Troll Alert (was: Random thoughts, perhaps a warning...)

[edwest]

Hi Ruy,


I am a moderator on my company's message board. I have run into the same problem.

The internet is a lawless, Wild West type environment. Anyone can type things like: "I'd look it up for ya but I'm too lazy to do it." Instead of being looked upon as a place to exchange ideas and information in a respectful way with people, some view it as a playground. Hiding behind a fake name, and fake identity, they could be anyone from anywhere. Some of them are very childish, others are a bit more sophisticated. Still others type first and think later, or not at all.

In the end, I read the "problem" messages, think, and either wait to see more or immediately privately contact the poster to point out that what he is doing is wrong. Unfortunately, most of the time these are people who will not tolerate the slightest disrespect from me but somehow feel it is their "right" to be disrespectful of me, my company or others on our boards. A few go so far as claiming it is their "right" to say anything they want and accuse me of "censorship." I tell them our message board is not a democracy. It is a benevolent dictatorship. We provide these people a free service for their own use and enjoyment. However, there are rules. Basically, three warnings, and on the fouth incident, a brief suspension, and on the fifth, they are banned forever.

In broader terms, I think regular people will lose some confidence in the internet. There are viruses, so-called "spam" advertising, the possibility of stealing personal information or "hijacking" a person's computer. In the last year, the amount of "spam" has doubled from the year before. On the other hand, people will leave message boards where vulgar hooligans are the majority. Why should anyone spend their time at a place where they are being insulted?

On this site I've learned a lot and people are civil. Thank you.



Ed West