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flamers, bashers and trolls

longman

Please could the moderators look at strategies to prevent this site being invaded by trolls/flamers.

I fear this site may be vulnerable simply because it may be difficult to distinguish someone with real issues (owing to the nature of ASD and associated conditions) from people coming on because this discussion group might provide entertainment.

Flamers tend to post something provocative, or respond to existing dialogue in a provocative way. This is sometimes referred to as "flamebait". We need guidance how best to avoid "taking the bait" - that is responding in such a way that the flamer gets his "kicks" (adrenalin rush) from escalating and escalating an argument.

Most web discussion groups have this problem, and particularly chat room where the exchanges are more spontaneous. I feel the time has come when the moderators need to provide guidance.

We are likely to get several flamers watching the turmoil each other creates, and sometimes working together. However we may also get single flamers having multiple profile names.

It is relatively easy to find a script on this website or another website addressing autism, and create a little personal story. They may have a different story for each profile name, each with the potential to cause a stir. They will look for people who react easily and are entertaining, and they may develop names/scripts to suit their targets. 

Sadly there are people who get their fun as trolls/flamers. I suspect rather than being poor socialisers or bored kids, they are most likely to get an addiction for doing it. Starting a row generates a high, and they then want more and more highs. Flamers coming on here will be going on numbers of web site discussion boards and chat rooms.

It is unfortunate but I think we now need to be prepared for this happening.

Parents

  • The forums have moderators, and each post has a 'Feedback to NAS' link - surely that's really all that's required? A way to report them and people who can deal with them.

    Also, I'm sure you had me in mind when you wrote some of your post, longman (i.e. the bit about avoiding 'taking the bait'), and yes, I probably should resist the urge to play with them, but I say if people like that want to come on here and start trouble then I'll quite happily see them off - and ignoring them often doesn't work, and they'll then just spam the forums more and more - taking them on and facing them down, generally does, because like bullies, they don't like it when you fight back.

    Also the mods either impose insta-bans and risk banning genuine members of the autistic community, or keep it as it is, open to the diverse personalities that make up the autistic spectrum.

    Being overly quick to penalise problem behaviour could be risky, on a site like this.

    And who judges who's a flamer/troll and who's a genuine member of the community?

    Can you tell?

    For sure?

    (and if you seriously answer yes to those questions, then you're deluded - you, I, the mod's, no-one, can know, for sure)

Reply

  • The forums have moderators, and each post has a 'Feedback to NAS' link - surely that's really all that's required? A way to report them and people who can deal with them.

    Also, I'm sure you had me in mind when you wrote some of your post, longman (i.e. the bit about avoiding 'taking the bait'), and yes, I probably should resist the urge to play with them, but I say if people like that want to come on here and start trouble then I'll quite happily see them off - and ignoring them often doesn't work, and they'll then just spam the forums more and more - taking them on and facing them down, generally does, because like bullies, they don't like it when you fight back.

    Also the mods either impose insta-bans and risk banning genuine members of the autistic community, or keep it as it is, open to the diverse personalities that make up the autistic spectrum.

    Being overly quick to penalise problem behaviour could be risky, on a site like this.

    And who judges who's a flamer/troll and who's a genuine member of the community?

    Can you tell?

    For sure?

    (and if you seriously answer yes to those questions, then you're deluded - you, I, the mod's, no-one, can know, for sure)

Children
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