Trolls? Not. But flames? OK (mostly)
p2pnet news view Freedom | P2P:- “Hello,” says Donald P.B.A in an email, going on:
“I’m the person who sent you that creative idea regarding attacking Bell Canada’s throttling issue via an environmental issue.”
Donald’s comment, which I also ran as a separate story, kicked off with, “I’ve thought of a very creative way to prevent Bell’s throttling.”
Now, in an email, “as you are well aware of there are rules and etiquette to Internet forums, people kept on personally attacking me based on inapplicable opinions,” says Donald, going on »»»
My entire original post was about Internet users having to be forced to keep their computers on for extended periods of time due to Bell’s throttling in order to get the same data — that’s the crux of my opinion.
But this forum then descended into me being personal insulted even though I tried to keep the forum on topic, please see:
http://www.p2pnet.net/story/17636#comment-888240
I would like you to please make a clear comment to all those users that chose to personally attack and insult me rather than stay within the rules of Internet forum posting! These idiots chose not to stay on topic, chose not to add constructive ideas but just chose to attack me, which then defeats the purpose of why you have setup your website in the first place.
Forums are thread specific topics, if you chose to post a comment you must stay within the confines of the topic at hand or you must start a new thread with a new topic header but what you don’t do is start flare wars!
All I did after a few users inappropriately flared at me based on their opinions, which were inapplicable (these people keep their computers running 24/7); I told them you don’t post insults based on an opposing point of view. What resulted was further users posting comments that where just insults toward me!
So I had it — I told them to fuck off and that I wasn’t going to post here anymore because they single-handily destroyed this forum! I hope that you would post a comment from the point of view of a webmaster and correct them as to the proper etiquette of Internet forums. I really do enjoy your website and I will offer my comments in the future but not if this kind of behaviour is going to be exhibited by users towards me again!
I absolutely refuse to use Internet forums when anarchy results because people don’t know the rules of usage.
When I started p2pnet I made a conscious decision to allow anyone to post anything. I didn’t monitor posts (in fact, I couldn’t under my original content management system) but if I came across something I thought went beyond the pale in some respect or another, particularly if it was gratuitously obscene, if it insulted someone’s religion, if it was an attempt to use p2pnet for free advertising — that kind of thing — I killed it.
But that happened very rarely indeed because I believed then, and I believe now, freedom of speech is the most important of all human rights.
I may not agree with what someone has to say, but I sincerely believe s/he should be allowed to say it in the way that suits him/her best.
These days, WordPress allows me to see comment posts, which is great because before I started using it, comment spams were a huge problem and I spent literally weekss trying to find them so I could delete them.
Now, I can, and do, regularly check Reader’s Writes to wipe out hand-delivered spam and obviously, in the process, I see a certain amount of new posts so in that respect, you could say I monitor them.
But I’m looking for spam, not problem comments.
This January, “An Internet troll, or simply troll in Internet slang, is someone who posts controversial messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, with the intention of baiting other users into an emotional response,” I quoted Wikipedia as saying, going on »»»
p2pnet went online in 2002 and when I started out, I was virtually by myself in constantly and consistently writing about what was then, and still is, going on with the entertainment cartels as they try to browbeat and terrorise people into becoming unquestioning corporate cash cows.
I tolerated trolls. But that’s changed. These days A) they’re just trying to stir up trouble ‘for fun’; or B), they’re corporate shills trying, and succeeding, to divert attention away from matters at hand.
So from now on, I’ll delete all troll posts that I see, together with responses.
One of them, Musico, said today, “Show you are truly for freedom and free speach [sic] like you keep saying and leave my posts alone.”
I don’t need to ’show’ anything. I’m being sued by a very rich company and, in another separate case, by a very rich individual because I believe people should be allowed to say what they think, whether I agree with them or not.
Freedom of speech doesn’t, however, include allowing fools free rein.
As I said to Musico, “Disagreement is fine. Deliberate and repeated posts designed solely to create dissension, aren’t.”
Trolls? Not. But flames? OK, most of the time at least.
p2pnet isn’t a forum. It’s a personal news site on which people can comment on stories and issues. There are no rules as such, other than people are free to express their opinions.
I’ve had my fair share of attacks by email and in comments — right, Henry and Sam? — but to me they’re all part of being online and if I let them get on top of me, I’d have packed p2pnet in years ago.
Instead, 9.9 times out of 10, I just ignore them in much the same way I also do my best to ignore fools offline.
And some of them make me laugh, which is all to the good. 
