If We Stop Caring...
What?! Did you think this was going to be a serious post? I've learned my lesson.
I am curious though. How do you decide what to give your energy to here? Teach me how to spot trolls (aside from the obvious... and I realize you aren't privy to what I'd find obvious, so just lay it on me).
If it helps, I truly admire you for fighting for that kid. I do it in real life and I know what a hard road it can be.
I've been feeling bad for you about the whole thing.
eta: I have to change my stupid avatar, it kind of takes away from the sincerity (and I really am being sincere)
Mood, mostly...
.
I figured I'd throw this out there to see what other people know that I don't. I hope people don't take this as a trolling expedition in itself. I don't like being taken for a fool. I'm kind of a sucker, in rl and certainly here.
Original Post by meta15:
...then Justin Bieber wins.
What?! Did you think this was going to be a serious post? I've learned my lesson.
I am curious though. How do you decide what to give your energy to here? Teach me how to spot trolls (aside from the obvious... and I realize you aren't privy to what I'd find obvious, so just lay it on me).
For me, it's not about spotting troll. It's about probability of being true. Successive hard to believe comments compound and lower the probability that the poster is being genuine.
Over time all regular posters here will establish their credibility index through their own posts. While we don't calculate it, we know it and use it to decide on the post.
I believe that we all know what posts are believable. We decide to participate anyway for entertainment, or to make sure that the right thing is said on the off-chance that it is true if the consequence is high.
I used to respond everywhere, far too often. Now I check the profile, the start date, look for clues before responding - for the most part. Not certain what I'm doing it for, but I guess it serves as a filter.
Also, as Jane said, mood.
Meta,
I thought it was cool that you fought for what you saw as a problem. I give you much respect for the line you took. I hope you don't feel foolish.
I pretty much don't check profiles and ages unless something sparks my curiosity or I see something that makes me really want to look at background. You've made me reconsider that outlook. I think that's a good thing.
There have been a couple of posters on here that I thought were completely disingenuous and watched throngs of people support said poster. It kind of made me tilt my head sideways and wonder how they could miss what I found to be so obvious. I don't quite know what to think of this most recent event. I don't get a good read on it.
((((meta))))
You're amazing, first of all!
Second of all, it's really hard to "know" what/who to invest yourself in here. Some people seem so real, others not so much.
I've found myself getting invested into people I thought were my real friends, and ended up getting hurt. So, my guard is up.
As far as topics, it's hard to tell. Sometimes you can smell the troll from 10 miles away. Other times, it's people making fake accounts and people responding genuinely only to find out it was a sham. It's a shame, really.
<3
That's the part that bothers me. So what if it is a sham? And I ask that honestly - not to start an argument, but to really understand my own responses better.
On the one hand, it shouldn't matter to me if the poster is a fake, because the problem is real, and may be the problem of many people, so what's the harm in treating it like the real deal?
On the other, it sucks to feel manipulated. But why should I feel manipulated by someone faking a problem? That doesn't seem logical. First off, I had no idea the OP was faking - and second, the only person who could rationally be the azzwipe, in the fake post scenario is the OP who posts it.
I guess what I'm saying is there is no shame in caring - even if it is about strangers who are faking a problem for attention, you know? How can there be?
While I agree with you on all accounts, kg, I guess the biggest thing, for me, is knowing someone did it just to 'stir the pot' or start some drama. Then I feel manipulated. Which no one likes to feel.
But all in all, you're right.
another thing that prevents me from answering a thread is if I have no credibility with regard to the topic under discussion.
I have no idea how a 20 year old shy co-ed meets a dude at college, for example, so responding there would be superfluous and useless to the OP.
Wow. Thank you all for the kind, supportive words. Quite honestly, that situation with the young writer threw me for a loop (and a half).
I could understand how easily one could get jaded here. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I don't know. I've never minded being a sucker before. I don't mind looking like a fool, if it means I've helped someone. Not that I have much to offer, aside from giving a damn... but sometimes that simple task makes all the difference in the world.
But then when I see the caring people here drained and the jaded people justified, it makes me second guess everything. This "online thing" is multidimensional and I can see it from every angle.. and it's confusing as hell. I have to remember that everyone has their own needs and agendas, but it has so much potential. We have access to so much more than we ever had before.
I do feel like a Pollyanna dips*** most of the time, but I am really hoping that the good people of the interwebz don't let the trolls win.
I agree about the potential. To me it's almost mystical, the connection to other people's minds; sometimes to their very souls.
It really is most extraordinary.
I have no idea how to spot a troll. I typically will check the profile before responding (not always for age but start date/"about me" description). Now I plan to start checking on age as well due to the entire "growl" issue.
Don't feel like a fool. No one sees you that way.
*goes to check Meta's profile before responding*
You're a little late....but she has been here before as someone else.
Maybe I'm naive or apathetic or both but I don't really care if the OP or other posters in a thread are real and posting about real problems. I will generally participate in a discussion when I have an opinion about the topic.
Ok, I'm totally out of the loop. I'm going to have to start keeping a score card or something.
It really doesn't bother me about how long a poster has been on the site. I don't mind the people who create new profiles to ask a personal question or to ask about a sensitive subject. I also don't care if someone creates a new profile to be more anonymous. It's more about what is said and how.
