- NEW!
by AB-Joel on June 19th, 2007
First, stop, take a deep breath, and realize that it's nothing personal. There are people on the Internet who will follow others around just for the sheer "fun" of getting a rise out of them. If you react to them, you are playing into their hands, and making the game fun. That said, here's what we recommend:
Step 1. Alert the Answerbag staff using the Feedback link at the bottom of the page, or emailing admin[at]answerbag.com. Please let us deal with the trolls and don't try to "fight back" or chase them around giving them negative ratings. This will just lead to escalation.
Step 2. Relax.
by Jodie44 on September 2nd, 2007
NOTE: Although the two questions are dissimilar enough to not be duplicates, the powers-that-be have declared my original question (which accrued fifty billion points before the staff shuffled all the answers to their current home) read:
"I've been DR'd eight times in the past six days. Should I a) scream "Help! Call 911 - I'm being trolled!!" b) send out unsolicited email notices to people who won't care, or c) just suck it up and blow it off?"
A bunch of people replied to that question, so - if any other answers here seem a little off, now you know why. Sometimes "duplicates" aren't true duplicates. No biggie. Just thought you'd like to know.
EDIT: When I asked my question about being DR'd eight times in six days, I was more or less poking fun at a user who's been emailing other users about how high-level Answerbaggers have been trolling AND downrating (her words, not mine) her account.
I checked this person's stats Saturday night - information, BTW, that's available to everyone on AB and found that in reality, she's actually received only TEN downratings in the last 27 days!
Here's the thing, and we all do it to some extent, unconsciously:
I'm certain she believed people were indeed trolling her account. See hard evidence of a few negs on your feedback page, and BOOM! Fright, anger, and doubt creep into your mind, and infect your thoughts. Next thing you know, that shadow in the corner of a half-darkened room is a sinister, ten-foot tall ghostly thing, waiting to wrap icy fingers around your throat. But flip on the light, and the shadow's gone. Fear and anxiety conjure up smoke and mirrors inside our minds.
Not to get preachy or anything here, but there's a passage in the Bible that says, "Know the truth, and the truth will set you free." In this case, I hope learning the truth set this person free.
by unknown on September 2nd, 2007
I say you should take out a billboard complaining to all the motorists on the busiest interstate highway in your town. That way you can get maximum exposure for you pitiful plight.
by - retroglide - on September 2nd, 2007
I vote for B. A rigorous email campaign so I can garner some sympathy points to offset the severe shock and trauma!
However I'm afraid it may back fire in your face. If I'm not mistaken, there are laws about using Interstate e-mail to defraud and defame others. Carrying on a smear campaign is a tort (potential for civil action)! Of course I doubt there are many people who would actually try to file this suit. But if things got too far out of hand, there are people who would pursue it I'm sure.
by crayonwaxy on September 2nd, 2007
Id say, blow it off, the people that are trying to get you upheived, will be glad to see you distressed.
Don't bring yourself down to their level.
by Stableboy on September 2nd, 2007
I vote for C.
Although, sending unsolicited e-mails sounds pretty attractive as a way to make everyone think "hey, that SB really got his knickers in a twist. Maybe he needs a hug..."
by Anonymous on May 15th, 2008
Just keep calm. Don't make eye contact, and don't subscribe to the theory that points even really matter. Do your thing, and they'll do theirs. Don't let it bother you. That's why they do it...because they know it gets to you.
by .avallach on June 19th, 2007
I just post the following:
by Sweet T on May 15th, 2008
That means you have made into the elite A/B club, WooHoo, way to go, congratulations! Your movin on up!
by FaerieWhings on May 15th, 2008
They just jealous cuz you so cute!!!
***********
PS, not sure if you know this. But you can turn the ratings off so you don't have to see it.
by Galeanda on April 26th, 2008
Don't feed the trolls!!!
Ignore, ignore, ignore.....
If you are being severely trolled like 8-10 DRs all in a row over different questions and you are concerned you can approach the staff about it from the Feedback button at the bottom of YOUR profile page. Take a screen cap of the evidence so you can show them or save for future reference.
