With the sands ever moving through each of our hour glasses, do you really have time to spend constructing clever responses to trolls, aka : people who are only posting to read their own words,...not because they seek information? If time is as short as many of us think it is,..why waste time chumming for numbskulls?

I could while away the hours, conferrin' with the flowers, consulting with the rain. With the thoughts I'd be thinkin' I could be another Lincoln if I only had a brain The Scarecrow, Wizard of Oz

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), February 17, 1999

Answers

Donna,

This is how I deal with trolls...information:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000UdL

"Y2K news articles and items for newcomers"

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), February 17, 1999.

Donna

There does seem to be a rise in the "You are worried about nothing" forum baiting. Such is life in the 'un'real world. Some of them do help with comic relief though.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), February 17, 1999.

No I just tell them to fuck off.

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), February 17, 1999.

And the great thing about your posts Kevin is that the information seeker also reaps the reward. Just jousting with trollish aggitators is a waste of time,...my only point. Sarcasm and irony is way beyond their capability.

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), February 17, 1999.

Hey dumb Troll,

you said on another thread (of many that you've started today) that you would "rest your case".

Well whaddyaknow, ya didn't rest yo case didja?

So now you can fuck off you lying troll.

And don't ever call me a cult, boy.

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), February 17, 1999.

So, AES, if you are not worried, why are you here? Why don't you let the rest of us nuts continue planning for the future. If you don't like, go elsewhere. Try to see the "other" side for a awhile. If YOU thought that the power grid was going to go down for a month or so (how can you fix something when you have no electricity to run the system in order to fix it?) what would YOU do? Please, at least offer some reasonable advice for those of us who are preparing to be inconvenienced for a long time....and since we are no longer in high school, let's all stop calling each other names. (Terribly bad karma built up here...)

-- laura (mod@erator.com), February 17, 1999.

Oh JBD! It's been so lonely without you. Are you still trolling The New York Times Y2K Forum too? Only 10 more months to go before we all know who has the best premammunition for What's To Come. I always like to know the "rest of the story." Next year I will want to know, and all Yourdynamites please update me somehow -- is JBD on his own or his he the hireling of something else? He started at least by July neigh-saying neighborhood prep. Ah, JBD, the burden of karma weighs heavily for eons and incarnations. What if your crystal ball is wrong?

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), February 17, 1999.

"Y2K news articles and items for newcomers"

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000UdL

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), February 17, 1999.

Actually, AES, I, among many understand a lot about scared souls. My objection to troll-like posts is that they consists of attacks, lack of sound research and thought, and obvious silliness. If you are not a troll, I will see it in your posts.

If you are a real person you have my rapt attention. If you are a clown I will not give you the time of day. End of thought.

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), February 17, 1999.

WHY ARE you mAKING MY brAIN BLEED???? I AM NOt jBD!!!

(Really, I'm not JBD, and I don't know who he was. Give me some credit would you?)

FOOL! Can YOU NOT SEE???

-- Dieter (questions@toask.com), February 17, 1999.

Hi Donna. Did this come up because of my debate with the above, AES2010? Well, I had a little time on my hands at work. I spent all week last setting up NT on 6 new PCs, and was waiting on feedback from the users. I noticed AES's comments in other threads, and wondered why he felt the way he did. I guess I felt like fishing from my troller. Funny, he came in swearing up a storm, and left giving me a valid point. I know it did little good, but I figure if we can make a few more GIs, the better off we will all be. Besides, I feel that I'm pretty much ready for the fun to start. Oh well, it was educational I guess. <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), February 17, 1999.

Like I said on another thread, AES2010 WANTS a strong reaction to his posts. If he can get a few people riled up over what he says, he can claim we're over-emotional doomers and extremists. It makes all of us look bad in the eyes of newcomers.

Let's not play his game.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), February 17, 1999.

Actually AES, except for small things like cash reserves and toilet facilities, I am quite looking forward to this event myself. Mentally, I am prepared for the worst. I like to look here to see if anyone has any ideas I have missed... so far, I am covered. I do however get annoyed when I have to scroll through meaningless messages to get to the heart of the information. So could we please keep the swearing and name calling to a minimum? Time costs you know!!

-- laura (finished@preparing.com), February 17, 1999.

Hi again AES2010! I was only using it as a figure of speech, not literraly. I did notice a change in attitude as the conversation went on. <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), February 17, 1999.

I'm not sure it was you, AES, making clever mention of my quoting the Wizard of Oz. I am a pianist working predominantly in musical theater, and I have a lyric for every occasion. I'll forgive your ad hominem attack if you'll forgive mine. This thread was not started for you, by the way,..it was started because after a month leave from the internet I return to find people trying to teach aardvarks to sing,...again.

Another by the way...a troll is a term that originated a long time ago on the internet discussion forums to refer to a poster that posted only to inflame and cause uproar; additionally, they were posts not worth reading.

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), February 17, 1999.

