Snark isn't the enemy. And 'trolls' were originally forces for social good, countering new usenet posters who decided rules and research weren't for them, they

Snark isn't the enemy. And 'trolls' were originally forces for social good, countering new usenet posters who decided rules and research weren't for them, they were just going to burst in on whatever conversation was happening and inject their unwarranted opinions. Those people do more collective damage to the community than the most sadistic or narcissistic agitator. Communities can unite against an asshole, but in a room full of idiots the best individual course is to show yourself out. And gods help you when the idiots unite against you for not following the mob zeit geist (reddit du jour).