Troll or nutcase?

[graygables]

Ever read boards and something just doesn't seem right about a post/poster? The story doesn't quite make sense or they escalate personal problems like they are *really* desperate for attention?

Do you consider them trolls or just nutcases ? Do you respond or step away?

 

[Free4Life11]

Not sure...some people don't have much of a social life, so online chat rooms and whatnot, may be their only "friends." Sometimes I respond, depends on the situation.

 

[FayeW]

I usually don't respond, but occasionally I'll post to say "hey people, we're being played!".

I read a post last week that I'm fairly sure was from a troll looking to incite. The person had only 4 posts, and it was a real "hot button" issue. I was temped to respond, but frankly, couldn't be bothered. The next time I saw it, it was 3 or 4 pages long, and everybody was all over the OP. Typical "be honest, set a good example" etc. I still think we were being played.

 

[Mermaid02]

I try to just stay away. There are some posters I always avoid- not ignore but never respond even if I read their posts.

 

[Stacerita]

Do you consider them trolls or just nutcases ? Do you respond or step away?

Depends on the topic on if I will respond or not. But I generally will read the thread for entertainment.

Also, I think there is a fine line between trolls and nutcases. IMO

 

[MagicKingdom05]

There are a few I have seen recently that makes you wonder. Especially the ones where there story about the situation seems to change daily and more and more off the wall.

I tend to read them shack my head and move on, but don't post.

 

[dcentity2000]

It's a difficult one to be sure. Trolls come in many guises and can seek to stir the pot or just to fool others into an entirely fictitious story. The problem is, there are occasions where the person strikes up a pity story, making their outing difficult - who wants to sound harsh just in case they are for real?

I try not to respond at all where I am unsure and should I need to reply to do so in a neutral and non committal way. I don't want to upset anyone or to play into a possible troll's hands.



Rich::

 

[AnaheimGirl]

Also, I think there is a fine line between trolls and nutcases. IMO

LOL! I was thinking that, too! Don't you have to be a little nuts to want to be a troll in the first place?

I usually think of a troll as someone who posts something really inflammatory, just to see people's reactions. When someone appears to be seeking attention with a convoluted, hard to believe story, I think they are just a nutcase. Sometimes I respond, sometimes not, it depends on the post.

 

[Keli]

The net has it's share of trolls and nutcases but I try to stay clear of either one so I rarely post on threads like that.

But if someone really seems to be crying out sympathy, pity, attention then I will often post to their threads. I guess I just feel like people wouldn't be blatenly posting things designed to get these reactions unless they really felt a need for my sympathy, pity or attention. I think people do things like that because they have an emotional need they are trying to fill and if it makes them feel a little better to get a few moments of my time and some kind words then I am willing to do that. It doesn't cost me very much and maybe it helps them.

 

[Disney Doll]

I consider a troll and a nutcase pretty much the same thing.

I'll sometimes "bite" and respond, but if the person starts getting offensive, I usually make one more withering statement about how offenisve and unimpressive their behavior is, and then I step away.

I have better things to do than get into a battle of wits with an unarmed person.

 

[Lanshark]

I don't post to those threads.

 

[YourMajesty]

I'm sure if I posted more I could tell a difference. I notice a lot of people jumping into threads making people feel inferior because they have a problem or illness that they don't have. Sometimes I feel like they are just stirring things...up. After all no one really has "perfect" everything. It reminds me of my neighbor who will brag that her kids are NEVER sick. Like she's forgot her DD has asthma and her little one just got ear tubes. She also will talk about how brilliant her DD is and just took her out of our public grade school becuase there was too much homework for her to keep up with. Some posters on here make me think about the quote "When nobody around you seems to measure up, it's time to check your own yardstick". It used to bug me but now I realize they are probably just full of it.

 

[Planogirl]

I try to give the person the benefit of the doubt unless it's pretty darn obvious that it's a troll trying to stir up trouble. Some people may look suspicious and yes, they may be trolls but what if I'm wrong? What if I say something hateful and that person turns out to be for real?

I'd much rather be nice to a troll than mean to someone who's in some way "different" but for real.

 

[Buckalew11]

I think the Internet is full of both. And sometimes I think that people that can't just let the "nutcases" go are nuttier than the "nutcases".
If it is a troll, we usually figure it out quite quickly around here. Sometimes we feed them way too much and they are only around to stir the pot and cause disharmony.

I think when it comes to "nutcases", the ol' saying of "if you can't say something nice, don't saying nothing at all" comes to mind and we should do just that. If the person's not hurting you, let it go. Or else you're gonna look nuttier than they do.!

 

[hucifer]

Like witnessing a bad accident, I'll stick around and watch to see what happens, but I probably won't get involved. To me, that is just feeding the problem.