Given that we all have biases, how does one reliably differentiate between "trolling" and "posting controversial content"?
- I would say if you are creating a thread attacking or promoting a controversial position (no matter what side of the fence you are on) without bringing anything new to the discussion. Then you are trolling.
- If you create a thread whose underlying premise is to insult a portion of the community, no matter their beliefs, then that is trolling
- If you respond to a post and the basis of your response is a personal attack without adding anything new to the discussion, then you are trolling.
- If the basis of your argument is someone else has inferior listening skills, then you are trolling.
- If you bring up a persons (or your) political beliefs to either justify your or negate someone else's position, then you are trolling
- If you respond to a post, even "aggressively", but address what was in the post, clearly why you agree or disagree, provide some logic for your position, and don't insult the other person and make it personal, then you are not a troll, you are someone passionate about the topic.
- If you respond to someone's reply to your post, even if aggressive, but "reasoned", and don't take it personally (assuming they didn't), and you do the same, then you are passionate about the topic and a mature adult.
Unfortunately, in a short period of time I have felt the need to report a few posts to moderators. It is not that I can't take care of myself or I don't have thick enough skin, but because to respond to those people "appropriately" would not be appropriate on a public forum and would be a detriment to other people here and the topic being discussed. Their posts were not adding to the topic, were personal attacks, and in some cases were targeted trolling.
My personal experience (here and elsewhere), is that those first to resort to personal attacks, are also the first to behave like they are the victim in the interchange. When faced with an inability to logically and maturely defend their position, their reaction is to lash out and absolve themselves of responsibility.
The reality is that not all "conflict" is bad. Both exposing yourself to ideas that conflict with your own and being forced to defend your position are learning experiences if you allow them to be. It's okay to aggressively defend your position if you do it maturely, just prepared to be wrong.
