annoying unregistered posters

[Steelfan]

OK./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Muhammad]

Hey, I didn't start the thread! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

I opened the topic up for conversation months ago, got the feedback I asked for, so this is really just stating more of the same.

 

[banjobj]

I think registration should be required. It is very easy.

 

[MChalkley]

Rus - Your question about the definitions of "troll", "lurker", and "SPAM" have all been answered, but I'd like to address a slightly different aspect of your question. You asked what they meant in relation to an unregistered user, and I don't think that was actually discussed. I didn't mean to imply that there's necessarily any connection between those things and being unregistered. I only meant to say that being unregistered makes it easier, under the cover of anonymity to "troll", to use the word as a verb instead of a noun. Many unregistered users, such as yourself, for example, are none of those things. And I don't classify "lurkers" to be of the same ilk as "trolls", in any case. While we always like to encourage "lurkers" to participate, because it broadens the TBN experience, it's not a crime. I go into "lurker" mode myself from time to time because of various reasons - sometimes I'm just too busy to respond in my usual succint, terse style. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Of course, not many here on TBN would classify me as a "lurker" - they just might prefer I was. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

A "troll" is another matter entirely. Trolls serve no useful purpose in life whatsoever and would be far better off in the same plane of existence as the fairy tale variety - in other words, nonexistent. Their sole purpose in life is to try to stir up controversy of the worst kind - sometimes controversy results in stimulated thinking, but what they try to stir up is just contention and ill will. Some may be simply sophmoric, but most, I suspect, are just losers. I'm not sure if it's a case of "misery loves company", or whether they just find it humorous to start something, but either way, they have no redeeming qualities whatsoever, at least not as it pertains to a forum, newsgroup, mailing list, or whatever other medium of communication they choose in infect.

Trolls are easy to spot, and fortunately extremely rare on TBN. One reason for their rarity is that they don't live long here. (It's a funny thing - I'm not exactly sure what happens to them - their posts just seem to evaporate into thin air...) /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

All of which is to say that you are not a troll, nor a lurker, nor do you have anything to do with SPAM. You're just a regular poster who contributes good things to TBN and happens not to be registered. There is not necessarily any connection whatsoever between those things, and I'm not going to bad-mouth lurkers anyway, but the simple fact is that the vast majority of the trolls we have to deal with are unregistered. They don't have to be, of course, but the anonymity makes it easy, as I said earlier.

As for requiring registering causing us to lose valuable posters, let's not forget that the poster gets something from the experience, too. There's something to be said for the satisfaction that comes from being able to help others. That alone is worth the "price" of registering, especially considering that I can't come up with any "price" to it anyway. Not to mention the value of knowledge gained, which is often priceless. And then there's the comeraderie, again priceless. No, I don't think that in a world where "something for nothing" is proverbially impossible to achieve, getting an awful lot for almost nothing is something to complain about.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Morning Mark,

While I can appreciate your being so absorbed in appreciation for trolls./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I'd like to offer what I feel is the primary reason for the lack of trolls at TBN.

It's been an observation of mine that trollerectus is inate in all of us humanus erectus amongstus. But it lies dormant until aggravated.

The aptmosphere here is such that the aggravation factor for trollerectus rarely if ever happens. In fact even in the off the wall folder the only time backus uppus (which is the first sign of trollerectus) becomes an issue is when outside influences like coitus interuptus causes the ruckus virus amongstus.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

While I know I didn't intend to imply any direct correlation between unregistered posters such as Rus and the terms "lurker" or "troll" when I defined them I'd like to apologize if such a connection was inferred.

If I were to try to come up with a term to describe Rus and others like him here, it would be something along the lines of "unregistered member." How's that for a new classification? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Golfgar4]

<font color=blue>"...it would be something along the lines of "unregistered member." How's that for a new classification?"</font color=blue>

Or in the words of Wroughtn Harv.....notquiteus memberus! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[wroughtn_harv]

<font color=blue>Or in the words of Wroughtn Harv.....</font color=blue> still one of us! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I think, given enough time, an experienced lurker could take the right amount of SPAM and mold it to look like a troll /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. Thanks for the definitions.


Russ

 

[Hawkflyer]

Please don't repeat that, it hurt my head to read it the first time. The fact is there are NO users on TBN (well mabye the first three or four) who did not start out as Unregistered users. Once you get into TBN a little and see the exchange, you either want more (register) or you don't (lurk, or leave). Since almost all of us started out as unregistered lurkers, it is unreasonable to conclude there is evil in that status. While I would support registration, I certianly see no reason that unregistered users should be kept from reading the boards. If they want to contribute, they will register, if they are a problem, they can be summarily unregistered. While I am after all just a dumb hick, it somehow seems simple to me.

 

[MChalkley]

Hawkflyer - I think that pretty well sums it up. Nobody (to my knowledge, at least) ever suggested making in necessary to register to read forum messages, only to post.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

That was my impression all along, too. I just didn't want to lose any contributers who, for whatever reasons, don't want to register.

 

[Hawkflyer]

I agree. I have REALLY enjoyed the exchange and would hate to see anyone that might join in cut out. However, I would also hate to see what I have found to be gentlemanly discourse at it's best, disrupted. It is rare to find places, like TBN, where people with strong opposing opinions, pursue intelligent discussion. Not fights, discussions. And yes, sometime go away agreeing to disagree. Too good to loose guys.Whichever way TBN decides to go with registration, I’ll support their decision.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I hope your not mad at me. I have posted a couple times. Are my questions and comments to abrasive? Do unregistered guests really post more childish remarks than registered guests? I guess if you register you probably do feel a little more accountable for what you say. I have not registered because I did not see why it was necessary. If I had to choose between registering and not viewing the site, I would definitely register. I think this this site is not only cool, but it works great. Muhammad seems like a pretty smart guy.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I went ahead and registered. Thanks for the great site.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Well, I'll have to go ahead and register too then. As a "lurker", who has never intentionally (or unintentionally I hope) become a troll, I had trouble w/ the "old" registration process. And so I just never bothered. Out of courtesy, I always use the same name (Stan N or just Stan). On the other hand, I did register over on jplan. Anyway...here goes!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Well - that was easy and painless, and only took two tries - a testament to how easy it really is.

THANKS FOR THE GREAT SITE - I'VE LEARNED A LOT, AND HOPEFULLY CONTRIBUTED A LITTLE BACK.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Easy, painless, and didn't work...I can't post under my name yet, but as I said, I'm a little "challenged" in this area.

 

[Frank_Mulligan]

For me, I don't like to register at places unless I feel the site is worthwhile (and this site obviously is!). Also, I'm concerned I will receive more spam than I receive now (is that possible?) I have NEVER received any spam regarding tractors or supplies, so I'll bet registering here is completely safe. (Unless Muhammed sold my email address to Viagra suppliers/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. I think my wife might have signed me up for those!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color=blue>'Do unregistered guests really post more childish remarks than registered guests? "</font color=blue>

I think the answer to that is yes, but with a big asterisk. I don't think it's because of anyone changing because they register but rather because the trolls DON'T register and therefore skew the percentage of bad posts by unregistered posters higher than it would otherwise be. My guess is that if you eliminate the "troll factor" then you would see no statistically significant difference in bad posts by registered and unregistered posters.

It's like that old logic example for "If A then B, but B doesn't only happen after A. (If it rains the street will be wet, but if the street is wet it doesn't necessarily mean it rained.) All of the factors must be considered (including "the troll factor" on posts or someone with a hose on the wet street). /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif