PanicMan: James!: Are you aware that there isn't a rule about having more than one account?

Well, why isn't there?

Most of us have no idea why decisions like that are made. It would be incredibly helpful if there was a place that kind of question could be asked and answered. Or when changes are rolled out, somewhere official that we get notifications.

We're working on a series of "Ask-a-Mod" threads, but in the past they've moved so fast that it's been impossible to keep up. So this time we're trying have some pre-written responses to common questions. I don't have an eta on when those will happen though.

As to the extra accounts, I don't personally see a reason to prevent them. So long as people aren't using them to get around the rules what's the harm?

Weaver95: James!: whidbey: James!: whidbey: James!: And yet, the Politics tab is overrun with blatant trolls.
It's about damn time that they purged the damn +++++CARRIER LOST++++

Define "troll".

Is this a joke?

Nope.

Then you shouldn't be a moderator if you can't actually define what a troll is.

I want to know what you guys think it is.

well...you're providing an excellent example of trolling right now.

You should check the Farq.

PanicMan: James!: Are you aware that there isn't a rule about having more than one account?

Well, why isn't there?

Most of us have no idea why decisions like that are made. It would be incredibly helpful if there was a place that kind of question could be asked and answered. Or when changes are rolled out, somewhere official that we get notifications.

There is in fact a plan to have an "Ask a Mod/Admin" thread session in TotalFark. Too much traffic on the main page to keep up with Q&A. This has been done in the past, and will be done in the future. Such questions might be helpful is submitted ahead of time to Farkback.

/Just your friendly, neighborhood spider...um...Mod-Poster

Weaver95: "In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion".

Wrong. On fark.com, the only thing that qualifies as trolling is calling other posters mean names

I_C_Weener: whidbey: James!: whidbey: James!: And yet, the Politics tab is overrun with blatant trolls.
It's about damn time that they purged the damn +++++CARRIER LOST++++

Define "troll".

Is this a joke?

Nope.

Then you shouldn't be a moderator if you can't actually define what a troll is.

I think the point is, maybe, just maybe, a troll isn't just "someone who disagrees with me" or "someone whose joke I don't get" or "that one guy from that thread a day ago that made me really, really mad."

quick question: does your name indicate that you visualize penises, that you have an abnormally cold penis, or something else entirely?

Jackson Herring: Weaver95: "In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion".

Wrong. On fark.com, the only thing that qualifies as trolling is calling other posters mean names

Close, but literally:

Trolling/harassing other Fark members: Unfortunately, disagreements can and will happen - but there is no need for them to become personal. Don't harass other users with your posts, parody links/threads, or create accounts to harass them with.
Fark accounts come with a handy Ignore Feature. Use it to filter out those posters whose comments you'd prefer not to read. Keep in mind that discussing who's on your ignore list is the opposite of ignoring. It crosses the line into trolling of other Fark members and may result in a suspension of posting privileges.

James!: Weaver95: James!: whidbey: James!: whidbey: James!: And yet, the Politics tab is overrun with blatant trolls.
It's about damn time that they purged the damn +++++CARRIER LOST++++

Define "troll".

Is this a joke?

Nope.

Then you shouldn't be a moderator if you can't actually define what a troll is.

I want to know what you guys think it is.

well...you're providing an excellent example of trolling right now.

You should check the Farq.

you asked for a definition, I provided a link AND pointed out that by derailing the topic of this discussion thread, you more than meet the requirements of that definition. Incidentally, threadjacking is a violation of the Farq, or so I seem to recall.

Weaver95: James!: Weaver95: James!: whidbey: James!: whidbey: James!: And yet, the Politics tab is overrun with blatant trolls.
It's about damn time that they purged the damn +++++CARRIER LOST++++

Define "troll".

Is this a joke?

Nope.

Then you shouldn't be a moderator if you can't actually define what a troll is.

I want to know what you guys think it is.

well...you're providing an excellent example of trolling right now.

You should check the Farq.

you asked for a definition, I provided a link AND pointed out that by derailing the topic of this discussion thread, you more than meet the requirements of that definition. Incidentally, threadjacking is a violation of the Farq, or so I seem to recall.

go read that headline again. it is so devoid of relevance that it is impossible to "jack" or not "jack" this thread.

Weaver95: I_C_Weener: whidbey: James!: whidbey: James!: And yet, the Politics tab is overrun with blatant trolls.
It's about damn time that they purged the damn +++++CARRIER LOST++++

Define "troll".

Is this a joke?

Nope.

Then you shouldn't be a moderator if you can't actually define what a troll is.

I think the point is, maybe, just maybe, a troll isn't just "someone who disagrees with me" or "someone whose joke I don't get" or "that one guy from that thread a day ago that made me really, really mad."

"In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion".

James! has successfully managed to derail the main topic of discussion, thus meeting the definition of 'internet troll'.

It is a conversation that is needed. And I'd say, by a Mod's view (though I'm not modding this thread) that the derailment was in the attack of his early comments en masse, and the follow-up defense of his comments by him, followed by complete denial and attack with namecalling (calling someone a troll, is in fact a personal attack and threadjacking (sometimes).) But his comment was not. His defense of his comment was not. You don't have to like his comment or his defense of it. But that doesn't make it a troll. In fact, sincere belief, right or wrong, doesn't mean troll...whether it is based on opinion or fact or lack of facts.

That said, this entire tab is very much about how loud, or how many can shout down a poster. If they are insincere, or better yet, annoying to you, I find that a breath of fresh air or the ignore button will in fact prevent a threadjack via response.

Crazy idea, I know.

In this arena, politics, everyone is often wrong...but never uncertain. We rub each other the wrong way a lot. We get personal when we shouldn't. And we need perspective more than other tabs. And above all, we need a sense of humor because if you can't laugh at politics, then you really don't have a sense of humor at all.

Weaver95: James!: Weaver95: James!: whidbey: James!: whidbey: James!: And yet, the Politics tab is overrun with blatant trolls.
It's about damn time that they purged the damn +++++CARRIER LOST++++

Define "troll".

Is this a joke?

Nope.

Then you shouldn't be a moderator if you can't actually define what a troll is.

I want to know what you guys think it is.

well...you're providing an excellent example of trolling right now.

You should check the Farq.

you asked for a definition, I provided a link AND pointed out that by derailing the topic of this discussion thread, you more than meet the requirements of that definition. Incidentally, threadjacking is a violation of the Farq, or so I seem to recall.

I'm guilty on the threadjacking, I didn't realize my statement would get this much blowback and we thought that modding it down would just make things worse than letting it stand so you can all take shots at me. I honestly don't mind.

HOWEVER, the point here is that your definition of trolling is different than farks. Your definition speaks to intent which we cannot know for sure over the internet.

thomps: I_C_Weener: whidbey: James!: whidbey: James!: And yet, the Politics tab is overrun with blatant trolls.
It's about damn time that they purged the damn +++++CARRIER LOST++++

Define "troll".

Is this a joke?

Nope.

Then you shouldn't be a moderator if you can't actually define what a troll is.

I think the point is, maybe, just maybe, a troll isn't just "someone who disagrees with me" or "someone whose joke I don't get" or "that one guy from that thread a day ago that made me really, really mad."

quick question: does your name indicate that you visualize penises, that you have an abnormally cold penis, or something else entirely?

I.C. Weiner was the fictional name that Fry was delivering pizza to in Space Pilot 3000 of Futurama. I misspelled it. It means cold penis. And I'm toying with a name change to something more mature...like James! did but I like the history I have on here...good and bad. So I'm sticking with it for now.

James!:
HOWEVER, the point here is that your definition of trolling is different than farks. Your definition speaks to intent which we cannot know for sure over the internet.

I tend to disagree - by now you should be familiar with the more blatant troll accounts. However, I concede the point that swatting our more blatant offenders, while scratching an itch, wouldn't stop them from simply creating new accounts and getting right back into the fray. So while you and other moderators on staff do allow for (sometimes obvious) violations of the farq and give weapons grade dickery the occasional free pass... from a management perspective such exceptions do make sense...at least you know where the troll accounts are and what they're doing.

I don't agree or disagree with that reality. I simply accept it as a consequence of having such a large user base active in the politics tab.

whidbey: I_C_Weener: Gonz: There are some people with a different opinion whit whom it's fun to debate the issues. There are others who have, by their own track record, proven themselves worthy of nothing more than scorn and derision.

And key here...is the use of the ignore function. A simple button, that even Conservitards could manage to use. Stupid Republicans. Derp, I say. Amirite?

That gets a little old. Meanwhile, trolltastic greenlights keep-a-comin'....

Bit of a double standard there.


I think the point is, maybe, just maybe, a troll isn't just "someone who disagrees with me" or "someone whose joke I don't get" or "that one guy from that thread a day ago that made me really, really mad."

Real opposition isn't trolling. On the other hand I can think of a couple high-profile posters who keep getting the same free pass after scores of comments are deleted from people in threads who complain about them.

