Notice to newcomers re trolls.

rog2

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

Feel free to disagree with me though, I'll come back and read the replies.

I would like to be among the first to disagree with you.

I understand exactly what you are saying, but I have used the 'abuse' button on several occasions - often, unfortunately, it takes several hours for the offensive post to be removed, by which time the damage has usually already been done.

I take on board that you are, in effect, saying 'Don't feed the Trolls' - it is difficult, even for the more established members of this forum, to 'ignore' some of the more offensive remarks that are made. For a 'Newbie', especially someone whose head is already bursting because of their problems, these remarks can easily send them 'running' from DFW, thereby losing the possibility of getting the real help and advice that they need, and which this forum is capable of giving them.

I can, also, remember that, less than a year ago, there were so many 'stickies' on this board that we had to look half way down for new threads. You cleaned these up - incorporating many of the stickies into a single thread. So much so that some of us 'nearly banged our heads against the ceiling' when we saw the 'new look' board. Obviously we don't want to get back to the same situation again, with so many stickies that the new threads don't get noticed, but this is such an important subject that it simply shouldn't be 'brushed aside'.

That said - there is always a solution - perhaps the incorporation of a 'Troll Warning' in the 'Newbie Thread' and 'newbies' not being allowed to log on until they have clicked that they have read the advice. This, coupled with a 'Troll Health Warning' on the toolbar/header could be one possible solution?

rog2

bubbles0169

thanks for the reply Andrea
its just if it was made permenant then when we saw a troll in the vicinity of a newbie we could link them to read about them
at the moment all the info about them is just coming from us so if it came from authority maybe the newbies could see that they really shouldnt listen to them iyswim!
then we wont lose anymore newbies:D

immoral_angeluk

How many newbies actually read the newbie thread though? I know I didn't.

bubbles0169

thanks for the reply Andrea
its just if it was made permenant then when we saw a troll in the vicinity of a newbie we could link them to read about them
its quite unnerving when you read abuse you feel is aimed at you and if you'r new to forums youll take it to heart
at the moment all the info about them is just coming from us so if it came from authority maybe the newbies could see that they really shouldnt listen to them iyswim!
then we wont lose anymore newbies:D

fermi

Personally I feel that Martin's enormous

Pls remember Debt-Free Wannabee's for support and help not judgement

across the top of the forum is more than enough.

I'm not sure how any extra sticky can make it any clearer or do much more good than that.

bubbles0169

i read the newbie thread as it was only the second time id been on a forum
so wanted to get the jist of this one
and to learn all the abbreviations! (thanks to you immoral for those:))

bubbles0169

fermi its not enough though
ive seen that quoted loads of times but its not taken to heed
if the newbies knew what to expect then they could be prepared

LilacPixie

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

I actually think you may be better off ignoring it and simply reporting the posts to the abuse team.

Feel free to disagree with me though, I'll come back and read the replies.

Andrea

Sorry Andrea, I'm disagreeing

I do understand what you are saying and why you are saying it. As a relative newbie myself i have came up against a few 'trolls' here both directed at me personally and at others on a thread I have been participating in.

I have a very thick skin and to be honest i just pity trolls and don't let them personally get to me however I know there are others on this board who are at a point in their lives where they really do not have the strength to ignore these trolls and real damage is done.

I always click the abuse tag when i see a post that i feel crosses the boundry from constructive even tho harsh critisism to down right nastyness.

My personal opinion and I think that of alot of the board is making this post or something similar a sticky at the top of the board means we are trying, we are making the effort to show newbies and established members of this site that trolling will not be tolerated. If only a handful of newbies see it/read it and even if we stop only one leaving because of the actions of some under bridge dweller then surely it will of been worth it.

fermi

rog2 wrote: »

That said - there is always a solution - perhaps the incorporation of a 'Troll Warning' in the 'Newbie Thread'

That might be a viable option.

Some small tweaking of the Debt-Free Wannabee Newbies Guide: Challenges, Honour Roll, Nerds & Where to start! sticky, particularly linking to Martin's announcement may be appropriate.

Maybe Martin may also like to tweak his announcement a little in the light of the concerns here, although it already says most of it already?

rog2

fermi wrote: »

Personally I feel that Martin's enormous

Pls remember Debt-Free Wannabee's for support and help not judgement

across the top of the forum is more than enough.

Clearly, as the current situation shows, it is not 'more than enough'.

Maybe it could be amended to:

Pls remember Debt-Free Wannabee's for support and help not judgement - abusive posts and posters will not be tolerated

I agree that we don't want the forum to be inundated with extra 'stickies'.