quote:

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Originally posted by lifewithlyme:
...I agree...

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I agree too, I hardly ever post so was afraid to start this thread Wednesday night.

The tone is snide and and from my unknowing point of view I find them disturbing. Are only certain people and opinions wanted here?

I am unable to read all the posts so dont know what is going on under the surface but the surface has an ugly troll face in these posts and I dont see what they have to do with lyme.

Actually I've dicovered the joys, after the frustration of setting up an account and figuring it out, EBAY. I'm selling, I'm buying, I'm watching. It must mean I'm getting well.

The ones who've been around awhile know by now not to respond to a troll. I guess it's really obvious to them.

Newer posters don't normally reply anyhow to negative, trollish posts...and if they do, so what?? What possible harm could it do for a new poster, trying his or her hand at giving some advise or sympathy, to respond to a troll? How bout this - when less-seasoned posters (or caught-off-guard "old timers") get caught up conversing with a troll ,then someone should email them privately to say, pssst, this person may be a troll. Lets try to cut down on the paranoia factor that happens each time someone spots a troll.

By the way, there was a troll hanging around when I first began here, and in my paranoid lyme state I agonized that everyone thought it was me !!! (after all I am highly intelligent )

But JEESH it still disturbes me as much as it does others. I'm getting tired of new people emailing me asking if I think others here think theyre the troll...it makes all but a very few of us edgey and paranoid.

Ok that's all

Which is more disturbing to readers. The troll posts or the posts claiming a troll is roaming the halls????????

I did not have the "foggiest" notion what this kind of post meant and am still uncertain.

Where I originally come from (that would be Chicago) we call a spade a spade, so if someone has a ? about someones motives can't we just be up front adults and ask?

If someone were questioning my motives I would expect them to be candid and ask me. Of course I understand that one will never be able to weed out all those who only want to harm but sometimes you just gotta take a chance. I took one by coming to this forum, I trusted that people would be understanding because we are all in the same boat and need to help each other and I want to do my part.

Again, I ask Please Post the Rules so that NEW people can understand what they can and can not do in this forum. I have asked once already.

I apologize in advance for any "hurt feelings" this may cause but it is truly disconcerting to see this "Troll Alert" and not have a clue. I do believe most of us only want and need a little bit of a shoulder to cry on occasionally and as much info as we can get through the fastest means possible.

Please...you have NOT seen the damage a troll can do....as it has in the past.

Those that have been here long enough see them occassionally and alert people...because they
don't want someone being "turned -off", or given....quite literally...life threatening advice.

In one case a troll diguised as New York City Police Officer...invited an 8 year old girl to meet him for advice.

Trust us who have been here for a LONG time......you WANT troll alerts.

Trout

What trolls ARENT: our regular, sick lyme posters who happen to pick on or fight with one another or disagree, even strongly, with one another. It would be abnormal for hundreds of sick people to all love one other and agree on things - this doesnt happen off line or on line - so while annoying for the rest of us, intraboard fighting does happen. (this paragraph is for you tj, to help you understand better what a troll is or isn't. For ex. I used to think a troll was anyone who happens to be in a bad mood. Now I know that's not it)

But for the truely dangerous trolls out there, the REALLY dangerous trolls out there who want to catch us dispensing medical advice without a licence (for example), why don't troll spotter do this: jump into the post and come right out and confront the person maybe like this:

"Hey, you're a troll and I know it, get off this board, (TrollsUserName) !

Now, just seeing "troll alert" or "troll among us, heads up", etc., tells most of us NOTHING! If one is so confident there is a dangerous troll, expose him fully!

I'm not in a good mood today, and this post was directed at noone...I've just always wondered why we don't have the nerve or whatever to "confront" the troll right away - you know, come right out and say "troll alert - its so and so".

Oh, we're NOT sure if it's a troll or not?? Then say nothing until we're sure - we're silencing a lot of potential helpers with paranoia.

Yes, I agree many would like to close down lymenet for good, I agree with the idea, just not the execution.

Leslie

Editing to say that I'm not picking on you crimeoflyme. Others have posted similar troll alert warnings in the past. It's just there are so many new people here lately that I anticipated that a bunch would be confused by this post. I was hoping some of the posters more experienced than I could elaborate, give examples, inform newbies with specifics. Thanks, troutscout, for specifics, I don't know many, though I do realize that we strongly need to protect this site and our posters.

