Forming new society of recovering troll-a-holics

Come to me and heal thyselves brothers and sisters....

I note from one of drmiler's threads (originally confused/mixed up via dsylexia, whatever, with Dr.Guy) that there are many that claim to be unable to control themselves when it comes to laying off responses for the resident automaton, he who shall remain nameless except in vieled references to clueless, and old, and definitely too liberal to be called a moderate as he keeps trying to claim, and finally most certainly a RINO (Republican in Name Only) as only the absolute finest of such could be (right up there with Jumpin' Jim Jeffords, John McCain, and several others that would jump to the Democrats in a second if they thought they could get a little more in their campaign coffers for doing so).

Like clockwork, the automaton posts a baseless rant, one which the world can see is completely without merit, completely without proof, and which is just repeat number 465 of what seems to be an infinite cycle of the same repeated rants on the same old tired topics, and yet there are those among us that just can't resist spittin' into the wind, tiltin' at the clueless old windbag, I mean windmill, only to find that no amount of discussion will ever change the mind of the clueless one.

If it were but one or two individuals, it would perhaps be entertaining, but it is many. The resident automaton troll is like the proverbial tar-baby. You touch it, and you can't break free. It's like a powerful magnet, drawing in conservatives to try to sap them of their energy and enthusiasm, distracting them from the good news that is out there by claiming that there is just too much wrong in the country, too much that is all the fault of the epitome of evil (in the troll's mind), one George W. Bush.

Well brothers and sisters, I'm here to help you all heal. Maybe not a 12 step program, as some call those programs into question. But still, a program that can help you.

We're going to form a society of Joe and Jill Users. We won't discriminate so we won't run afoul of those that dislike organizations like the ones the Democrats wanted to use for lynching Samuel Alito. In fact, we'll even be better than Teddy "I think I will have another drink" Kennedy and our fellowship will even be sure to include brutha's and sista's even when the Republican base is reportedly just a bunch of rich old white guys that are all friends of Dick Cheney and his Haliburton buddies (and Condi Rice don't count, as we all know she's a token in exchange for Bryant Gumbel or perhaps Larry Bird, so she's really not "of color").

Yes people, you can be healed. You can walk away from the strong magnetic fields. You don't have to remain Lost as if you crashed on an island and then spent time trying to avoid the supernatural and the others. You can be saved. You can survive. You don't have to respond to the trolling threads. You can let them whither on the vine. You can earn your own points, start your own threads. Create a new article refuting the bogus claims, and do your arguing there. Let the original article disappear or get aged off the forum lists very quickly as your reply in your own article, or as others join you there.

Make the troll come to you. He's shy, true, but he does occasionally come out of his spider hole, I mean rats nest, oh heck, whatever type of top-secret hideout he/she/it would hide in to avoid being spied upon by (troll's words/thoughts here, not mine) "he who should be impeached."

Yes, like I said, you can be healed. The first step, as many of you all have done, is to admit you have the problem.

The second step is to find and make use of your trolling button/votes for the misguided materials that you see and start to get steamed about.

The next step is reply elsewhere. Find someone else that is rebutting the argument and add to their thread or just click the "Create New Article" button, or "New Post" button in the forums. Let the original rot in internet hell as it should.

Don't worry that some might see the content without reply and think it must be true. There are those that think that everything they see on the net is the truth, even when much is urban legend, or unjustified and unproven mythology.

Those that want truth will seek out your threads, they will reply in your threads, and you will move up the Joe User ranks as someone else slides back down into the abyss that they belong in.

Let the good people heal you. Parated2k has some powerful ju-ju and mojo. Bakerstreet too. Dr.Guy and drmiler. Singrdave. Littlewhip and many others. They are your support group. Learn from them. Avoid taking the bait from the troll. ((bad cajun voice imitation from silly Waterboy movie "on")) "You can do it! ((bad cajun voice off))

We can heal you here in the church of non-trollism. Send your contributions down the aisle, we'll take them to send you off to the next friends of the Republicans gathering once we hit the $5,000,000.00 mark so we can buy some more influence. Between us all, it won't take long, as we steal from the poor to give ourselves more and bigger tax-cuts that we don't need because we just aren't working hard enough to pay our fair shares. Just take that first step. Don't worry if we all start doing it and we seem to be moving in lock step. That's just that beginning of the indoctrination back into the party of Bush. Some might even try to say we'd be goose-stepping just like the little, well, you know what they claim we are.....

Come on down. Let me lay hands upon you and help you heal yourself. As I lay just enough weight in your pockets to make you start leaning right, you'll come back to fair and balanced, and we'll all be all right. It only takes one, so come on down!"
8,472 views 31 replies
Reply #1 Top
Shameless forum bump... after all, we have yet to start collecting your offerings here, and we have so much need! We have to get that money to help buy that influence so again, come on down!
Reply #2 Top
Oh, I should also not forget to mention Moderate Man and Island Dog as honorary counselors. They have much they can help you with as you try to break this strange magnetic hold that is making you feel you must reply to certain threads. Learn from these good people. They can help keep you free of the evil that is out there disguised in our midst.
Reply #3 Top
I believe the COL is attempting to adjust away from 'automaton' status.

