Remind me not to become a Dr. Who fan after all...

[conuly]

I might actually *understand* the argument in question here. That said, I have a comparison to make. I call troll on this guy. Troll does not mean (as he correctly stated) "somebody who doesn't agree with you", but I'd say anybody so vehement about defining fan as "people who agree with me" is a troll. Certain parties go around and call various people who disagree with them not-really-autistic based on flimsy evidence such as "well, they have a website". SO! I can call them trolls too, right? Please? It'd make me feel better.

Comments

[dkmnow.livejournal.com]

I tend to agree, and I wouldn't deny you the right to make the call.

Unfortunately, in keeping with the "he who smelt it, dealt it" theory - as in Godwin's law - the actual troll is usually the first to invoke the T-word. So, beating them to the accusation doesn't really help your argument, except perhaps in the eyes of those who are oblivious to the facts of rhetorical maneuvering.

In politics, of course, there are ways around this: if you are under investigation for pandering, for example, hire a third party to implictly accuse your opponent of being a rapist.

S'pose trolls do that sort of thing too, in various ways...the pop-psych classic, Games People Play has a chapter entitled "Let's you and him fight."

Whataworld.

::sigh::

[conuly]

My calling troll just means I won't comment again unless I think the reply will be funny.

[dkmnow.livejournal.com]

My "last word" with impenetrable hacks is usually just:

"Fascinating."

So far, it's always worked.

[conuly]

"Thank you. I have been refreshed and enlightened by your unique point of view."

"That's a very interesting view."

[dkmnow.livejournal.com]

Emphasis on "unique."

Here's a case in point (http://www.livejournal.com/community/absolute_jesus/189012.html?thread=1605204#t1605204) which has yet to approach the "fascinating" stage. Though not trollism, I think - probably just a case of youthful indiscretion.

But most certainly a textbook case study in double-standards.

[l33tminion]

There are a lot of ignorant, stupid, and ill tempered people out there, but most of them aren't trolls. Trolls do what they do solely to provoke.

I don't think that guy is a troll. A jerk, maybe...

[dkmnow.livejournal.com]

I tend to agree, and I wouldn't deny you the right to make the call.

Unfortunately, in keeping with the "he who smelt it, dealt it" theory - as in Godwin's law - the actual troll is usually the first to invoke the T-word. So, beating them to the accusation doesn't really help your argument, except perhaps in the eyes of those who are oblivious to the facts of rhetorical maneuvering.

In politics, of course, there are ways around this: if you are under investigation for pandering, for example, hire a third party to implictly accuse your opponent of being a rapist.

S'pose trolls do that sort of thing too, in various ways...the pop-psych classic, Games People Play has a chapter entitled "Let's you and him fight."

Whataworld.

::sigh::

[conuly]

My calling troll just means I won't comment again unless I think the reply will be funny.

[dkmnow.livejournal.com]

My "last word" with impenetrable hacks is usually just:

"Fascinating."

So far, it's always worked.

[conuly]

"Thank you. I have been refreshed and enlightened by your unique point of view."

"That's a very interesting view."

[dkmnow.livejournal.com]

Emphasis on "unique."

Here's a case in point (http://www.livejournal.com/community/absolute_jesus/189012.html?thread=1605204#t1605204) which has yet to approach the "fascinating" stage. Though not trollism, I think - probably just a case of youthful indiscretion.

But most certainly a textbook case study in double-standards.

[l33tminion]

There are a lot of ignorant, stupid, and ill tempered people out there, but most of them aren't trolls. Trolls do what they do solely to provoke.

I don't think that guy is a troll. A jerk, maybe...