There seem to be some individuals trolling this site with the sole intent of being nasty to other users. I’m calling them out.
In case there was ever any doubt in your mind about the existence of trolls on the Triond site, I have personally discovered that they do, in fact, exist. I have run across a particularly nasty little bugger – we’ll call him “Dick” (it seems only appropriate). Anyway, I’ve run across comments from Dick on some writers’ articles. Dick always has something negative and nasty to say about the poetry posted on this site; things like “This is utter garbage” and “What made you think you could write poetry?” come to mind. Dick never tells the writer why he thinks their work is garbage, nor does he offer any suggestions as to how they might improve. He merely leaves his disparaging remark and rides off into the sunset.
Now, I fancy myself a sort of internet vigilante. I have made it my personal mission to hunt down predators, perverts and scam artists on the social networking sites I frequent. I report them to the site administrators in the hopes that they will be booted off the site. Needless to say, I decided to do some checking on the Dick. After coming across one of his comments for the third time, I clicked on his user name so that I could visit his profile page. You may be surprised to know (or maybe not) that Dick has no articles listed – zero, zip, nada.
I decided (because I couldn’t help myself) to leave Dick a message:
“I’ve noticed that you appear to have nothing but disdain for the writers here on Triond. And yet you have no work of your own posted. Perhaps you could post some of your work so that we all will have a basis for comparison.”
I received his reply this evening:
“Look around dipshit.”
Yes, there should be a comma before “dipshit”. If you’re going to call me out of my name, at least be grammatically correct about it.
Apparently, this person has the mentality of a five-year-old, and must resort to name calling because he cannot come up with an intelligent response to my request. I am still waiting for Dick to post a masterpiece by which he can justify being so critical of everyone else. I’m sure I will be waiting for a very long time.
October 13th, 2009 at 5:31 am
Dick rhymes with prick.
October 13th, 2009 at 7:12 am
Nice work, Ashan! Hunt him down and call him out! I don’t see what one gathers by being mean and nasty to another. My opinion is that, these vile remarks are based solely out of jealousy for the person whose articles they leave the remarks on or the fact that they aren’t recognized as much themselves.
October 13th, 2009 at 8:36 am
I am sure everyone on triond thanks you for setting dick straight, but this article was also very nicely written. If he does happen to post please let me know.
October 13th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Hey!
This is about me.
It’s not my fault you can’t write.
I find your arguments trite, and immature. You seem to deride me for name calling, whilst at the same time…You indulge in name calling yourself.
Your reading of grammar and its correlation to my statement … Is incorrect.
You may also wish to ponder on the wisdom of publicising private communications. You call me a “Troll”; I however, would never do that.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Hmm…
Touched a nerve, eh?
You say people may like or dislike anything you have written… That’s not true though, is it?
I strenuously protect my anonymity, so I will respectfully decline your kind offer to reveal myself.
If you want to fight, go on the forum.
…Good luck.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Touched a nerve? Not really.
I don’t mind if people do not like my work – what perturbs me is people who have nothing good to say, but don’t offer any input on how to make things better. What has offended me about you is just what I have stated above – you shoot down nearly everything you read, but don’t make any attempts to help the writer improve. Is the content/subject the problem? Is the grammar terrible? Does the article not have a clear beginning, middle and end? If it is an informational article, is it not based in fact? THESE are the kind of comments I expect to see from other writers.
And as for the forum – I ‘ve seen what kind of nonsense goes on there. No thanks.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
I think you despise people that state they don’t like your work. You label me a Troll for expressing an opinion.
You seek to censor me; you may want to reflect on that part of your psyche, and whether it befits a writer.
As far as critique goes, I don’t do in depth critiques for people I don’t know. It’s often a waste of time.
The forum is where I live, so maybe you’re not as strong a woman as you purport to be.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I label you a troll for hiding out and taking pot shots at everyone. How much longer would it take to say “I don’t like this poem because the meter is bad”, or “The second paragraph of this article is not very clear” ? I don’t consider that an in depth critique, and it can’t take too much longer than typing “Wordy claptrap!” or “This is utter rubbish”.
I know you are capable of it – you’ve taken enough time on this particular article, and you don’t know me.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
What does what I say have to do with anything?
Either I am entitled to offer an opinion or I am not.
I like to engage with people, that’s not the same as critique.
I will decide, how I offer opinion.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Fine Drew, have it your way.
October 14th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
For the record – when I first contacted you, Drew, you had yet to comment on a single piece of my work. So I did not call you out because of any comment you made to me personally. I called you out because of how you were treating others on this site. I don’t, as a rule, like to see anyone treated unfairly or victimized in any way.
October 14th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
@ ashan, when I first saw your picture on some one else’s article, I thought the pic was Michelle Obama, lol! Thats what prompted me to check out your work. As I began to read, I knew it was drew, but It was confirmed in these comments. This is a very good article and I hope you don’t mind me sharing it with the rest of the triond family. Believe it or not, there are quite a few good people on the site.