As far as your post goes, as I write this, I see close to 1,000 people viewed the original story and presumably, therefore, your comment.The second time around, when it went up as a post in its own right, it pulled 1,025 views.
And considering a lot of p2pnet post are picked up and re-published elsewhere without credit or attribution, you can be reasonably sure other people saw it as well.
So the corollary is: far more people read your views and took them in than were critical of them.
I understand where you’re coming from, Donald, and I sincerely hope you stick around. But if you decide to ride off into the sunset, that’s up to you, and I wish you the best.
If that’s what you do, however, you may be throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Cheers!
Jon Newton – p2pnet
=================
UPDATE >
[Click here for Part Deux 
]
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November 22nd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
“Freedom of speech doesn’t, however, include allowing fools free rein.”
Ohhhhh I dunno, Jon. I appreciate the chance to be heard here now and then, but still. Think about the plagiarizing fools you’ve published in the past. Right Henry? (laughing) An original thought? ANYone?
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
maybe you should try one of my articles.
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Wait, since when do internet forums stay on topic?
“Rules” and reality. Honestly there are no rules
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:13 pm
If you are looking for rules Don you are in the wrong place. This is for breaking them, but in a good way.
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Well, freedom of speech is a right in Canada (subtract harassement, and hate speech). I was the one who laughed at Donalds post to begin with and im still laughing now. Its my opinion and I shared it. As for his opinion nobody said he wasn’t entitled to it I am failing to see his point. He even did write his letter, what a…. waste of time.
If you cant handle the heat, get out of the kitchen. Another suggestion. Dont post giant rants and then leap to judge the responders intelligence and assume hes insulting you for posting his/her opinion.
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:39 pm
so, the consesus is this guys an idioto, kewl, count my hand up.
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:48 pm
btw,
talking to yourself under multiple alts seems a little psychotic, dontcha think ?
November 22nd, 2008 at 11:01 pm
“My entire original post was about Internet users having to be forced to keep their computers on for extended periods of time due to Bell’s throttling in order to get the same data — that’s the crux of my opinion.”
See, while this may be true, thousands of people don’t care.
More care about WHY it has to be left on.
Even more don’t care about any of this.
No matter what the article is, no matter what you say, there will always be two opinions. Some people can’t take critizism well at all.
If someone posts disagreeing with you, or laughs at you, then a post/article maybe should not be made? Or be man/woman enough to stand your ground and take what comes at you.
In other words, live with what comes at you.
If you can’t take it, then yeah. Live by your own advice and don’t write another article/post again and move on. But in the end… who wins? Who looks like a cry-baby?
November 22nd, 2008 at 11:07 pm
one more thing…
While it does have some merit (and I think I recognize the same post from DSLr), you can’t just run-away.
In all circles of life, in all professions, in all forums even you have to be able to stand your ground.
If you run away now, then what kind of example are you setting for others?
Do what you want, but if this irriates you enough not to even come back to this site, or post again, then you have some problems that need to be evalauated.
November 22nd, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Here are 5 Ways to Stop Trolls From Killing the Internet
http://www.cracked.com/article_16765_5-ways-stop-trolls-from-killing-internet.html
The question is: DO YOU WANT THIS?
Especially #1 on the second page.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:23 am
I guess Donald has never used the likes of Digg before. His long rant would have been buried quick.
“All I did after a few users inappropriately flared at me based on their opinions, which were inapplicable (these people keep their computers running 24/7); I told them you don’t post insults based on an opposing point of view.”
I guess you really know what your talking about when it comes to the internet huh?
Really, it could have been much worse. I wonder if this guy wrote an email to site administrators when he got pwned : http://digg.com/comedy/You_should_never_ask_for_help_on_the_internet
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:23 am
I just want to give a link that gives more striking evidence of proof that being off topic is not acceptable for posting comments on Internet forums (I refer you to what’s written in RED letters):
http://forums.wnd.com/index.php?fa=FORUM.post&pageId=235
So who’s stupid now?
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:52 am
Anyhow Donald,
If you don’t want anyone commenting on what you write, turn your computer off and don’t use it to write in a public forum again.
Or learn to take the good as well as the bad for what your write.
Some people were not just meant to post in a forum or public medium.