But remember, just because you've been DR'd a few times, it doesn't mean you have a troll, just someone who disagrees with you.
by branciforte3241 on November 7th, 2008
You need to get yourself to an alchemist immediately. Troll blood contains evil humors and if you were infected this might result in a slow but very painful petrification process. This is not fatal, of course, but if you don't nip it in the bud, a Philosopher's Stone may be required to "quicken" your blood, and let me tell you, that can be a very expensive procedure (though non-invasive. I hear that these days they can have you out of the ceremonial chamber and back home in less than a fortnight!)
Most larger villages have a 24 hour Emergency Alchemist on staff. If you are not within a days ride of one of those, your best bet is to go to your local barber or surgeon for a blood-letting. (I also hear that experimental studies with leaches (yes, leaches!) are producing some promising results.) The blood-letting is only a precautionary measure and will not, of course, reverse the petrification process but it will slow down the crystallization and buy you time to get to a board certified alchemist.
And of course it never hurts to sacrifice a small woodland animal to your primary diety.
by Whatever on May 15th, 2008
Ask us to up rate you!
Screw them trolls
by BigDaddyBS on April 26th, 2008
Ignore it...
If it's bad, report it (for example http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/2841769 - 4 DRs in a row? That's WAY past coincidence and totally ridiculous. Go to that question, feedback it, and report the trolls. Remember it's the weekend, so it might take the staff a bit to get to it.
And for questions like this, on which EVERYONE was DRed for even answering, report IT.
WE may not be able to tell who's doing the DRs, but the staff, I'm sure, CAN. (They just don't show it to us for fear of DR wars.) If there's no valid reason for the DR (the questions are good - and they are, or the answers are good - and they are), the trolls will get theirs in the end.
Like I said before... Just continue being your sweet self, keep that occasional "hot head" in check, and YOU will be fine.
(And if the trolls go away for a few days, then come back, consider that they MAY have been PBed, blame you and are back at it... Report 'em again, so they can be PBed again, and later, if they continue, banned.)
You could also take a couple of days off. Most trolls don't have a good attention span and will go away when they're not getting to you or your friends.
by Esteban-- Smartest Pumpkin on April 26th, 2008
fight back like a Banshee. and cut off it's head.
by Mystery Girl on April 26th, 2008
Just ignore it.
by killdrphil - reasonable for a madman on September 2nd, 2007
I'm being trolled right now by a punk named happygolucky. He is anything but happy go lucky. He is an unstable idiot. He can only DR me 2 points at a time though. Anyway, yeah, good question. I don't really have a good answer though sorry.
I'm not begging for points. He's only gotten me for a small amount so far.
by Arisztid on August 10th, 2007
Realize that they are cowards and treat them as such.
Someone who would troll has no cajones and needs to act out his or her sad life on the net by playing "big guy" and harming others.
They annoy me but not overly much because I have been trolled by the best... actually, the worst. I have not been trolled on AB by ANYONE as bad as what I got at Yahoo Answers. AB Staff takes care of things too quickly, it seems, for it to get out of hand like it has at Yahoo Answers and some other boards.
What I do is the following:'
If it is a points down troller, I say "mindj" and ignore them. If I am routinely trolled by a points down troll I report it to AB via the feedback link. I know, from experience, that AB staff can tell who has been points downing you because I have done this.
If it is a question and answer troll, I flag and DO NOT points down. If you points down, the troll smiles because what a troll wants is attention. Also, if you points down all of the troll's q & a, it reflects in your "points given" percentage. Mine is 92% because I did, indeed, points down trolls until about 3 weeks ago.
If it is a comment thread troll, I report via the feedback link. Note to Joel: maybe a flagging system for comment threads would be good?
Another thing: a troll wants your outrage and anger. No matter what, do not give the troll this. If they do get to you, walk away from the computer. DO NOT give them the satisfaction of seeing you cyber-bleed.
Also, if I see multiple accounts being used to troll, I report them via feedback links with the urls for the profiles I suspect and a note telling AB that I believe they are the same troll. I am certain AB has a record of all of our IPs.
