Feeding the trolls

Do you ever feed the trolls?

Do you let your members feed the trolls or do you encourage them to ignore them? Or do you just get rid of the trolls entirely?

 

Good topic Jessi!

I discourage feeding the trolls on my boards but some people cannot help themselves - for the most part the trolls find the door pretty quick.

Sometimes I'll mess around with trolls on other people's boards just because it's fun, lol

 

I try really hard to restrain myself and ignore trolls for the most part. On occasion, I just can't seem to help myself and I do indulge in a bit of troll-baiting. I usually only do that on forums that I've been a member for a long time, though.

 

Of course, I'm the same way.

 

It must be the mean side of me, but it's just so much fun playing with their little, tiny minds. I do try to avoid the obvious crazies, though. I had one nut job find my phone number in my WhoIs info and call me. That was pretty creepy.

 

I know i shouldn't but i just can't hep myself. it is fun feeding them

 

LOL. I think that trolls are best to be ignored. Sometimes it's better to avoid something that could turn into trouble later than play with fire. Trolls love to get a rise out of someone in authority.

 

I will now and then troll myself. There is a mention of trolling in my forum's rules, but it's allowed as long as they don't break other rules.

 

Actually, it depends on the overall status of the forum. If I see that the forum is getting lonely and the members are being idle, I let the trolls do their job to create some spark and this spark encourages the members to start the discussions again. However, if the boards are pretty active and the trolls are messing up with everyone, an automatic ban hammer will be most likely for them.

Trolls can also contribute something to the forums. We just need to see that and capitalize on that to maintain the activity on our forums.