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:58 am
Ways to save energy since it’s winter time:
turn down thermostat in winter and use your wife or GF as heater, same for husband or boyfriend
eat lots of beans and light their exhaust for extra heat, same for beer
build your house on active volcano
make compost pile in basement and use it’s gas to heat house
buy oil company or steal their oil
move in to the richest PPL’s houses .. invited or not
– move in right beside them and siphon their utilities
bring in your farm animals out of cold to heat your house
tell neocons u’re rich and u’re part of their club, u won’t have any more heat probs
charge Bell for ruining your multi million dollar biz and retire
go squat on land Canada gave away to UN and get all the wood and resources u want
keep your winter clothes on indoors
put pedal powered heat generator under your desk and subsidize your puter use
find trolls and make ‘em heat your house for their transgressions
get used to cold as natives and pilgrims did and quit your whining
Enjoy
ps. i’m not responsible for any accidents u may have or stupidity you may do
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:32 am
Donald, are you enjoing the fact that the same user posts under so many alts, just to
make it seem he has a consensus ?
A common trolling technique.
All those posts are the same loser.
November 23rd, 2008 at 8:19 am
Hippie your a moron. I know because 1 of those comments is mine freeman and surfer are 2 dif people (if you read this site you would know) so you have at least 3 people + all the other random comments. You Failed.
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:37 am
while we’re off subject let me indulge in gem that mentions how scientology is connected to satanic cults [for real] … need to watch all 4 parts to see the connections:
http://video.google.ca/videosearch?hl=en&q=Illuminati%20Vol%202&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#q=Illuminati%20Vol%202%3A%20The%20Antichrist%20Conspiracy&hl=en&emb=0
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:19 am
LOL Freeman DONT BREAK THE RULES! I dont want to have to write an overzealous email.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:56 pm
” Hippie your a moron. ”
I know you are but what am I ?
We can act like 2 year olds all day.
I know exactly who is and who is not as they appear.
” You Failed. ”
I am not here to ’succeed’ or ‘win’
I am here to contribute positively, if I can.
When I can, that’s a ‘win’, I guess, for Jon not me.
You are here only for self aggrandization, and destruction.
I don’t care about you and you’re alts and wno’t respond to you any further.
I am not 2
I am not psychotic.
l8ter
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:48 pm
@ mortal kombat …
pssst … rules?
i only have rules of Universe / God / Gods and respect, the rest of other ppl’s rules don’t count, especially the negative ones
i’m still learning many of Universe rules which have been hidden from us by negative forces
i have learned enough that when i walk into a room for some reason satanists, illuminati, freemosons, scientologists, liars and likes thereof have adverse affects
they tend to scatter away, hide, shut up or even puke. think i’m one of the few who have walked into a scientology office and received the cash they owe to ppl
it’s all a matter of vibrations and frequencies as learned from martial arts [self honor], sacred geometry, metaphysics, positive vibes and nature. this is how you can turn the tables against them
most good ppl tend to smile and as far as laugh to their hearts content. to them i’m an open book. i have one student who turns to jello due to relaxation and knowing it’s safe
so bring on the emails
@ Hippie
good for you, now go get laid, it will make u much happier
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Hi, Sam!
To be honest, I’ve actually missed you: it’s fun to watch you weasel out of having to actually reply to the points I raise. It’s also amusing to watch you descend — so consistently, I might add — to the level of pissy, personalistic attacks on me/my wife/our pets/where we live etc.
I find it utterly fascinating that a self-proclaimed creative dynamo such as yourself finds time to step back from the frenetic pace of “creating Content” long enough to take pot-shots at me, just some guy in Pennsylvania.
Glad to have you back on board, “Sam” — game on.
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:27 pm
One more thing:
Fitting that a thread related to “trolls” would draw “Sam” back here….
Irony? Dunno. We’uns folk’s frum roun’ heah dunno nuffin’ ’bout no irony. (smirk)
Peace out, Y’all, and happy Thanksgiving to everybody in the U.S.A.
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:02 pm
@hippie I will explain this 1 more time so you understand.
you keep saying theres a troll and people are using alts im telling you as the one who called you a moron after you called everyone who posted a ‘loser’ (quite hypocritical with the 2 yr old comment).
If you believe your opinion is correct based on your observations then by all means you did “succeed” in your view.
My opinion has been stated ONCE (twice if you cant my flame on you) along with many people commenting here, and im not using any ALTS I was the one this hole email to jon was about to begin with (along with surfer and someone else). I choose not to type a name because I feel like it. I have been reading Jons blog/news site p2pnet for months prior to the introduction of Bill C61
The whole concept of debating electricity use when it comes to the internet is redundant and if you cant understand why, you need to lurk more. I would be willing to bet 90% of websites run 24/7 on … ELECTRICITY.
You happy Now ? Im not a troll your clearly paranoid. Stop bogarting that spliff and pass it this way.
November 24th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
tru too many fools reign free but it’s the internet and you just have to accept others’ right to express their thoughts. grow a pair donald.