My new favorite sport....troll-hunting!

[Uncle Sinister]

On other boards I frequent, I use the ignore or block function sparingly, if at all. If I find myself adding to the list regularly, either the mods ain't doing their job, or it ain't my kind of board. Plus, I enjoy snark, well-placed jabs (I've taken my share here), and an "energetic difference of opinion".

Here, though, the situation's a bit different.

1: My hat is off to the mods, but it's humanly impossible for them to keep up on this board.
2: I've seen a huge number of intelligent, thoughtful, lively, and/or hilarious posts here.
3: For progressive political boards there aren't a lot of options, this is, in most respects, the best I've found...and I want to stay.

However, the troll quotient here is truly insane, so I've started using ignore a lot. At first it was an annoyance, something I didn't feel good about, and certainly not a high point in my day. I was getting bummed. So I decided to make a sport of it. Here are the rules:

1: I can't ignore more than 6 per day. (number of bullets in a handgun)
2: I can't ignore anyone who rips into one of my posts. (don't want to make it personal, though they may be eligible at a later date)
3: Out of my 6 per day, at least 2 have to be trolls who are for my candidate. (right now my list is almost 50/50)
4: I can't ignore anyone for stating an opinion, no matter how violently I disagree. (I don't mind mixing it up, keeps it interesting)
5: Points are awarded based on post count. (much more satisfying to take down a 1000+ buck!)
6: I must respond to each troll's post before I block them. (no silent kills here)

With these constraints, trolls suddenly are no longer vermin, but prey! A troll sighting no longer brings on a flash of red-hot rage, but the thrill of the hunt. My ignore list becomes my trophy wall, my index finger my weapon. My primary targets are the swiftboaters, followed by the "I will never vote for X" crew.

Now, since I decided to make a game out of it, I'm going to go back and empty my ignore list (I ignored 22 in the past 3 days, WAY over my limit!) Once that's done, it's time to lock and load.

It's a silly game, I know, and I'm sure I'll get bored with it eventually; but for now it looks like a way to keep my sanity without ditching the board. And I'm damn sure not going to run out of trolls anytime soon.

Anyone want to wish me happy hunting? :evilgrin:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Lately it's like shooting big, stupid fish in a barrel.

Happy hunting. I wish you could Ignore them for all of us.

[NastyRiffraff]

2. Hey, have fun!

Too much recordkeeping for me, but it does sound like fun, and you're being fair, too. :hi:

[Jackpine Radical]

3. This is a test.

Please reply if you can see this post.

I just gotta know...

[Uncle Sinister]

5. LOL! yup, you're here (today, anyway) be afwaid

[Proud2BAmurkin]

4. I don't put anyone on ignore. Sometimes the trolliest trolls have something to say

[TexasObserver]

6. too much work

I set out a trot line, and come back later and pull them in, hit them in the head with a hammer, and throw them back in.

[cbayer]

7. Happy hunting!

And I know you will feel personally better.
But do you have any ideas for cleaning up the site in general?
I think a "not recommend" button would help.
I am trying to actively support anyone who comes out and says they won't participate in this.
I am posting "reject" when I see OP's or posts that I think are destructive.

[Flabbergasted]

8. That's funny.

[Flabbergasted]

9. On second thought:

Only a stupid supporter of x candidate would come up with such an OCD set of rules for such a thing as troll hunting. You must love the fact that candidate x is a shit eating liar.

Go to hell.


IT'S A JOKE!!!!!