I appreciate your olive branch with this post.

I'd like to point out that 'trolling' is not defined within your post.

However you wish to define trolling, remember that many more JU users aside from 'The Col.' may be subject to the blanket with which you grace the JU bed.
Reply #4 Top
I believe the COL is attempting to adjust away from 'automaton' status.


Using borrowed copy of the automaton's software for automated reply number 693:

It is a fact that is not indisputable. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain! The fact is that the automaton continues to pick a tired old topic and just rehash the same old tired crap. Witness the most recent posting (and no, I won't link it, I'm not doing any favors for the automaton, sorry).

The automaton is just unable to change his stripes. Oh, wait, not stripes, just badly tarnished and crapped upon leafs. Had he worked for a living and earned stripes, he might actually have learned a thing or two along the way, and might be more worthy of respect.
Reply #5 Top
However you wish to define trolling, remember that many more JU users aside from 'The Col.' may be subject to the blanket with which you grace the JU bed.


BTW Deference, you know full well that most others here at Joe User are not the one-note or one-trick ponies that the resident troll, he who shall remain nameless except where others use the title (like you have done), clearly is.

Others venture out into other areas and topics. They reply in other's threads and forum postings, and they don't simply stick to the same old political rants. They offer expertise in other areas, offer comfort and support to others, and don't just leave themselves as apparent one-trick ponies.

But that's just my opinion, and I could be wrong....
Reply #6 Top
The real roll killer will be when JU goes commercial and premium users finally get the much asked for "Ignore" feature... with this the offending morons will simlply disappear from your JU experience.
Reply #7 Top

First, no problem on the confusion of the Docs.  Even our mothers sometimes confuses the 2 of us!

As a reformed member of the answer Col Klink club, I will offer my services as a support counselor!

And finally, Bryant Gumble IS black!  Hard to believe, but I remember when he was just a sportscaster too!

Reply #8 Top
And finally, Bryant Gumble IS black! Hard to believe, but I remember when he was just a sportscaster too!


Now you might think that, and others might think that, but are you so certain that other persons of color actually claim him as one of their own?

(He writes this thinking of a great Dave Chappelle show skit/episode where there was a draft for all people of color which decided just what racial group would claim just which famous individuals like Gumble).
Reply #9 Top
I have taken the first step. I have admitted my addiction to bashing my head against the brick wall that is the COL.

Now I must draw myself out of the fervor. The agonizing numbness that is his argumentation and linkage...

To quote [paraphrase] "So I Married an Axe Murderer":
"Dad how can you hate 'the Colonel'?"
"Because he puts an addictive chemical in [his JU posts] that makes you crave it fortnightly, smartass."
Reply #10 Top
Problem???? I got no steenking problems (said in a very bad Mexican accent, aka: Blazing Saddles)!
Reply #11 Top
Hello, my name is DJBandit.

And I'm a Col-coholic.

Some one help me, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE.
Reply #12 Top
Oh dear. I have, once again, sinned and posting in one of his articles again. The urge is too strong, I have better chances of stopping my addiction for Coca-cola.

I could really use some serious help. Seriously.
Reply #13 Top
Control yourself, boy! I saya! Control yourself. (in a mediocre Foghorn Leghorn accent).

*slaps* DJBandit across the back of the head.

Sorry about that, but sometimes a good swift kick to the rear (or a slap across the back of the head) is enough to wake you up to reality.

Well? Was it? Or do I have to do it again?

*starts reaching for the ClueX4*
Reply #14 Top
MM threatens to superglue anyone that responds to R.E.M. gene fingers to their own buttcheeks.
Reply #15 Top
Can we at least figure out why it is so hard not to respond to him in particular? I mean there are people here who have views that I like debating with and sometimes they too can be hardheaded, yet I can easily ignore them and not respond to them. But with Col, it's like an addiction, but then he seems to have to with me as well since he cant miss a chance to reply to all my post.
Reply #16 Top
*slaps* DJBandit across the back of the head.


BTW, thanx for the slap. I'll have another, make it a double straight up with no ice.
Reply #17 Top
Heh, I thought the thing to do with trolls was to keep them distracted with pointless debate on topics of their own choosing, until they're suprised by morning and turned to everlasting stone by the rays of the sun.
Reply #18 Top
I've noticed a new troll technique that appears to be short lived. Make a blog almost entirely without substance, then hop on the threads of anonymous users and make inane comments until they blacklist you. Then post a whiny article about being blacklisted and watch it soar despite being almost entirely without substance in your futile attempt to work your way up the food chain.