If they're breaking a rule use the "Notify Moderators" button, but if they're following the rules and then getting abuse from other farkers then it's the other farkers who are breaking rules and it will be moderated as such.

Being wrong a lot isn't against the rules.

thomps: go read that headline again. it is so devoid of relevance that it is impossible to "jack" or not "jack" this thread.

Not a bad point. Sometimes, the thread is the point...not the headline. Like now. This thread is about what my new login could be.

I_C_Weener: thomps: I_C_Weener: whidbey: James!: whidbey: James!: And yet, the Politics tab is overrun with blatant trolls.
It's about damn time that they purged the damn +++++CARRIER LOST++++

Define "troll".

Is this a joke?

Nope.

Then you shouldn't be a moderator if you can't actually define what a troll is.

I think the point is, maybe, just maybe, a troll isn't just "someone who disagrees with me" or "someone whose joke I don't get" or "that one guy from that thread a day ago that made me really, really mad."

quick question: does your name indicate that you visualize penises, that you have an abnormally cold penis, or something else entirely?

I.C. Weiner was the fictional name that Fry was delivering pizza to in Space Pilot 3000 of Futurama. I misspelled it. It means cold penis. And I'm toying with a name change to something more mature...like James! did but I like the history I have on here...good and bad. So I'm sticking with it for now.

ah i didn't even consider that it was a reference. i'm on my second account now. when i first came here i had a handle that referred to bukkake. it's a sad day when you realize you've outgrown your fark name.

...and with that, i'm out for while. I've got a kayack with my name on it waiting on a creek about an hour's drive away from me.

Mike Chewbacca: I think it's more that Fark's definition of trolling is very different than the definition the entirety of the internet has

whidbey: OK how about you just delete this ridiculous thread and we'll just pretend nothing happened?

Psst! PSST! Hey Whidbey. Got any idea the difference between Mods and Admins? Just kidding with you. Everyone knows its that Mods are better looking.

Weaver95: James!:
HOWEVER, the point here is that your definition of trolling is different than farks. Your definition speaks to intent which we cannot know for sure over the internet.

I tend to disagree - by now you should be familiar with the more blatant troll accounts. However, I concede the point that swatting our more blatant offenders, while scratching an itch, wouldn't stop them from simply creating new accounts and getting right back into the fray. So while you and other moderators on staff do allow for (sometimes obvious) violations of the farq and give weapons grade dickery the occasional free pass... from a management perspective such exceptions do make sense...at least you know where the troll accounts are and what they're doing.

I don't agree or disagree with that reality. I simply accept it as a consequence of having such a large user base active in the politics tab.

If you see someone breaking a rule let us know. We aren't omnipresent. I've come into threads where half the comments are people complaining about a poster threadjacking or what have you yet nobody used the notify button to call in a mod.

Maud Dib: Weaver95: ...and with that, i'm out for while. I've got a kayack with my name on it waiting on a creek about an hour's drive away from me.

Awesome. Been on the river twice in the last week.
My credo is, Keep paddling, and don't run out of beer.

how could you ever possibly run out of beer if you never stopped paddling to take a drink?

Mike Chewbacca: James!: HOWEVER, the point here is that your definition of trolling is different than farks

I think it's more that Fark's definition of trolling is very different than the definition its users have.

No, I disagree. I'm pretty sure that the definitions are different.

whidbey: I do it all the time. Doesn't really work. The same dipsh*ts are in force, and all it does is give the impression that Fark depends on trolls for page views because they're not doing what their own FARQ says.

While not at liberty to discuss the reporting habits of anyone in specific, I will second that the notify button works. Its as reliable as a toaster. Buy a bag of bread, push down on the lever, wires get hot, you get toast!!! YEAH TOAST!

whidbey: I do it all the time. Doesn't really work. The same dipsh*ts are in force, and all it does is give the impression that Fark depends on trolls for page views because they're not doing what their own FARQ says.

If we banned everyone who was ever called a troll there wouldn't be anyone left here. shiat, the mods are all trolls ask anybody, the Admins are trolls, Drew is a troll, Whidbey is a troll, news sources are trolls, making jokes is trolling, disagreeing is trolling. It's hard to keep up.

Trolling is ambiguous.

James!: whidbey: I do it all the time. Doesn't really work. The same dipsh*ts are in force, and all it does is give the impression that Fark depends on trolls for page views because they're not doing what their own FARQ says.

