What a country.

What a world!

Sadly they are everywhere Phil. They are all over Usenet and one cannot have a decent debate without it being marred by some faceless coward sitting at home [probably masturbating] at the responses he creates.

I don't think there is an answer other than to ignore them... that's pretty hard when they start personal attacks. One only has to look through some of the threads on Furious Seasons to see a classic example of a troll - They do everything to put the focus onto themselves. Whereas you and I and many of your readers create awareness, trolls want to be the centre of attention because Mommy never gave them enough love or the girl they fancied at school wasn't interested in them.

'Look at me... look at the distruption I'm causing, look how people have gone off topic'

They remind me of Pharma!

Fid

I have to admit — I can't figure out what side of the political spectrum you fall under. It's hard to pin you down. I imagine you're an independent (non-party affiliated).

I have to say I haven't seen any real trolls in my time here, though I'm sure Philip's fended off several whose transmissions never arrived on the group doorstep.

I cut my cyber teeth at a wild and wooly film site infested with trolls. I was one of those people whining to the site owner to ban and/or moderate the conversations, most of which were incredibly literate and far ranging (we actually talked about movies once in a while). He refused and left us to deal with things. Which we did in various ways, mainly by ignoring and shunning.

I learned a lot from that experience and wouldn't change it for the world. The biggest thing that happened to me was that I met the world on its own terms, something the mental "health" profession was busily assuring me I would *never* be able to do. I survived, even thrived on that site and am a stronger person for it.

Having said that, I'm glad this site isn't the Darwinian experience that one was. What goes on here in a heated discussion is nothing compared to much of what I've seen, it's quite mild actually. (I once was on an Irish language site. They used to tell Bill Clinton jokes and conduct flame wars in Irish. It was a great motivator in learning the language.)

I just got back from a four-and-a-half mile walk in the woods, to and back from my new "favourite place". Picked over a pound of berries and am now feeling energized and mellow, swimming in a sea of endorphins. Too bad Medicare will pay for months of time in the nuthouse and daily psych visits for life. But not for someone to help pry my agoraphobic a** out of the house to walk--the ONE thing that actually helps me with my depression (but the one thing that's hardest to do when it hits). Go figure.

Don't give that guy more credit that he deserves, Phil. He did that craigslist thing, but that article says hackers did the epilepsy thing. He just didn't have a problem with it. It's kind of a small distinction, but Last thing we need is some psycho troll getting more power.

I posted on the Times story in my blog, too.

Folks, we have to look in the mirror sometimes.

Philip probably gets the worst of it, because his subject matter (which ironically is mostly common sense of the uncommon sort, as it were) is so controversial and indeed offensive to so many people.

But there are other trolls on other mental health blogs, oh yes there are. Sometimes even from the most unlikely sources ...

The correct word to replace the word "troll" is coward. Gutless wonders of the world that wish they had the balls to exist in the real world with the rest of us.

They mentioned 4chan and that one board that appears after "A" but before "C" that users aren't supposed to talk about. Even encyclopediadramatica.com was mentioned. ED is a wiki style site documenting the drama. Kinda like the sports section of the paper but for trolls. When it comes back up(server load issues) search for your mental "disorder" and see the troll and lulz. Everything is fair game for mocking, reference the names is the news article on ED. Don't try to start an edit war there, you will get targeted for personalized troll attacks. As much as they are assholes there is some funny stuff there. For example look up caturday or cats.

The NYT article brought a section of the internet to light that was best left hidden. This is mixed. By giving them attention you are feeding the behavior while at the same time drawing attention to them that will overload their sites. Having kids trying to pretend they're part of anonymous, much like the "wiggers"(posers) who piss off the real inner city gang memebers. But as they say "this is teh cancer killing our much beloved ....."

Tread careful about what you say and condemn about them. Its a hive mind mentality , remember what happened to scientology? We really don't want them to feel the need to come here.

I read the NYT article. Pretty chilling people, really. I was struck by the attitude of the young man (I forget his name). He's a poster child for the effects of childhood sexual abuse, especially in his adoption of the perpetrator's blame-the-victim tactic. His attitude towards his victims is right out of the Perp 101 Handbook.

I think there's a difference between trolling and hacking. Trolls are annoying but the kind of hacking the reporter describes, while it may be done by a bunch of trolls, is crossing yet another line.

I felt like I needed to take a shower after reading the article. I'm amazed and impressed at the reporter's journalistic zeal in her investigation activities. Good journalism is the underpinning of a strong democracy and the former has become all too rare of late.

Which is another way of saying, "Continue to keep up the good work here and elsewhere, Philip."

Trolls, hackers who do so to cause damage (there are good hackers who help companies and government to find security holes, so I don't want to use the term "hackers" as an automatically negative term), spammers, phishers, and all the idiots online waste so much time for those of us who'd like to put our energies to more positive or alternate uses.

Incidentally, Ashley Dupree, the prostitute involved with Spitzer, is also getting her own reality show. Figures. Although, I do want to correct something I've frequently seen in the media: They often refer to her as the prostitute who "brought down Spitzer." She didn't bring him down; he brought himself down.

Jen, you just made me laugh so hard I would be blowing milk out of my nose, if I was drinking.

I didn't know Ashley Dupree was getting her own show but I do know that fellow New Yorker Jeanine Pirro was given her own Judge show in the fall line up.

I didn't realize Ms. Dupree brought ":down" Mr. Spitzer. I thought she would have had the opposite effect.

Which makes me think of the funniest headline I have ever seen which was written at the news office where I worked at.

"Victoria Secret 2nd Quarter shares fall flat".

One has to wonder, is this any worse than the mother in Missouri that drove a young teen to suicide after posing as a teenage boy? I also have to wonder why her own children weren't taken from her. As an online student, I find some of my classmates and even Professors find it very easy to let their true colors shine when their faces are hidden behind a computer screen.

"So please tell me Whyyyyyyy!
you don't come around no more!...

A little bit of this, a little bit of that...
So please baby tryyyyyyyyyy!
The game of love..."
Wow!
I'm sorry
I've got a little excited with Tina Turner and Carlos Santana!

Well, no trolls today!:(

We have to admit that when they are around we can explain the basics over and over again.
And we can also make some remarks that some people still don't know.

They are the necessary evil in a way.
And how they always comes repeating themselves over and over again!
Isn't it amazing?
They have no good arguments.

The statistical complain has appeared here for about 3 times... LOL
"-But there are those who get well with the drug X."
"-Why don't you all stop whinnying and do something valuable with your life?"
"-Your data are not scientific..."

And some other cliches.

Please, as you'll come back, could you present other ideas?

I will compile answers to these old questions you do.

Dear Mr B,
Refer yourself to answer number 34, 765. 45, 89 and 437 and you'll have your answer.
Thank you for dropping by!

I hope Philip is in a good mood.
Hi Philip!
It's sunny in Rio de Janeiro.
But I'm feeling terrible! lol
I feel like sleeping the whole day.
Coughing and my body is aching.
It's physical. No depression.

I hope it's sunny in Seattle.
Stephany told me that yesterday it was sunny!
:)

No scramble eggs today.

I hope people don't think that I'm a bore.
Just trying to make things more happy.
It's hard to read all of this.