Now it aint what it look like!
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Ok maybe it is, but this is more for informational purposes than anything mixed in with a little fun, joking, but can be a serious matter to cope with as people move on to other games with a totally different set of crowd than what they was used to in COX.
ANd before I go any further, let me make this absolutely clear.
IM NOT SAYING EVERYONE SHOULD MOVE ON. While most games have rules against trolls and trolling behavior, how many of ya'll been to games where enforcement seems to leave something desired? Like ever come across a person who been there for years and seems they never had anything to say that wasnt trollish behavior and wonder, why the hell isnt this guy banned already? It's like in some games you basically have to invite them over to your house, capture them and drag them kicking and screaming to the moderator's house before it even raise an eyebrow that they exist.
First, a person have to know how to spot them. Now in the old days they were easy tospot. They are usually the brash, obnoxious folk that spew nothing but hate about religion, political parties, race sexual orientation and other obvious signs that they are there to do nothing but cause disruption. But now and days, like criminals althoug hthey aint criminals per se, they gotten a bit more savy of "bending" the rules.
Sadly the term troll been thrown around so much that many moderators basically put reports about trolls in the "i'll get to it when I get to it" bin.
1) the rabid flamer. Now these comes in variety of behavior from the classic troll to one that more subliminal. They sometimes flame people for the most minor things under the guise of "being blunt", "Trying to help." "Hey, that's just my opinion take it or leave it.". The difference between being blunt is usually even blunt people stick to the subject and the topic and idea and not the person. I.E. A blunt person might say, "I think that is a stupid idea." Harsh yes, but blunt, but not attacking the person. Now the "blunt troll" will most likely word it "You are stupid for suggesting that idiotic idea. Now go sit in a corner and cry yourself to sleep." See, although they also attacked the idea, they also attacked the person. And when the person replies usually in a rejectionary manner, the troll then usually follows up with "hey I'm just being blunt" or "Sorry for trying to help."
2)The Priggish Grammar Troll- Now some, spelling is a pet peeve and that does not automaticaly make them a troll. But they are fairly easy to spot if looked at closely. The troll of this manner usually only correct grammar/mispellings of posts they also conviently disagree with. They also usually never address the main point of the post and or claim the point is lost because of a misuse of your instead of the proper you're. And lastly they usually only correct anyone but their own postings and postings of the people they agree with and or is a friend of. On top of that, they usually claim to be English Professors who curiously cant distinguise the difference between informal and formal communication. But these are also known to use the excuse of "Hey, I was just trying to help."
3)The Crybaby- Oh yes, this is the new FoTM troll. They swear they are leaving but never do. They swear they are done with the forum but still remain. Moderators usually see alot of these more so than the general public because sometimes other trolls tranform into this type when they report someone.
4)The Never-Give-Up, Never-Surrender Troll-These ones are usually the most annoying IMO. You can never have a discussion with these people. There is no such thing as disagreeing with these people and any opinion that is not theirs is always wrong. Why? Because they are always right. Sometimes they will use their populatrity to reinforce their superiority. This troll is the most likely to sock puppet. The main point of this troll is not about the discussion but proving you are wrong, because they are always right there is nothign to prove there, but they must prove that you are wrong at all costs and regardles of facts, even proven ones. Sometimes they go as far as saying opinions are wrong, your experiences are wrong, you view is wrong, your perception is wrong, hell, you're just wrong for being born as far as they are concerned.
5)The Retroactive Stalker- This one can be mere pain the butt or a serious stalking matter. Somehow they have a built in database of every single post you made in the past 8 years and will use them all to bring them up to current times even if it has nothign to do with the topic at hand, just to make a monkey out of you or the very least, get on your nerves.
6)The Lame Teenager- AKA what I call a troll in training. They try their hardest to troll but usually so easy to spot its like shooting fish in a barrel. Cant even take these ones seriously as they are so awefully bad at trolling that it's funny. Note though, many cases these are not actual teenagers but can be some mid aged dude that is just disgruntled because his mom is finally kicking him out of the house.
7)The Self-Feeding Troll- These guys are like cockroaches. They are hard to get rid of especially when they use subliminal tactics. You say something nice, they feed, you fire back, they feed, you report them, they feed, you ignore them they still feeed because they turn it around as "oh people just cant that I'm being blunt and cant handle the truth. They can ignore it all they want but the truth is the truth. If they cant take it, then it's their problem not mine." Just, plain ignore these folks at all cost when they start to exhibit these behaviors.
