A Thank You to our members from the Mod Squad

**Panache** · 17th February 09, 07:46 AM

Over the last couple of days there have been a number of trolls who have registered on our forum and immediately tried to stir up trouble.

Nelson, Bradley, Glen, and I would like to thank everyone for not getting too worked up about their nonsense on the forum and making us aware of them by PM or using the "Report Post" function.

Spammers are a lot easier to deal with, the vast majority of them never make it to the open forum.

Trolls are a little harder to catch and we appreciate your help.

You have all shown your quality, for the Ladies and Gentleman of X Marks the Scot know that poise is "the art of raising the eyebrow, not the roof".

The Trolls foolishly think that they are up only against only the Moderating Staff here...

They don't realize that XMTS is a community, and that they don't stand a chance!

Again our thanks and appreciation

Sincerely

Jamie and the Mod Squad

**ForresterModern** · 17th February 09, 07:55 AM

Other than the Dungeons and Dragons definition, and the childhood memory of the big ugly guy my big brother told me was hiding underneath the bridge waiting to get me if I followed him across, just exactly what is a "troll" in online parlance, for those ignorant among us?

**Panache** · 17th February 09, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by ForresterModern

Other than the Dungeons and Dragons definition, and the childhood memory of the big ugly guy my big brother told me was hiding underneath the bridge waiting to get me if I followed him across, just exactly what is a "troll" in online parlance, for those ignorant among us?

FM,

A "Spammer" is someone who joins a forum to promote some business or recruit people.

A "Troll" is someone who joins an online forum to stir up trouble. They will insult people, throw out questions that are bound to lead to arguments, and in general do their best to disrupt a forum.

Every group of people are going to have differences. Some of these differences are deeply held and very personal. Gentlemen and Ladies therefore "agree to disagree" and move on, or simply do not discuss such matters. The Troll's goal is to bring up these differences and divide the group. They delight in seeing people angry and fighting with each other. Once a fight starts going they try to add fuel to the fire and keep it going.

Why do they do this?

I have no idea, but maybe there are those in the world that just don't have it in them to be part of a group and resent those that can. Or perhaps they have to have a "Them" to be against to determine some sense of "Us" for themselves.

In any case, ignoring them and letting a staff member know you suspect they are here only disrupt things is the best way to deal with them.

Cheers

Jamie

**Weasel Mender** · 17th February 09, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by Panache

Over the last couple of days there have been a number of trolls who have registered on our forum and immediately tried to stir up trouble.

Nelson, Bradley, Glen, and I would like to thank everyone for not getting too worked up about their nonsense on the forum and making us aware of them by PM or using the "Report Post" function.

Spammers are a lot easier to deal with, the vast majority of them never make it to the open forum.

Trolls are a little harder to catch and we appreciate your help.

You have all shown your quality, for the Ladies and Gentleman of X Marks the Scot know that poise is "the art of raising the eyebrow, not the roof".

The Trolls foolishly think that they are up only against only the Moderating Staff here...

They don't realize that XMTS is a community, and that they don't stand a chance!

Again our thanks and appreciation

Sincerely

Jamie and the Mod Squad

You Mods are what keeps this forum head, sholders and ankles above several others I am on, so the thanks belong to you!!!!

Weasel

**Spc. Scott** · 17th February 09, 08:41 AM

Apply the general attitude and natural trouble making abilities of your D&D troll to a person and you pretty much have it.

/We miss you Mr. Gygax.

And a big thank you to all the great mods, past and present, for keeping this such a great place.