Seems that troll hasbeen nicely deflected though. Although I'm almost certain he'll be back. They always are.
Reply #19 Top
Can we at least figure out why it is so hard not to respond to him in particular? I mean there are people here who have views that I like debating with and sometimes they too can be hardheaded, yet I can easily ignore them and not respond to them. But with Col, it's like an addiction, but then he seems to have to with me as well since he cant miss a chance to reply to all my post.


I think that's the biggest problem. It is like an addiction, but sadly one where no progress ever seems to get made.

It's one thing to debate someone that is firm in their beliefs, but completely another to argue the same points repeatedly with someone that will very obviously never change their mind or show any possibility of being open to the idea that someone else may be right in their beliefs.

Arguing with he who shall not be named is pointless because you'll just see the same repetitive arguments come back again and again. Answering threads is pointless because you'll just be offering yet another opportunity in that thread to have your argument ignored completely, and have some different "fact" tossed back at you that is completely irrelevant to the discussion at hand.

The answers are almost always:

The deficit will consume us all.
The wealthy aren't paying enough in taxes.
George W. Bush is a moron.
George W. Bush is destroying the country.
George W. Bush is not popular.
Geroge W. Bush is a draft dodging war monger.

Pick any of the above, it's sure to be seen in some reply in one of those threads. Doesn't matter if it's about the topic of discussion at all. Heck, most likely the topic will revolve around one of the above issues, but even if it doesn't, it will given an opportunity to toss in one of those standard reponses.


Here's what I think we are all best to do. Ignore the threads. Or if you can't, again, start a new article, argue your side of the case there. Why fight a battle of wits with someone that is unarmed? It doesn't reflect good upon yourself, and you'll never win. The best you'd do is get a draw, and why bring yourself down to that level.

Take the high road, argue your points with facts in your own threads, and get points for yourself, and let the original article die on the vine. Eventually it becomes pointless for those articles to be posted, as there's no points to be had from them, and no one reads what isn't popular/featured.


It would be nice to think as Stutefish does that eventually the troll is turned to stone, but that hasn't happened yet.
Reply #20 Top
BTW Deference, you know full well that most others here at Joe User are not the one-note or one-trick ponies that the resident troll,

I'm not saying anyone is, but I am asking for your definition of 'trolling' and gently reminding you that whatever definition you provide would possibly envelop more users then simply the Col. .

If you do this exercise, even privately, you will understand my point.
Reply #21 Top
Can we at least figure out why it is so hard not to respond to him in particular?

I don't know why anyone would have any trouble dismissing an automaton - which, I believe, is the most precise term to apply to the JU user in question.

Since my last attempt to engage him as a real person failed, I've had zero reason to continue doing so until it has become evident some change has occurred.
Reply #22 Top
As I was enjoying my dinner tonite, I thought more about this standard troll complaint:

The wealthy aren't paying enough in taxes.



I'd argue the point in one of the troll's threads, but why bother, it won't change anything, even as I read that most states are finding themselves flush with surpluses and unsure of what to do with it. The fine state of Maryland as an example finds over $1 billion extra in it's coffers, with talk of giving a small (average of approximately $43 per household) property tax rate cut to it's residents.

Of course here is where the automaton troll would say: the residents need that $43 to pay for the higher gasoline and fuel costs thanks to the oil baron friends of Bush that have raised rates to obscene levels

The same articles discussing that tax-cut rate also talks about many others things that the state government can fund though, and likely will fund. Higher education and/or money to spend for school construction. Some money for transportation. Hi-tech grants for research, including into stem cells and other areas. And much more. And oh, by the way, even leaving a ton of money around for a rainy day fund.

The same is happening in many states across this great land. And the same is actually happening with the federal government. The revenue coming in, even with George W.'s tax-cuts in their glorious effect is still exceeding expectations of all except the biggest free spenders in the congress. (Which remains a problem, since those free spenders just refuse to cut back on unnecessary spending!!!)


Anyway, the point of the current article, and the topic du jour is to please don't feed the troll, at least not in it's own habitat. Make it come to you, and bloody it's nose in your home turf if need be. You'll get plenty of support, and you'll be doing most of the rest of the JU community a favor (and the world too for that matter!)
Reply #23 Top
The main reason that we can't help ourselves is....What he posts for the most part is just so stupid, ignorant and just plain mean that "anyone" with half a brain sees that it's WRONG! And upon seeing it our brain goes into action to "right" the perceived wrong!
Reply #24 Top

Problem???? I got no steenking problems (said in a very bad Mexican accent, aka: Blazing Saddles)!

Actually they ripped that off from the Treasure of the Sierra Madre!

Badges?  We dont need no steenkeen badges!

Reply #25 Top
I am so proud of myself.

I entered the good COL's newest thread... and didn't read much.

Just enough to find his posts, realize they were utter crap rehashed, and "troll" them.

I have just taken my first step into a larger world.