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I didn't figure I'd encounter trolls on this site. I figured there would be logical, thinking people here. For the most part, there are. But there's always one, it seems.

LimeySteve 7 Feb 20
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25 comments

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9

No place is immune. I've found that there are far fewer trolls here than just about anywhere else I've been on the internet.
Besides, perfection is overrated, boring, and basically unattainable anyway.

9

There are trolls here just as they exist everywhere in real life too. Devil's advocates, if you say it's blue they will fight to the death to try to get you to believe its white. They are miserable people who are just mean spirited. Best to ignore them. I just did that before I saw your statement. Some people just think they are right and can't be considerate or simply consider that they don't know everything and should be open to at least trying to understand another point of view. No time for some people.

Respectfully, I believe in the importance of the "Devil's Advocate". They represent a different perspective. While some of folks are contrarians, just to be contrarians, the DA offers an opportunity to see another side of any given situation. Sometimes, I find them exasperating, but mostly I appreciate them for giving me an opportunity to see another aspect of an issue I may not have considered had I not gotten their take.

@KKGator I believe in that, too. I appreciate seeing their perspectives, but I often play the devil's advocate just to give another viewpoint--sometimes even when I agree with the person. I always try to do it respectfully, and have never once resorted to name-calling or insults, but many people do not like to look at another viewpoint. They only want to convert you to their perspective.

It was white I tell ya!

@KKGator @marga You are correct, I used the wrong term to describe what I meant, thanks !

@KKGator Also I find that arguing the other side's PoV sharpens my rebuttals and often gives me new perspectives on the side I actually believe as I watch someone else argue it.

8

There is always a fly in the ointment. And as this venue become more known and more popular there will be those who come only to be a distraction and irritant. Sadly that is human nature "You don't think and believe the things I do? Well let me go out of my way to come to you and tell you how you're wrong."

7

What's nice is that we can block and flag. 🙂

Betty Level 8 Feb 20, 2018
5

The only thing atheists have in common with one another, is atheism. Beyond that, we are capable of stupidity, ignorance, and ass-holery, and can also believe in such nonsense as ghosts, astrology, and "crystals" rolling eyes . Atheists can be criminals, have low IQs, be racists, bigots, and Republicans (hehehe), and don't necessarily have to have the capacity for deep intellectual inquiry or discussion just because of atheism. Atheists are as imperfect as anyone else. Ultimately, we are also just as capable as anyone else to empathize, have compassion, and understanding for those less enlightened too, and thank goodness.

4

If you don’t feed the trolls they eventually wither away. I was asked as well by someone stirring a fight to block them, I didn’t , just ignored. Don’t give the trol your most valuable resource, time.

It took me by surprise. I don't know why I thought this website would be different.

4

There have been and are still among us. A lot have disappeared but I think it is good in that we see these people and how they react to us. I, myself, often come up with controversial ideas. However, I make an effort to be courteous and not point fingers at individuals and, above all, use hard evidence and reason to support my positions people react in like manner.

Funny, I noticed on Yahoo news there were thousands of tRump supporters. Recently, those numbers have gone way down and the comments are against him. This recent Russian indictment and the shooting have really changed things.

3

There are a few irrational, angry demagogues on this site who do not know how to carry on rational discourse -- an d don't appear to even want to know how to.

3

I didn't think one of them was a troll, but I might be changing my mind lol

Trolls offer no evidence and offer nothing but opinion. Kind of like alt facts. They deflect and veer off topic. When presented with evidence that goes against their opinion, they poo poo it and double down.

Just to play DA: where is your evidence for saying all that about trolls? 🙂

@marga Lol I guess I could offer the evidence in posting their responses, but that might also be a problem of interpretation. The new craze is taking a fact and acting like it's just one set of facts on a spectrum of facts and their alt-facts are equally true. Maybe it's a Kinsey Scale of Facts lol. One can never be wrong when doing that.

