Is it just me, or does it appear that these trolls have already won? So much time and effort has been spent lately defining, worrying about, fighting with, insulting, & plotting against them, etc. It is getting to the point where many questions from people are "picked clean" to see if they are legit. It is getting out of hand.

-- me (justme@aol.com), February 02, 1999

Answers

me - Why in the world would I consider abandoning the most informative (and supportive) Y2K forum on the 'net just because we occasionally need to remind ourselves of the need for some self-discipline?? With apologies, your message smacks of a defeatist (and, if I may say, trollish) attitude that lacks the stamina and character we may need for rough times ahead.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), February 02, 1999.

I wouldn't say they've won. They (and their fellow-travelling flamers and other degenerate net life forms) have significantly degraded the signal to noise ratio here IMHO. But we were lucky for a relatively long time measured in forum-years (yeah, kinda like dog years) before we accumulated a population of parasites.

Thanks yet again to Ed for the book and the forum, and to the oldtimers and civilized newcomers for their contributions. Too bad the newbies have to put up with so much chaff to get the wheat that's here.

I add to the oft-reiterated plea: IGNORE THE TROLLS, FLAMEBAITERS AND THEIR ILK. Get on with the forum's stated business.

-- notime4trolls (notime4trolls@thisforum.com), February 02, 1999.

Trollery in general seems to be much more of a weekend activity. Makes sense. Look at the threads from yesterday and today. N'ary a troll in sight...

-- pshannon (pshannon@inch.com), February 02, 1999.

Does this mean we need a week-end troll patrol?

-- De (dealton@concentric.net), February 02, 1999.

Notime4trolls-

"I add to the oft-reiterated plea: IGNORE THE TROLLS, FLAMEBAITERS AND THEIR ILK. Get on with the forum's stated business."

I guess that is my point. Well said.

-- me (justme@aol.com), February 02, 1999.

Pshannon,

You're right. Trolling does go way up on the weekend. I've noticed that myself.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), February 02, 1999.

Following copied from the "Red Cross" thread - edit, improve, and use as appropriate.

Attacker Alert! Standard reply (Version II, Rev 02/02/1999) follows.

Okay "Mother Nature" and "Computer Pro":

Same question as always to an attacker/denigrator - give me five facts to show me that things will NOT fail on a widespread level - you have stated your opinion, and as always, accompanied it by aggressively attacking someone who is preparing ( and trying to educate others) by violently criticising their sales (profits) and accusing them of hoarding and huddling up "in a bunker" defending their family's lives and property.

Who are you? What is your experience in infrastructure systems management, repair, and troubleshooting? What information do you have, that you choose not to share, that tells you that there will only minor problems?

Why do you feel that a person who is preparing for an unknown disaster, using his own money to make preparations instead of trying to take scarce supplies from the government later, is a threat to you? Why do prefer people be hurt by a disaster rather than prepared for contingencies?

Do you operate a chainsaw without a face shield? Ride a bike without helmet? Drive drunk with your children in the front seat standing up? Walk blindfolded after dark across busy intersections? Rip the warning label off of your mattress and pillows?

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), February 02, 1999.

Trolls haven't won, they are just hecklers who do not change the preponderance of y2k info. Y2k disruptions are a foregone conclusion for me, and dwelling upon the hit strength scenario is numbing, totally counter-productive to preparation for the post y2k world. The only interesting thing left about y2k on the net is the unfolding personal psychology, the unfolding economic context, and the ability to help a newbie once in a while.

-- Mitchell Barnes (spanda@inreach.com), February 02, 1999.

You just have to get used to them. A troll post is fairly easy to recognize. You have three choices, read the thread for the sport of it, feed the trolls for the sport of it, or don't do either. I mostly just skip 'em.

-- margie mason (mar3mike@aol.com), February 02, 1999.

It's time to go trolling for trolls. What kind of bait should we use? So here is the joke for the week. A man goes to his vet because his dog is sick. When he gets there the dog coughs and falls over. The vet says that the dog is dead. Well the pet owner is very upset about the whole thing and says I want a second opinion, so the vet goes into the next room and brings back a cat. The cat sniffs at the dog and takes a close look and comes back to the vet and meows in his ear. The vet says that the cat agrees that the dog is dead! So that will be 350.00 dollars. The pet owner says 350.00 dollars for telling me my dog is dead, are you kidding. The vet says no it's 50.00 dollars for telling you your dog is dead and 300.00 dollars for the cat scan!!!

-- Tman (Tman@trolltime.come), February 02, 1999.

Yes, the Trolls have won. Thank you, Trolls, for setting the rest of us straight. You have done your job extremely well and you may all go home now.

-- Nathan (nospam@all.com), February 02, 1999.

Just think people, when TSHTF we won't have to put up with any trolls then. In the meantime click them off your screen.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), February 02, 1999.

...Or simply do what I do....Put them in the Bagga Saga and have some fun and laughs at their expense, while laughing is still possible.

-- INVAR (gundark@aol.com), February 02, 1999.

Bagga's gone Invar, you need to get out more.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), February 02, 1999.

Uncle Deedah...Your are soooooo funny, thanks for making me laugh!

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), February 02, 1999.

Thank you Bar...

No sense in totaly losing it. Got to keep things light around here, so much to fear and dread.

If only Jim Carey hadn't hit L.A. 10 minutes before I did...

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), February 02, 1999.