Most important, do not feed the troll. Again, the troll wants attention. Also, asking questions about the troll or its activities is feeding the troll. I gave in and asked one once (I was uncaffienated). AB rejected my question and I am glad they did. I would have deleted it had it been in time before the edit had run out. I know better than asking questions about trolls.
I am saving this to my watchlist because this thread has good advice for all.
by Arisztid on May 15th, 2008
Go to your profile page and scroll down to the feedback link (it is on the right).
Click it and tell AB that you are being trolled and to ask the troll to please stop.
AB can see who uprates and downrates you and they will stop a DR troll. Now, 3-4 DR's does not a troll make to them.
Staff will not tell you who did it but if it is one person doing enough of them it shall stop. If you are getting hit by a couple of them, they shall stop.
by LynfromNM on May 15th, 2008
Please don't let the trolls silence you or change you! Ignore them. Sooner of later it catches up to them.
You can also contact Admin using the feedback link at the bottom of the page, send them a link showing trolling, and ask for their help. They have a lot of requests to process, so please be patient.
by Ezra on May 15th, 2008
I'm in the same boat Freedom. It's as if you're an outcast if you speak your own mind.
by Vellygirl on May 15th, 2008
There's a group of billy goats that kick troll a$$. WIsh I had more leverage to help remedy, but ya got me wee lil 2 :) Trolls nip at me too.. no biggie, points are kinda pointless...unless... do you get free T-shirts for being rank? teehee
by Chosun One on September 21st, 2007
Ignore em..
by Carmella on September 21st, 2007
Report it via Feedback (link at the bottom of the page) http://www.answerbag.com/feedback_edit
and completely ignore the trolling in the mean time.
by Sheepingly needs no handy men only hugs on September 2nd, 2007
Eight times in six days? That's like once per day. That doesn't seem like much :) I would just blow it off as regular AB stuff.
by Ed the Jetpacking Headbanger on September 2nd, 2007
Sorry to hear that. I guess you can do what I am doing, option C. I hope you get enough +'s to ease your pain ;-)
by Kyogre-Stataen on September 2nd, 2007
I think Answer C would be your best choice here Jodie. It may not do much when you call 911, and it may cause even more distraction if you choose Answer B. They're just points anyway.
But then again, if massive trolling is occuring, there's always the feedback and the e-mail as well too. =)
by Vampyre Bat on November 1st, 2008
report the activity using the feedback link on the bottom of the question page.
by Account Closed on August 24th, 2008
Send a feedback (link found at the bottom of the page) inform the staff. As only they know who rates who. Keep in mind that being down-rated does not mean your being targeted by a troll.
When several question and answers in a roll all negs then you may have a troll if in fact your questions or answers was not deserving down-rating.
Best thing to do is nothing as the negs we get do not take points away from our totals just the question or answer itself which does not affect your total point earned.
If it bothers you simply shut off your ratings by going to your profile page and clicking on the checked box beside where it says ratings and you will not see them.
Any public attention such as pointing out you been hit keeps the trolls happy and coming back. knowing your bothered will keep them hounding you like a stray dog. Don't feed them and the troll dies as it has nothing to gain by causing you grief.
by Heo1. on August 24th, 2008
Tell a coat.But i checked your feedback and i don't think you are being trolled :P
by Anonymous on May 15th, 2008
Ignore them. They'll go away... eventually.
by Yarnlady is happy every day on May 15th, 2008
*** Y * A * Y *** you have arrived!! Good job, ABer.
by Morg the Army wife on May 15th, 2008
These questions should help:
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/326229
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/100647
by LadyLuck on September 2nd, 2007
Bastards! They got you too!
Sound the alarm!
by JustCurious on September 2nd, 2007
hey at least it's not like YA where you get violations where they remove your answer and you have no clue why and can't get an explanation from anyone.
Here's two more points. :-)
by Galeanda on September 2nd, 2007
I'd try to make sure I wasn't being rude in my answers and write better, more helpful ones if I could. Or else if I don't think there was anything rude or controversial in my answers, realize several people disagreed with me and just suck it up. It happens. It happens to everybody. It doesn't lower your point total, only your percentages. Oh well. Life happens here on AB.
by Mike has a Day job. on September 2nd, 2007
I propose a solution that involves the use of a blow torch, a HAM radio, and several tons of dynamite attached to a jetpack worn by a bear flying over loch ness during a chess tournament.