October 14th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I see no reason that accounts that do not publish anything shouldn’t be deactivated. Perhaps something like – nothing published in your first 30 days, account deactivated, nothing published in the last 90 days, account deactivated. Then set some kind of rules to cover account reactivation. Or perhaps just no forum access to non-publishers.
October 14th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Nice article Ashan. Don’t let him get you upset though. You know that you’ re a great writer and poet. Keep doing your thing.
October 14th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Not to worry Shawn – I’ve been called worse by better, as it were. I’ll be here for the duration.
Clafleur – share away. I appreciate it.
Stephen – there ought to be rules, but in my experience, folks like this just reappear under a different user name.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
someone else just joined to do the same thing on her profile it says
‘to see my work ask me” no intention of submitting but in the forums bothering
October 14th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
…So you all believe there should be restrictions on who can write and who can’t.
…And you have the absolute gall to call yourselves writers.
You sicken me.
You should all be ashamed of yourselves.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Bravo! I’m clapping. I’ve come across a few “Dick”s on this site. Ninety-nine percent of them don’t have any of their own writing published.
Oh, and BTW, I loved your correction of Dick’s lack of a comma before your identifier. Hilarious.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Your contention as to the comma is wrong. However, how can we assume you have the first clue when you write this drivel?
“Dick”s- This I assume is your reading of correct grammar.
…Need I say more?
October 15th, 2009 at 8:30 am
HI Ashan1614
I do believe there are trolls here on Triond. We get them in every forum I been on. It can be distracting when you tryinf understand the content and how to be a good writer. Most of the people here are good writers. I tried to sign up for Suit101.com as a writer I got shot down they only accept 20 percent of applications that apply. Such a low number and the
other place is demandstudios.com and I got this reply: Thank you for submitting your Writer application to Demand Studios. At this time, we do not have any assignments for you that fit our needs. Also at demandstudios I had send in resume and both places wanted samples of your writing.
I will keeping going here and craft better pieces etc.
Thanks for listening
Lee Ness
October 15th, 2009 at 8:46 am
Lee – exactly! I’m not expecting rave reviews from everyone, but if you don’t like my work, be decent enough to tell me why. Don’t just hurl insults around; that doesn’t help anyone. I think we are all (well, most) here to try to become better writers. If you have some tips or suggestions that will help me, I’m open to receive them.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I am curious: despite the fact that you clearly disliked the way his criticism was delivered, did you given any consideration to the possibility that it might be accurate?
October 16th, 2009 at 2:23 am
Man, I really hate those trolls. I think he should at least give his reasons, even if it’s a “i hate the topic.”
October 16th, 2009 at 10:48 am
This article did make for some great communication. One side promotes the ethical treatment of the author. The other side states, that the author, by the very nature of writing articles, has opened themselves up to whatever criticism comes there way. Therefore, the author should\’ve known, that by bringing to life any writing on Triond would leave them open for criticism. Still, this criticism makes a point, when it\’s constructive or destructive. So, what we have here are two different perspectives on the way criticism should be meted out. And in the end, The writer still needs to have a thick skin. Because often times, the family, friends and associates of a person with talent, may lead them to believe they have better than average talent. But then, they come in contact with the \’Simons\’(American Idol Judge) of the world.
October 16th, 2009 at 11:07 am
inuni: Well put. We do open ourselves up for criticism by posting our work for the world to see. And by the very nature of poetry and creative writing, not everyone is going to like it. Hopefully all the writers here will develop the thick skin (as you so aptly put it) that they need to continue in spite of the nastiness.
October 17th, 2009 at 3:14 am
We need constructive criticism to see what other people think of our work.
That is different from a straightout putdown without an intelligent response.
October 18th, 2009 at 7:22 am
Ashan, Ignoring is Bliss my friend… ignore and keep moving
October 18th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Mythili, you are right. In hindsight, I should have just let it go. I suppose my sense of injustice got the better of me.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:22 am
ashan1614
Not just a fancy, but a sort of the Internet vigilante, indeed! Corroborating some points mentioned in the article, published at this very site, under the title, Beyond The Mirage of The Alluring Programs on The Internet!
October 20th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Please tell Dick
to now hack it,his…. u all know what
good work
may u get name and fame too
which you will
October 20th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Don’t think I wasn’t tempted to tell him just that, LH!
October 21st, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Tell me what?
Don’t hold back; say whatcha wanna say.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:40 am
Drew: The previous commenter suggested I tell Dick to hack off his….
If I had let you get under my skin, I would have said that and more. But I realize that getting into a battle of insults and rude comments with you would bring me down to a level I rose above years ago. I won’t let you or anyone else take me back there.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:28 pm
https://www.triond.com/forum/topic.php?id=17263