You know AES, you do have some very valid points. Why do you come on here so hostile? Have you been flamed many times here? If that's the reason, screw them all! I think most of us here are looking for information, be it good or bad. If you have anything to offer, please do so. As I said earlier, I'm here looking for any and all comments, yours included. If you get a hard time from some of us, accept it. You can't make everybody happy. Stick to your guns, but have an open mind. I know you can do it, you did it earlier today. <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), February 17, 1999.

is JBD on his own or is he the hireling of something else? HE TRAVELS IN THESE CIRCLES

-- (BIG@TIME.LURKER), February 17, 1999.

Of course I have time. Trolls like AES will be fed to starving members of the Pollyanna Cult, the large fanatical group of pipedreamers and complacency addicts who did not prepare mind, body and soul. As these fools grew weary of waiting in the sub zero wind chills for the Army food truck, choice meaty imbeciles like AES who are still in a state of disbelief find themselves choice prey. AES discovers that unconciousness doesn't come soon enough for one on a concrete slab with his head bashed in via sharp rock. A peculiar situation he'll find himself in; both his buttocks and calf muscles flayed off with a dull lawn mower blade, while the sound of his fat ass sizzles on a makeshift foil pan over sterno.

And we haven't even gotten to troll dessert yet!

Bon Apetit!

-- INVAR (gundark@aol.com), February 17, 1999.

Good answer AES. You are correct, some people do try and steal your box. I asked you to keep an open mind, and I ask EVERYONE here to keep an open mind. We need all the information we can find. If you present valid info that goes against the flow, so much the better. I for one am glad you are here. As far as the spin goes, my view is that everyone is trying to put a good spin on to keep the people calm. I guess your view is that we (this forum) are trying to put a bad spin on to panic the people. I think the truth is somewhere between. <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), February 17, 1999.

Sysman: By any chance were you a union negotiater in a former life.

-- Jim P.E. (outstrip@hotmail.com), February 17, 1999.

No Jim, maybe the next one though! <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), February 17, 1999.

Dam, the *very* first time *ever* that I responded to a troll and Donna busts me. The first time, the very first day. Guilty as charged.

With the advent of copy and paste I guess it's pretty pointless to promise to write "I will not respond to trolls" a hundred times.

Therefore:

I hereby swear that I will henceforth and forevermore refrain from responding the these heathern trolls. Even the polite ones.

--Greybear, and here I thought I *almost* had enought points to be an FPLer, and I go and blow it, dam.

- Got Restraint?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), February 17, 1999.

Come on now Greybear. Isn't it worth it if we can make a few GIs? What about the newbie troll? Could make a difference here. <:)=

Got cows?

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), February 17, 1999.

Is being too funny for clown dwarf. No time for trolls but time for mindless banter on stupid video screen. Time for dwarfs??

Fuck you Innver

-- VINIOD (workingwithout@net.net), February 17, 1999.

AES must live in a tough part of town. Where you can buy a gun at the grocery.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), February 17, 1999.

Oh no Mr. Bill, not again..........
-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), February 17, 1999.

invveer, trust me! You do NoT WanTTo FUCK WiTh VINIOD

-- Mike Tyson (indiana@prison.org), February 17, 1999.

Even more proof of JBD's return: taking an anal fixation out on Invar. Thought that was exorcised rather thoroughly in the Sagga -- but no, back for more. Fraid that can't be topped. But there are always new possibilities.

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), February 17, 1999.

YOU HAVE LOST IT LESKA!!! THree times NOW I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU FOOLish woMan, WHY DO YOU PERSist IN YOUR FOOLISH THOUGHt THat I Am BAGGA???? I Do not LIKe you ANYMORE ATall, WHY??? HERE am i thinkinG WHAT A NICE GIRL TO Care foR THOSE WHO ARE ILL!!! BUT FOOLISHNESS UNMASKS ITSELF HERE FORall TO SEE!!!

FOR 1 MORE tIME< I AM NOT BAGGA!!!

BABU, I hAVE MADE you my #2 TO GO and TO EXPOSE FOOLISHNESS, NOT to be itS BEST EXAMPLE!!! WHAT is wrong WITH YOU???

-- Dieter (questions@toask.com), February 17, 1999.

Well, Dieter, it is an amazing synchronicity that you arrive on the scene at the very time JBD makes his reappearance, and you seem to have some of the same, er, reactionary obsessions.
Perhaps you are possessed, not only by "delusions of grander", chum, but by JBD's restless spirit itself? Or maybe it is a split personality, a skits.him, of which the left & right aren't aware of each other? Or a trawling fed indoctrination initiation with attendant brainwashing that renders all of you somewhat alike? Or tripping back to cult days gone bad?
If you, by slim chance, are not the zippo twin of JBD, look thru the archives and find your lost half. Perhaps you were separated at hatch. Anyway I hope you don't leave too quickly because your kookiness has been refreshing and I've needed some hearty laughs lately. Can't help becoming fond of whoever makes me LOLROTFLMAO, however weird. Hope you learn something on this Forum that will help you, and maybe the geek osmosis will get that caps lock key oiled better ;-)

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), February 17, 1999.