Gracie, who took my jetpack..
by Da Azian Boi on September 2nd, 2007
You should definitely send out emails to everyone because we would love to hear about your downrating stories! You could make new friends too! :)
by tinybubbles is sitting on the carpet read on September 2nd, 2007
i vote for c.
by asweetguy4u2know saya R.I.P Nelson on September 2nd, 2007
though I feel your pain I vote for choice C
by maximista on February 26th, 2009
go get a rabies shot.
by science_geek on November 1st, 2008
I always just ignore it now. The points don't come off of your total anyway, they are just used to rank answers.
by needtoknow on September 7th, 2008
I don't know who they are so I can't chase them. they do know I'm upset, I think all of AB knows. I try not to takes it personal, but 7 or 8 timeds in 24 hours is pissin' me off. One, I wouldn't care, but all those??
by scubabob on August 24th, 2008
Spit out the lure.
by AmorousLilith on August 24th, 2008
Embarrass them.
by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on August 24th, 2008
Tell a coat...
by DudeLer on June 7th, 2008
the best way to deal with a troll, is dont do a darn thing. dont retaliate by going to a moderator. dont give them any written responses. dont get involved in any dialogue what so ever. just ignore them. its about karma.... just let it go. so you lose some points, big deal. you can make them up quickly just by asking a few questions. dont by a whyner with a question saying woe is me, why am i being downrated. that is really lame. just let it all slide. I think the trolls are staff, just trying to get you agitated. so just play the game and ignore them. totally.
by LoggyBren on June 6th, 2008
Run a trolling motor over them!!
by z mannn its been awhile on May 15th, 2008
i will uprate you plus 3
by eric on May 15th, 2008
There should be a shotgun behind the sofa.
What are a Trolls favourite food?
by Juice on October 1st, 2011
| 3 people like this
If i wrote an offensive question would you ignore it or respond to it and why?(And no, i'm not going to write an offensive question.)
by Zenrean on July 29th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
I feel safer crossing bridges now. Did the "like" button drive the trolls into extinction?
by HoboJoe on July 7th, 2011
| 2 people like this
Will answerbag ever be without trolls?
by anil m on October 1st, 2011
| 2 people like this
Do you think everyone is a troll in some way or other? ;-)
by AnonymousGirl on July 25th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
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Comments
Will laughing, thanking them and asking for another, work?
by I love my baby on June 19th, 2007
Thanks, Joel. Very helpful. People need to know they should just ignore the trolls and let you guys handle them.
by Jodie44 on June 19th, 2007
Wow, I sense the presence of a Policy(TM)!
by Stableboy on June 19th, 2007
THAT WAS SOMETHING TO READ, LIKE A TERM OF AGREEMENT THING
by Cactusfreak on July 30th, 2007
Cactusfreak, just a tip, but one worth considering - typing in ALL CAPS is considered as, well, rude because it comes across as SHOUTING. I know you don't know, so it's OK, but if I were you, I'd stick to normal and customary typing:)
by Jodie44 on July 30th, 2007
Yes I'm glad that this post exists. I'll keep it copied all the time so I can link it to every "Why am I being trolled" question. It probably won't help much, but it'll me ME feel better. :P
by Penny The Wise on August 9th, 2007
Great advice. As a 'newbie' here, but an experienced Yahoo Answers user, I have seen tons of trolls. Ignoring them is really the only way to go; otherwise you just feed the issue and it gets worse and worse.
by Not Here Anymore on August 10th, 2007
thank god you work here and not at yahoo answers...it is chaos over there...
by DA BEN DAN yanggui zi on August 24th, 2007
<nods> YA ignores the concerns of their users, huh? A lot of people seem to feel that way:(
Well, in any case, welcome to AB, Da ben dan.
by Jodie44 on August 24th, 2007
We just send that we are getting trolled to feedback?
by TheAnswerer on December 8th, 2007
Very well said my FRIEND..........M.C.S.
by - M.C.S. - Dave on September 27th, 2008