8)The Bored Hater-An up and coming type of troll that is becoming more common. These people will make an arguement where there is not any. They will argue with you even if you agree with them. Can be confused with the self feeding troll but these guys cant rest on their own and will starve when there isnt trouble or drama. They have been known to start trouble and sit back and let the flame troll take over the thread and many times these people work close with the flame trolls. Sometiems these guys are a bit more blantant and kind of like the classic troll and will use blatant racist remarks especially to people they dont know, at random, and other stuff to stir up stuff. Sometimes it takes some repeated studying to properly spot these trolls. Usually these are the guys that also start up political topics out the blue, or religion topic, and etc when there was no indication that the topic was even goign that way, because they know people get touchy about those topics and people will go at it. And if they dont go at it hard enough, dont worry, his friend the flame troll will spice things up a bit.
9)Nellie McNeggerson- This troll is a damned if you damned if you dont type of troll. You agree with them they stil lwill twist your words and say you are against them. You disagree with them they still will twist your words and say you are against them. When it get to that, leave it alone. Let them have it. This is battle you cant win. They already decided before you even posted that you are wrong, you are against them, you are insulting them, you are "whatever" they think of calling you.
10)The Profane Screamer- Mostly found in PVP sections and also in many cases in PVE. They love ot be team leader that way they can scream at anyone, usually picks one person, and berate them fro not playing the way they think they should be playing, for messing up a tactic, or winning a PVP match against them. Ironically they are also usually the most tolerated. Some games teaming is a must so people figure they will put up with that guy/gal just for this one mish get the reward and bounce. Or in PVP dismiss it as the nature of PVP.
11)
The White Knight- "Off to save the "Damsel" in distress! Hey, there is one thing for heroics and another being this. ANd also this type is also known to go out of their way to "punish" evil doers and or others they percieve as trolls. Trolling a troll is still... *gasp* trolling.
12)The Expert-This guy claims to be expert in everything one day he'sa doctor from Emory University. Next day he's a lawyer out of Harvard. The next a graphic designer out of Full Sail, the next day a top notch therapist, a TIMES best seller Author, the next a well known CEO of a major corporation they for some reason cannot release details on, the next a doctor again. And their expert view and advice is infallible, so "peons" should not dare challenge the great vast knowledge of the all knowing Expert! How dare they, do they not know who I am?"
13) The Liar-One of the hardest to spot and one that probably cant be reported and probably wont break rules that require reporting in most cases. A few will pose as a mod., but usually that is short lived as they are usually found out very swiftly and never seen again, at least on that account. Usually these claim to be a number of things (See number 12) but usually things with what they say dont add up to even someone that took a basic anatomy class for example of being a doctor. Usually when the expert is found out they end up being known as The Liar troll in mmo games. On date sites and the likes, the liar troll and the expert can be two totally separate things and easier to spot, especially when ya finally meet the person to realize they are not the nicely shaped person in their mid 20s that was in the profile pic. No that was their cousin and they are really pushing 50 and on the other end, the higher end of 320lbs.
All in all, remember, dont feed them. It'll only encourage them and like a wild animal, they will become accustomed to being fed especially by a few particular people and will come back for more time and time again. And trolling a troll is a 5 course meal to the trolls, not to mention it makes you a troll too, even if the person even remotely deserved it. Sometimes it's easier said than done for some, especially letting the troll get the last word and even more so when the moderators of the game either have no interest in taking care of it for those that break the obvious rules, and not much can be done for those that are techinically trolling but not really breaking the rules.
If it looks like a troll, act like a troll, then...soemtimes it may not be a troll. Sometimes if there is doubt it's better to get clarification, sticking to the fact/topic at hand remember and not attacking the person. Because in many cases it's just some hapless new guy that dont now all the unwritten rules and or someone that mean well. I.E. nit picking about spelling and grammar is totally expected in some circles but frowned upon greatly in others. And one that comes from a nit pick circle, is used to that and thus does what they know and if it's frowned upon a normal person can take the hint, even if it's not generally frowned upon but if it bothers that person, they usually dont force it. When they do, then they crossed the line into troll territory.
Source of titles and part of descriptions from:http://www.smosh.com/smosh-pit/articles/18-types-of-internet-trolls.
And remember this is all casual stuff. Nothing to get heated about and not pointing out anyone or hinting that these behaviors are present here. I figured that people dont like going to new games, where they already anxious asa new player trying to learn the game, meet people, and seemingly keep ending up treated as a troll and not knowing why and or being the target of them.