JOY!!! WE have BROKEN THe FOOLISH CHAin!!! Free THOUGHT SURVives aGAINST INVADING Fools!!! WHY IS IT LEeska tHAT YOU DO NOt remember DIETRER who has POSTED IN THE past here???? FOR MANY TIMES ago have BEE n THE POSTs of DIeter!! IS it because HAVINg LOST MY TEMPER i seem irAte???? CAN YOU FiND A posting OF OLD FroM DIETER??? i haVE LUREKED HERE FOR SInse 1998 of THE PAST YEAR, HAVE I NOT???? sweep asIDE fOOLISH tHOUGHTS OF BRoKEN UPPER case problems, HOW CANIT BE THAT I AM QUESTIONED WHEN EXPOSING FOOLISHNESS???? AM I NOT the aSKER OF QUESTIONS TO FOOLS????

-- Dieter (questions@toask.com), February 17, 1999.

Oops! More proof Dieter is indeed JBD. Sigh. No point going out on an olive branch and extending a peace petal to a troll. Worth a try for the education. Will now leave it to the more experienced-type military men on the Forum to deal with the incorrigable trolls. Trolls like living under bridges too much to come up for sunlight and be warmed by normal behavior. And they don't like being found out. Too bad, shows there is no bud of desire for self-improvement. Evolution is important to winning freedom.

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), February 17, 1999.

SIgH, I am dome trYIng to convice YOU! Am not nor was EVER I BAGGA!!! BUT WHEN FOOLS GET SILLY FOOLISh thoughts in there head, THEy BECOME STUCK AND UNCOnvincesd!! WHY IS THIS TRUE????? WHO AMoNG YOU CAN ANSWRE DIETERS QuESTiONS????

-- Dieter (question@toask.com), February 17, 1999.

sorry master

Leska, fraid it's too late to get out. we'll just keep pulling you bakc in. BTW did you see nightline LN(mon&tues)

-- Babu (servent@annette.net), February 17, 1999.

Now, now, boys and girls. Play nicely!

-- I'm watching you (le@rn.toPlay.nicely), February 17, 1999.

Methinks Dieter is JBD too. The donuts must have cought up with him and now he went on a diet. But his diet must be severe, he's more delusional.

I didn't bother to read all the threads. Just wanted to tell all the trolls reading this, that yes, we expected more trolls coming on as the time went by, because trolls don't have brains by definition, and there's so many brainless people out there, who managed to get on the internet. Used to be a time, when I first got on the net 8 years ago, that trolls were almost inexistant. The rare occasions that a post on a forum that sounded as stupid as AES for example, was when one of the regular's cat or dog got on the keyboard.

But hey, times change and we have to adapt. Idiot posters are pesky things that won't go away. Best is to do what Donna said and ignore them, they self-destruct eventually. There's no need to try to enlight them, there's enough threads already for that, let them lurk and absorb, perhaps the spongy matter they have as brain can do some good, if its only to repeat something useful.

I have nothing against the entertainment part for those who enjoy it, but to me it's painful to watch them. Maybe I'm too sensitive, I do feel a pinch when I squash a bug, and my heart drops my I hit a squirrel by accident.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), February 18, 1999.

Love the angel, I'm watching you!

Leska, perhaps he's channeling JBD?

Diane

Yikes! Donna tossed a hardened fruitcake. Okay, I'll be good and WON't feed it to 'em.

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), February 18, 1999.

Chris,

Interesting that AeS is a troll because he doesn't agree with . Inver, who will soon admit his role in the Oklahoma City bombing is OK.You have immunity from prosecution, use it wisely.

-- Jesus (ghandi@net.net), February 18, 1999.

THOMAS W. CHITTUM

-- (LURK@LURKER.LURKING), February 18, 1999.

-- Mutha Nachu (---@wordsbehindwords.com), February 19, 1999.

LESKa!!!!!! TAkE NoT THe idIOT SAvaNT'S RAntING TO HeaRT!!!!!! CAn yoU NoT See THe haM HandED ATtemPT AT niCEneSS FRom diETer ABovE?????? iT Is foOLish TO fiXAte oN JBD, Is iT NOt???????

-- Dieter (questions@toask.com), April 01, 1999.

DiEtEr, as I vividly recall, right at that time when you were trying to be nice, as was I, another form of JBD became extremely vicious on other threads. There are signs of substance abuse in JBD's reactions.
There are too many instances of almost-simultaneous postings and concurrent issues/syntax/etc for me to believe you are NOT JBD. But really, this debate is a waste of time. I have enjoyed DiEtEr at times, and hope you are preparing.
I certainly hope Y2K is even less than a bump in the road, and will save $$ and shopping time and of course my life if nothing happens.
To discourage others from sensible disaster preparation is inhumane and will, of course, by the law of cause and effect, force you to learn those lessons first-hand at some point.

xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), April 01, 1999.