Yeah, good troll definition. I had to block one troll and warned several others, so they backed down, luckily, before I had to block them. I don't mind someone respectfully giving a different point of view, backed up with facts, but for someone to start by quoting Fox News and assuming he's right because he's a white male, signals ignorance and the wish to make trouble.

@birdingnut They have some reasoning in their arguments that makes them seem to not be wrong ever no matter what the opposing argument is or if you show them they were wrong about something with hard facts. They will say you're a liberal so you're biased or they don't believe in those facts but have their own facts on the subject that are in direct conflict with the actual facts, and then they will say they destroyed your argument lol

@birdingnut Opinion is opinion, but how can someone perceive a fact as a difference of opinion?

3

Did you know you can block people?

I hadn't had the need until very recently. I just blocked one and am happy to freely block people who only live to insult others.

@LimeySteve Someone invited me to block them - so I did.

@RavenCT was their name "Toyota"? Lol!

I don't remember. it was on another thread.

@AnneWimsey You know it was someone who had been previously civil? I suggested they were becoming defensive of a topic - instead of having a discussion - and they went all "You are naive" on me.

Never been called naive. That was insulting as heck.
And they suggested I block them - so I did.

I find when people pull out the "Block me" it's times to do so.

Apparently "Naive and Snowflake" are trigger words for me. 😉

Oops " he's right because he's a white male, signals ignorance" the world is lucky to have such piety as yours.

@the8thyamger How did you know it was a male? rofl

3

Wait, you mean someone has come here saying they think there may be a god,,,, or just disagrees with you about something else,, like gun control, or immigration reform? I think a lot of atheists are under the impression that all atheists are left wing liberals... ---NEWS FLASH--- they're not.. I dare say that doesn't make them trolls.. but that's just me..

No, that doesn't make them trolls. Perhaps troll isn't the correct term for someone who just wants to call others rude names. I love a good, respectful discussion.

2

Oh, sweetie, there is more than one. Smartass-ism is fine by me, what i look for are the posts that require you to posit the existence of a supreme being in order to discuss the ostensible question........fun fun fun!

I ignore all posts that assume the existence of God and Jesus, and the Bible as being literally true, and to be obeyed. Such ignorance doesn't need to be dignified with an answer.

@birdingnut BAH humbug...their hubris ,to post on this site, earns them all I can dish out?

2

A "troll" is argumentative by definition? On a page headed by the word "discuss" or is it just me being a troll.

I like discussion. Insulting and name-calling is not something I expected to see here.

There is a big difference between debate/discuss, and troll.

1

I think that covers it

1

I have ran into a couple when this site was relatively new.. gave him my piece of mind and that pretty much ended that bullshit!

1

Amateurs 😀 Finally read before speaking this time.. I’ve not blocked anyone, if they get stupid or aggressive it only weakens their argument and takes from any popularity they may have accumulated. But then I’m likely battle-hardened from decades of being outnumbered by regressives in a rural zone with a powerful online presence…

Feeling dogged several times, the first offenders magically disappeared! A guardian angel? This is a mellow and civil site ..so I do my best to help keep it that that way ~

Varn Level 8 Feb 20, 2018
1

If you block the people irritating you,you won't see anything of theirs and they won't see anything of yours. Problem solved.

1

Of course, humans will always act like humans but compared to other sites its way better and they stand out like sore thumbs.

1

i'd be disappointed if there werent trolls on the internet

1

Ain't that the truth..

1

There are trolls, spies, informants, etc, etc, etc.

1

Who?

0

ah crap, after reading these posts I am going to look and see who has blocked me.

0

Is there any group in existence free of a 'lunatic fringe'? Is there any group opposing them that doesn't try to associate the whole group with that fringe? It's an insoluble problem like that one 'pain in the ass' on a jury. There must be some cosmically connected reason. 😛

0

Well...only one. My other Atheist groups are plagued with trolls who defend religion better than Bergoglio does.

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