Re: Message to the "alt.fan.harry-potter" Newsgroup Gestapo

Perhaps he should have referred to the Newsgroup KGB?

"Troels Forchhammer" <Troels@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:Xns96AF73FF38D6T.Forch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> In message
> <news:1123700868.084752.29780@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> "R.S. Lindsay" <LindsayRS@xxxxxxx> enriched us with:
>>
>> I wanted to post a reply to the "alt.fan.harry-potter" Newsgroup
>> Gestapo,
>
> Hmm -- it does seem a bit early to invoke Godwin's law, but almost ;)
>
> Sorry -- I just happen to dislike the all too common comparisons to the
> Nazi regime or its henchmen on usenet. For me it reads as indifference
> to the sufferings of the victims of the real thing.
>
> I am sure that that was never your intention, which actually makes it
> easier to mention it here.
>
> <snip>
>
>> TO THOSE WHO CALLED ME A "TROLL"
>>
>> A "troll," by definition is someone who makes OFF-TOPIC posts on a
>> newsgroup.
>
> I guess that there are different definitions of a usenet troll. I tend
> to see 'trolling' as posting messages that are consciously meant to
> invoke angry and inflammatory responses that disrupts the usual
> discussions of the group.
>
> It doesn't matter -- under none of the definitions could your postings
> be called trolls.
>
> They might, if we go waaaay back, to a very old definition where a
> troll could also be someone who stirred things up a bit in a positive
> fashion, be called trolls, but given that that definition is no longer
> valid, I won't even try to go that way.
>
> <snip>
>
>> TO THOSE WHO COMPLAINED MY POSTS WERE TOO LONG:
>>
>> I stand guilty as charged -- AND PROUD OF IT!
>
> Good for you!
>
> (OK, so I'm the guy who spent 13 pages proving I can't figure out how
> many student's they've got at Hogwarts, so my vote may not carry all
> that much weight <G>)
>
> <snip>
>
>> TO THOSE WHO COMPLAINED THAT I NEVER REPLIED TO THEIR REPLIES TO
>> MY POSTS:
>>
>> There seems to be this crowd who insists that if I post something
>> on a newsgroup, I am required by law to continuously defend and
>> justify my opinions. When I don't reply to their replies, they
>> accuse me of "running and hiding."
>
> <snip>
>
>> There's no law that says I MUST debate my arguments. The fact is I
>> simply don't wish to engage in a fruitless, never-ending debate
>> with the Dingbat Element over their replies to my replies to their
>> replies about my opinions concerning their replies, etc., etc.
>
> This is the difficult bit . . .
>
> Mostly because I agree completely with you, and yet I can understand
> why people react. Whatever definition we use, it is one of the
> characteristics of troll postings that the troll doesn't engage in the
> discussion, but leans back and enjoys the ensuing chaos.
>
> Again, I am perfectly aware that you have never trolled the group in
> the three years I've been around.
>
> For the sake of appearance it might have been wiser to choose one of
> the least 'dingbatty' replies and comment to that just once. On the
> other hand it's pretty lame to have to do that just to satisfy other
> people's impression of yourself . . .
>
> I don't know if you will reply here, or if I can put this in a nice
> way, but here goes:
>
> If you never had any intention of engaging in the debate, what then was
> your intentions with posting your messages?
>
> Generally I assume that people post their opinions and ideas because
> they wish to receive some feedback -- not just as a 'look at me' sort
> of thing.
>
> To put it somewhat inanely, we realise that we cannot be right /all/
> the time(*), and use the feedback to refine our ideas and views, but
> that usually includes being willing to engage in dialogue.
>
> So, if you don't mind (and I can only hope you'll wish to answer), what
> was your purpose with this series of posts?
>
>
> (*) Yes, even when completely and utterly certain that we /know/ that
> something is true, there is nevertheless that miniscule risk that
> Rowling is going to throw all convention and history overboard.
>
> --
> Troels Forchhammer
> Valid mail is <t.forch(a)email.dk>
>
> The trouble with being a god is that you've got no one to pray to.
> - (Terry Pratchett, Small Gods)


.

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