You got that right and someone even wrote in to me and said that Joan had been writing in under a different name before too.<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">----- Original Message ----- <BR>From: "Phil Nisbet" <PCNISBET1@HOTMAIL.COM><BR>To: vision2020@moscow.com <BR>Subject: [Vision2020] Of trolls and trolling <BR>Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 10:23:18 -0700 <BR><BR>> <BR>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll#Use_as_pejorative <BR>> <BR>> Internet troll <BR>> > From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. <BR>> In the context of the Internet, a troll is a message that seems to <BR>> at least one user to be inaccurate, inflammatory or hostile, which <BR>> by effect or design causes a disruption in discourse. The word is <BR>> also often used to describe a person posting such messages. <BR>> <BR>> Some authorities consider the term "troll", when used to label a <BR>> person, as being roughly equivalent to "riff-raff" or "scum" or <BR>> some other term that dismisses a person as being unworthy of being <BR>> heard for reasons that are not directly stated. Some even consider <BR>> it to be racist. <BR>> Use as pejorative <BR>> As a pejorative, the term "troll" is very often a slander of <BR>> opponents in heated debates. People who identify as trolls and <BR>> those who vehemently deny that they are trolls will both use the <BR>> term, often making it obvious to all neutral third parties that <BR>> both participants are, in fact, trolls: one who admits it, and one <BR>> who does not. Accordingly the view has arisen in some circles that <BR>> trolls, the plural, is a valid term, but that it is not valid to <BR>> refer to someone as an Internet troll on their own. In other words, <BR>> it takes two to troll, and once they do, they're two trolls. <BR>> Many times a person will post a sincere message that they are <BR>> emotionally sensitive about. Skilful trolls know that the easiest <BR>> way to upset them is to falsely claim that they are a troll. On <BR>> other occasions a person may not instantly understand or fit into <BR>> the social norms of a forum where most people are the same - and so <BR>> acting just slightly out of social norms, often unintentionally, <BR>> for legitimate reasons gets the poster called a troll. Whether they <BR>> actually "are" a troll depends wholly on whether one takes the <BR>> political view of trolling, in which motives are not considered. <BR>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- <BR>> <BR>> Looking through all the current definitions, it would seem clear to <BR>> me that Joan just as readily fits the pattern for trolling and <BR>> seems to use the term itself as a way of IDing her political <BR>> opponents, thus employing the power of positive pigeon holing to <BR>> label all who disagree with her broader political agenda as some <BR>> how driven by bigotry. <BR>> <BR>> Its is also very possible that Joan is acting out by posting as the <BR>> troll herself as a means of gaining sympathy for her causes. I <BR>> note that she tends to lump any who think differently than she does <BR>> as evile reactionaries, nasty old conservatives, religious fanatics <BR>> and tends to use exceptionally nasty scatological terms about <BR>> anybody who disagrees with her conclusions. This tends to bring <BR>> her sympathy within her personal group, a possible motive for Joan <BR>> to post trolled messages as counter arguments to herself. <BR>> <BR>> As for bravery being displayed in posting by Joan, I would note <BR>> that she is actually in a position of power. Other posters who <BR>> disagree with Joan do not have the power to head down to the radio <BR>> station and spend two hours a week casting aspersions on the ideas, <BR>> physical characteristics or moral integraty of those who disagree <BR>> with them. Neither do other person who post here have the power to <BR>> write articles in print and electronic journals in roles as <BR>> journalists or authors. Disagreeing with Joan can have serious <BR>> consequences for the person who does not agree with her arguments <BR>> or even her style, but she suffers no risk or harm from calling <BR>> those who do, troll, a-shole and a host of other things. <BR>> <BR>> Phil Nisbet <BR>> <BR>> PS Meanwhile back on the topic of Moscows future, what do any of <BR>> the various BS postings about religion or homosexuality have to do <BR>> with it? <BR>> <BR>> _________________________________________________________________ <BR>> FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar get it now! <BR>> http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/ <BR>> <BR>> _____________________________________________________ <BR>> List services made available by First Step Internet, serving the <BR>> communities of the Palouse since 1994. <BR>> http://www.fsr.net <BR>> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com <BR>> ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ <BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
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