If we banned everyone who was ever called a troll there wouldn't be anyone left here. shiat, the mods are all trolls ask anybody, the Admins are trolls, Drew is a troll, Whidbey is a troll, news sources are trolls, making jokes is trolling, disagreeing is trolling. It's hard to keep up.

Trolling is ambiguous.

I heard submitter was a troll.

I_C_Weener: James!: whidbey: I do it all the time. Doesn't really work. The same dipsh*ts are in force, and all it does is give the impression that Fark depends on trolls for page views because they're not doing what their own FARQ says.

If we banned everyone who was ever called a troll there wouldn't be anyone left here. shiat, the mods are all trolls ask anybody, the Admins are trolls, Drew is a troll, Whidbey is a troll, news sources are trolls, making jokes is trolling, disagreeing is trolling. It's hard to keep up.

Trolling is ambiguous.

I heard submitter was a troll.

Submitter is the worst troll here. BAN ALL SUBMITTERS!

PanicMan: James!: As to the extra accounts, I don't personally see a reason to prevent them. So long as people aren't using them to get around the rules what's the harm?


In the past people HAVE used them to circumvent the rules. Blatantly and openly trolling and threadjacking. That's the problem.

And when they get caught they get sent away forever and ever. But if you decided that you didn't want to be "Panicman" and now you want to be "Panic Man" there's no problem with that.

James!: PanicMan: James!: As to the extra accounts, I don't personally see a reason to prevent them. So long as people aren't using them to get around the rules what's the harm?


In the past people HAVE used them to circumvent the rules. Blatantly and openly trolling and threadjacking. That's the problem.

And when they get caught they get sent away forever and ever. But if you decided that you didn't want to be "Panicman" and now you want to be "Panic Man" there's no problem with that.

Technically, he's PanicMan. And he might make a decent "Don'tPanicMan".

PanicMan: James!: And when they get caught they get sent away forever and ever.

If that happens I've never seen it. Any time I've reported a bad source or persistent nuisance poster, I never see any results, or get any feedback of any kind. I have no way of knowing if anyone even looks at those. I believe that someone probably does at some point, but I have no way of knowing who or what actions they take. So I gave up.

Frankly, the only thing I've done that gets results is making angry comments in threads like these. That's why people do it, they're looking for feedback. And this is the only way to get it. We're a community and we care about this place and we want to make it better. But we don't know how.

Where you aware that you can see your comment history? Any notifications you send will appear there and when we clear them you will see a note for whatever action we took.

PanicMan: James!: And when they get caught they get sent away forever and ever.

If that happens I've never seen it. Any time I've reported a bad source or persistent nuisance poster, I never see any results, or get any feedback of any kind. I have no way of knowing if anyone even looks at those. I believe that someone probably does at some point, but I have no way of knowing who or what actions they take. So I gave up.

Frankly, the only thing I've done that gets results is making angry comments in threads like these. That's why people do it, they're looking for feedback. And this is the only way to get it. We're a community and we care about this place and we want to make it better. But we don't know how.

Actually I'm wrong. Once it's cleared it disappears, but you can see them here: http://www.fark.com/comments/911

James!: PanicMan: James!: And when they get caught they get sent away forever and ever.

If that happens I've never seen it. Any time I've reported a bad source or persistent nuisance poster, I never see any results, or get any feedback of any kind. I have no way of knowing if anyone even looks at those. I believe that someone probably does at some point, but I have no way of knowing who or what actions they take. So I gave up.

Frankly, the only thing I've done that gets results is making angry comments in threads like these. That's why people do it, they're looking for feedback. And this is the only way to get it. We're a community and we care about this place and we want to make it better. But we don't know how.

Actually I'm wrong. Once it's cleared it disappears, but you can see them here: http://www.fark.com/comments/911

"Fark mod/admin Notification Forum. Only mods/admins see what's posted here"

thomps: James!: PanicMan: James!: And when they get caught they get sent away forever and ever.

If that happens I've never seen it. Any time I've reported a bad source or persistent nuisance poster, I never see any results, or get any feedback of any kind. I have no way of knowing if anyone even looks at those. I believe that someone probably does at some point, but I have no way of knowing who or what actions they take. So I gave up.

Frankly, the only thing I've done that gets results is making angry comments in threads like these. That's why people do it, they're looking for feedback. And this is the only way to get it. We're a community and we care about this place and we want to make it better. But we don't know how.

Actually I'm wrong. Once it's cleared it disappears, but you can see them here: http://www.fark.com/comments/911

"Fark mod/admin Notification Forum. Only mods/admins see what's posted here"

Well balls. I've been writing these long notes and no one sees them.