Even someone casually scrolling the threads has seen a barrage of personal insults, all in one direction, to two guys, from the same source.  over and over, month after month, year after year. As someone else said its part of a systematic effort to drive away "dissent"

It will continue, if there is no ramification. Tisk tisk doesn't seem to suffice.

Being The Admin is a thankless job.  It would be a lot easier if there were ramifications for that.

GWMayhem, a quick question (asking for a friend...)  

But seriously, would you define trolling for me? 

I very often don't agree with Dude's opinions, but he's entitled to them.  For me, a troll is someone whose sole aim is to make others feel bad about, well, anything.  I am personally sick and tired of the comments on this board about the past.  It's over.  But if the comment is relevant to the conversation, that's not trolling. And I allow that for sure.

I also think that when anyone references other users by their previous board user names or even their actual real name, or a name like 'moron,' well, that's trolling. 

So, Mayhem, would you agree that a well thought out opinion, whether popular or not, isn't trolling?  And all this other bullshit should just stop (from everyone)?

Thanks.

Last edited by BGF (8/09/2021 2:48 pm)

Hi BGF (purposefully not using your real name):

I'll define trolling as the following:

Making posts that are either designed on their own to purposefully agitate or gain a negative reaction from others, or are expressed in such a way as to purposefully agitate or gain a negative reaction from others.

This has nothing to do with any of The Dude's opinions.  It has everything to do with the repetitive nature of expressing these opinions.  There is nobody who comes to this site even semi-regularly who does not know The Dude's views on Lonergan's alleged abuse of players, Tom Crean, Shaka Smart, Mark Few and Gonzaga, Paul Jorgensen, Jordan Roland, Lonergan's recruiting since Sutton and Strickland left the program, URI's recruiting (though not so much lately), etc.  Nevertheless, The Dude has frequently inserted these opinions again and again (and again) for seemingly no other reason than to be purposefully annoying.  Then, when someone has had enough of his antics (primarily me), he starts crying to you about it.  It's ridiculous in every sense of that word.

I'll also add that I do find it hard to believe that The Dude himself believes some of his own opinions.  I think he'll post an unpopular opinion, get criticized, and then double down again and again.  It's a very passive-aggressive move and without stealing GW69's thunder, I think he gets off on being passive-aggressive.  When you stop and think about it, aside from BrianPaul,  how many other posters seem to come to his defense with many of his opinions?  This was less of a problem on the old site where he could agree with himself 20 different times under 20 different names, but his lack of support is a bit more transparent here.

Trolling, as you suggest, is also referring to someone by a former poster name, something that both The Dude and BrianPaul are fond of doing.  I have not called either by their former names.  And, it's also making erroneous accusations at someone's expense, something which started on the old board with BP and does not warrant rehashing here.

To answer your question, of course a well thought out opinion that I happen to be in disagreement with is not the act of a troll.  I'll line up some posters off the top of my head...GWRising, Free Quebec, Long Suffering Fan...all posters who I have disagreed with in the past (from an occasional issue to many issues) who I have much respect for.  The notion that I wish to drive off anyone whose opinions I disagree with is patently absurd.  

Given my druthers, there are only two posters here who if it were up to me, would not be posting here.  One has falsely accused me again and again of making some heinous statements which never came from me.  (This admittedly took place on the old board but the fact is he is downright nasty to me even today so why would I want him on this site.)  The other has been going out of his way to be purposefully annoying and needlessly repetitive, in what appears to be an attempt to sabotage this board.  In other words, behaving like a troll.

Finally, of course all of this bullshit should stop.  But since I am the one who is reacting to The Dude's behavior, I would say that this has to start with him.  Simply put, stop behaving like a troll and then I'd have absolutely zero reason to criticize him for being one.  So far, I have seen zero evidence that he can or wants to change.  Maybe this will be a breakthrough.  The ball's in his court as far as I'm concerned.    

 

I'm actually glad this conversation is happening.  Don't kid yourself, I'm going to close it soon enough when it goes to hell, but I believe it's healthy to lay out in no uncertain terms what the problem is.  I fully expect this will become horribly negative and I'll regret this, but my Joan Baez "Kumbaya" meets War's "Why Can't We Be Friends?" mentality is this is healthy.

The one thing I've never heard here, from anyone involved, are the words, "Sorry for what I did in the past," and "let's move past our past issues."  I'd love to see those said, privately or publicly.  I know I'm kidding myself, but this board CAN be so much more than it is.  I don't like making threats, because I really don't want to act on them.  But I will make this one...:  I am not afraid to start a new board and kill this one, allowing only people on whose names are known to all.  No anonymity.  By the time we get to the basketball season, this board has to be better than it's been.

Thanks for letting me rant in my own way (not that you have a choice).

Oh yeah...#RaiseHigh.

Thanks, Skittles.  I accept that apology.  As for the other stuff, I have no reason to be upset for you defending something you believe in, provided there aren't personal attacks against other board members for expressing their opinions.  That's all I ask.
 

Dude, there will never be a productive board here, one for which the rest of us want to be a part, until you and others look forward, not back.  Whether you believe you are part of the problem, you are unless you move on.  

Dude, maybe you could open your mind to consider this possibility.  Maybe, I am not posting under multiple names as you continue to allege, but maybe what's really happening is that others are tired of your very grating act and are coming forward to expressing their displeasure with you.  Is this even a possibility in your mind?

This all seems very simple to me.  I have said, on multiple occasions, that all you have to do is put an end to the trolling which would leave me with nothing to criticize about you.  And yet, you seem to be unable or unwilling to agree to this.

Is it because you're incapable of controlling yourself?
Is it because you're not willing to stop acting like a troll?

It would be so easy to just do this for the sake of the board.  

I'll tell you one thing....sending me disparaging private messages here is absolutely not the right way to go.  I guess when BGF starts removing your disparaging public posts at my expense, as he did late yesterday, you turn to sending me disparaging private ones.    

Barry, since you are taking requests and acting as "Marshal Dillon" to resolve all of BP's problems, here are a few of mine:

There's a poster among us who is allowing his leaves to blow into my yard and get into my pool. He often parks his car in front of my house and taking up my spot. He gives me dirty looks and angrily waves his cane at me whenever he see's me. He continues to blast the theme song to Gilligan's Island late at night. The whole neighborhood can't stand him but the police refuse to do anything. You have the power to make things right Barry. Please let him know if this continues you will ban him forever from reaching the multitudes on this site.

Raise High!

You two continue to prove my point.  I guess you really don't want a site to discuss GW basketball.  Why else would you push BGF like this?

Do you feel you're winning the hearts and minds of this board?  If so, how come nobody and I mean nobody comes to your defense?  People are tired of this shit.  Just grow up and stop it.  

Gwmayhem, it's like the old Washington Post commercial ... If you don't get it, you don't get it.

Last edited by GWRising (8/10/2021 2:13 pm)