A few weeks ago there was a minor troll invasion. It was over fairly quickly but it had made one thing clear; many Escapists did not know what to do when they encountered a troll. I messaged Kuliani and asked him to update the forum guidelines to contain info on dealing with trolls. He told me if I wrote something good enough on the subject he would use that, so here it is. Enjoy!
A troll is someone who posts simply to anger and with no intention of contributing. It can be as blatant as someone posting "Racial slur Racial slur Racial slur Racial slur Racial slur Racial slur Racial slur Racial slur Racial slur!", or as subtle as someone posting "Popular thing is dumb and the people who like it are dumb". Someone who posts an opinion you disagree with, is not a troll however.
The title is something of a misnomer; there is nothing active when it comes to disposing of the trolls. I have broken it down into three easy steps.
1: Spot the troll.
2: Make sure the troll is indeed a troll.
3: Hit the report button at the bottom left of their post.
Follow these steps exactly and the banhammer shall fall from the sky slaying the beast instantly.
Do not deviate from these steps in any way. Do not post in a troll thread as the troll feeds on attention. Your post cannot make a difference and change the troll's ways no matter how clever it is. Even the sharpest rapier wit and the hottest flames cannot harm the troll, it will only give the troll the attention it desires and the satisfaction of getting a rise out of you.
1: Spot the troll.
2: Make sure the troll is indeed a troll.
3: Hit the report button at the bottom left of their post.
Follow these steps exactly and the banhammer shall fall from the sky slaying the beast instantly.
Lil' Jimmy: Gee wilikers Mr. Plex, why do the trolls do it?
Souplex: Nobody is entirely sure but the trolls themselves. It doesn't matter though, for trolls like communists are always out there! We need to be ready for they can strike at any time! But when they do...
Lil' Jimmy: Report and move on!
Souplex: Now you're getting it! *Musses Lil' Jimmy's hair*