Off Topic

[LMTC]

Dick,
I think you are exactly right. Sometimes such a poster will even get more outrageous for a while trying to goad someone into a response. Eventually most will troll elsewhere.

There is a particular poster that seems to follow me around (and others I'm sure--I don't feel singled out) and counter almost anything I say. I no longer respond. If my experience in this market and with these tractors doesn't carry weight with a reader, neither will my posting the same thing five times.

I know that I personally tend to be blunt, and in text/posting sometimes come off as cold and uncaring. That would be because I am cold and uncaring. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif Seriously, it is probably because I am data driven. My other life is as a data administrator, and by nature I am blunt, to the point, and admittedly a bit acerbic at times. If I offend anyone here, all it takes is a polite PM and the odds are you'll get an apology

Anyway, I think you nailed it Dick. Leave them to die in isolation.

 

[mark777]

I do not understand the psychology or motivation that compels a troller to offer weak of factless information. Sometimes, information that is counter productive or even dangerous.

At first I thought these people were demanding some kind of unearned respect, recognition or title, but I now believe their "high in life" is to create friction between two or more members, instigate arguments and insults through innuendo.

I believe a confrontation with this individual is absolutely necessary.

A one time message that exposes his information as untrue, biased and/or reckless will do nothing to deter him from arguing, but it will alert other posters and readers that his contributions are pointless. This would seem especially true for newer members that are not aware of what's really happening while searching for answers to their particular problems.

Regards, Mark

 

[RobS]

Feel free to hit the "Notify Moderator" button at the bottom of each post if you see something you don't like. You can also PM any of the moderators (listed at the bottom of the forums) if you want to be more specific /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Golfgar4]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Is it appropriate to confront ppl who seem to be outta line within the forums? )</font>

Arthur,

I'd have to say that generally, it is NOT a good idea to confront somebody you feel is being difficult or confrontational. There's a couple of reasons for this. First, you may not have accurately interpreted the post the person made. It's a shame that we can't "read" the way the poster would sound if he were speaking the same words he put in the post. We see this all the time. Someone mistakenly thinks a post was meant as a slam or a flame, when in fact, it was supposed to read as a joke or at least a tongue-in-cheek comment. I've fallen victim to this myself. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Second, I don't care how reasonable and level headed a person might be about how they relate to others. When they've "had words" with someone else, it's natural to automatically assume that any post that person makes is intended to cause trouble.

And third, what you might think is argumentative and belligerent might very well be just another persons' poor way of offering their view on the topic. Maybe their intention was to be helpful, but they just didn't use the right wording for that to come through.

I will second RobS in the suggestion to notify the moderators. But remember that if you do use the Notify Moderator button, there is no message that informs us what your concerns might be. It only indicates that you feel there is some kind of problem. If you want to let us know what you really think, then you should send us individually a PM explaining what your concerns are. We'll review the thread, and we'll even discuss it amongst ourselves. Then we can privately contact the individual if that is the appropriate solution.

 

[arthr31]

OK, thx, Garry. good advice, i'll only engage when appropriate, as others have mentioned here too.. Cheers! -art

 

[mark777]

After reading your reply and reading the complete thread titled "All" in the News and Feedback section, I would like to revise my above post to read " I believe that a confrontation is absolutely necessary AND I feel that the moderator should be notified".

I have come to realize that the moderators have been assigned an overwhelming responsibility, with hundreds of posts to oversee, and sometimes a thankless position but necessary.

I don't usually flip-flop on opinions and my personal observations, but in this instance I am wrong. You (moderators) are much better qualified to intervene.

Regards, Mark

 

[loaderbob]

I agree with Mark's last post. If someone is truely being nasty, ridiculous, or giving unsafe advice the moderator intervention is the way to go. TBN is however blessed. The majority of the people at least in the grey colletion of forums are great, super helpful, and respect each other even when they disagree.

Best Regards,
Bob