them and smell them, they roam the net spewing hate and no amount of arguing with the editors will make them act. I use my real name and so should they all so we can hunt them down if we need to and turn them over to the 'Net cops. Allowing people to hide behind faux names is tantamount to handing people over to the cowardly torturers.

My suggestion is when they come swinging at you notify me and others an we will come fight with you-I mean it!

@John: You have the nerve to call women irrational? You sound like a crybaby who gets his knickers in a twist every time he doesn't get his own way, or if someone dares reply in kind. If there is one thing I hate more than a bigot, a bully and an ignoraumus, it's someone who dishes it but can't take it. You qualify in the worst possibly way. Attack me all you want -- I've heard it all and then some.

Damn it Stella! I never fail at anything, ever! Well, except for the rope climb in my 'fat phase' during highschool. Then there was the time I didn't earn my expert badge in grenade throwing in basic training. That pissed me off. But other than that, I always win.
However, I will now withdraw my application.
As my pappy used to say: You can't lose a fight if you run away. Well, that was actually Bret Maverick's pappy, but it was good advice.

FLW's definition of troll perfectly sums up this John Knight character. As I said on my post earlier, there are conservatives in OS who I respect and admire. People like John though, who fixate on a particular person or topic then wear it into the ground with obsessive and repetitive commentary, are trolls, plain and simple. I can engage in a discussion with conservatives on OS like Don Rich or RWNutjob or others and actually learn something from it, but when I read comments by ideologically ossified and misogynistic specimens like Mr. Knight, all I see is a person who pathologically seeks out conflict. As FLW said, the response of a rational person to a site that offends them is to just leave; the fact that Mr. Knight doesn't puts the lie to his claim that all he wants to do is discuss things in an even-handed manner. Trolly is as trolly does.

It's like road rage. When people can't see each other's faces, they go a bit crazy. And I won't deny that I find it funny. But then, I'm a cruel bastard.

My advice is always: Try to have fun with it. Judging by this post, you are.

Stellaa, as always, you have the smartest stuff to say. :)