I would only ask once again for the "RULES". I do not know them and can't understand if they are unwritten or that I am just plain stupid, which could also be the case.

How do we know someone is a "troll", what can and can not be posted, etc.....

I really do not wish to do something unintentionally that is stupid.

If it is not a good idea to post a reply with these rules I have an email address.

Don't worry about 'the rules' relax.

If someone thought that you were THE troll...you would have been contacted directly by an administrator of the board....additionally.....

Trolls are often 'experts' at making sure that they don't break the rules.

Many long time members here...have learned to completely ignore a suspected poster when they are found.

Like a bully.....they are fed by your emotions...without responses..they can't upset you...see?

But the reality is- they are dangerous! For those of us that have been around a while have to alert each other so we can keep an eye sort of speak

on what they do say to a newbie. So we can straighten the damage out!!!!Make sure that person does get the right information!!!

Jamie

quote:

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Originally posted by troutscout:
Lady Hawk,

Don't worry about 'the rules' relax.

Roger that, I will remain rule stupid, it seems to be safe.

If someone thought that you were THE troll...you would have been contacted directly by an administrator of the board....additionally.....

Didn't think anyone thought I was, I was more concerned about not screwing something up accidentally!

Trolls are often 'experts' at making sure that they don't break the rules.

OK, I'm kinda slow on the uptake these days, please bear with me..

Many long time members here...have learned to completely ignore a suspected poster when they are found.

I leave this job then to those who know.

Like a bully.....they are fed by your emotions...without responses..they can't upset you...see?

Thank ya much, gotcha!

Trout

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You are the best... and 1/2 crazy.

Here is a post that I hope will help others concerend about trolls..

http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/028992.html

Ladyhawk..

As for rules..

We have a written set that folks agree to abide by when they sign on as a new member.

They can be reviewed at this site...

http://www.lymenet.org/terms.shtml

We also have an "unwritten" set of rules that we try to go by.

I don't guess we have ever written them out.. but I will try to share a few I would like to see all members follow so this site is comfortable for all to use.

1. We don't use doctor's names on the board unless we have their permission. This is to protect them and us.

2. We try to treat others as family and remember our goal... to help others.

3. We try to keep the topic worded so we would be comfortable when children come here for help.

4. We try to moderate the site ourselves so as not to over stress the folks who provide it for us.

5. "Thank you" and "I am sorry" are appropriate and can't be over used. Manners are to be shared.. and not to be hidden under the rug.

There may be more... but this will give you an idea of what I think they could be if they were written.

If you manage to break a rule... not to worry.

Someone will let you know.

Saw this after I read your troll alert message and wanted to respond.

This below is what I was looking for.

1. We don't use doctor's names on the board unless we have their permission. This is to protect them and us.

2. We try to treat others as family and remember our goal... to help others.

3. We try to keep the topic worded so we would be comfortable when children come here for help.

4. We try to moderate the site ourselves so as not to over stress the folks who provide it for us.

5. "Thank you" and "I am sorry" are appropriate and can't be over used. Manners are to be shared.. and not to be hidden under the rug.

If I seem a bit overzealous about the rule thing I apologize Unfortunately my time in the Army tends to color my vision sometimes.

---If you manage to break a rule... not to worry. Someone will let you know.

Thank you, I would never want to compromise my doc, myself, or anyone else for that matter.

again, I truly appreciate the info and your taking the time to send it,
ladyhawk

Thanks too to Trout for explaining it further. And TC also, I enjoyed reading your post.

I'm glad so many are looking out after us - especially COL even if most people jumped you for it.

Col - as long as you weren't talking about me

First of all, I DID call the poster out and ask him directly, IN A POST, if he was a troll.

Secondly, if people are going to state that we should just "Scroll on by " troll, etc

then kindly just scroll on by my post! If you dont like the alert, then dont post.

Its just about that simple.

And no, not one of you on here are "the troll"

It was someone selling his services.

Everyone happy now?

you nasty haft a falooting. HAHA

Im just kidding.

As stated, I did "call the troll out"
Havent seen them post since I did, either.

I see that the 'troll' has not posted since you called him out so good for you. I'm not quite sure why people have problems with that though.