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Disclaimer: I don't really like Cory Doctorow very much. This article seems very much like a lot of what Mr. Doctorow produces: it shows a lot of promise (in t
by sabat 19y ago
Disclaimer: I don't really like Cory Doctorow very much.
This article seems very much like a lot of what Mr. Doctorow produces: it shows a lot of promise (in this case by suggesting that he has a silver bullet to the Problem of Trolls), but barely attempts to deliver.
There's no 'there' here! Does he suggest even one concrete thing we might do? If he did, and I didn't see it, fine, I'll eat my words. From what I could tell, he a) told us what we already knew about the problem, b) told us what other sites have tried unsuccessfully, and then c) tries to tell us about being a "troll whisperer" -- something about removing vowels and some other vague "techniques".
There is no 'there' there.
Incidentally, if you're ever tempted to read a Cory Doctorow short story or novel, expect the same thing: a premise that may seem compelling on the surface, but with prose that has no substance. (You might accuse Thomas Pynchon of the same thing, but at least that guy can write well. Cory writes with the subtlety and beauty of a chainsaw.)
- Tichy 19y agoGlad you said that, because I was really wondering about this article. Did I miss something, or is the only recommendation for anti-trolling the disvowelling? That's really meager for such a long article. He just goes on and on and his only answer to trolls is "learn from the troll-whisperers" - yet he doesn't name any troll-whisperers one could listen too.
- dood 19y agoI agree that there was no 'there' there, but just the promise of a 'there' got my subconscious guessing what it would turn out to be, which was enough that I didn't feel my time was entirely wasted. A little like when you see a bad movie, knowing its going to be bad, but you enjoy it just for the set-up it gives your mind to play around in. Doctorow's writing is just good enough to do that.
- paul 19y agoSometimes subtle ideas are very powerful. The "troll whisperer" was something I hadn't previously considered. The Wufoo's have another simple but apparently powerful idea -- on their blog, they prefill the comment box with "everyone needs a hug", or something like that.
- SwellJoe 19y agoThat's a really good point. You reap what you sow, and the Wufoos sow lots of goodwill and good humor, and that's what they get in return (generally). There's a lot of that kind of thing on their sites ("dinosaur buddy", "like a champ", etc.). I've been trying to start thinking like that in all of my interactions with customers and users of our Open Source products. People take just about everything, even bad news or criticism, better if it is from a friend.
- ralph 19y agodn't s th bnft f rmvng vwls frm trlls psts.