Having a developer friend who is dealing with the same hate mobs myself, and it's something that is entirely not her decision on top of that.

I'm very angry about it right now.

This is a great story related a boxers approach to this very same situation. It cracks me up everytime. 

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/mar/12/english-boxer-curtis-woodhouse-twitter-troll

Yea, the persistent trolls are usually living in glass houses.  From what little I've seen of my troll brigade that's been the case. The typical troll is an unemployed wannabe.  That's what fuels them in the first place. They hate people who have done things they wanted and in order to rationalize their own life failures they have to invent failings in other people. They don't recognize that their own failures are tied to their attitudes on life.

That said, there are truly legitimate reasons for some of these people to dislike me and what I stand for.

Q: As the owner of a company, do you feel that you have the right to just close the company for any reason you want?

A: You're goddamn right I do.

The people who sneer at my "Hank Rearden" attitude towards running a business are welcome to their view as I have nothing but contempt for them in return. Let them start up their own company and see how long they survive being a door mat. We're the oldest game studio still run by its founder left in the industry. It's not easy building a company that can stand the test of time. I welcome any of the trolls to try it. Of course, in some of their cases, it would mean getting a job.

I think 'troll' is more apt than people may normally associate the term....

I visualise them as fat, quasi-intelligent 'beings' living their puerile lives in their mum's dark, dingy basement from whence they 'might' venture to shower twice a year [even if they don't need it].....where their REAL entertainment comes from the occasional mouthfull of the WRONG coffee cup.....the one that they were using as an ashtray....

....then again....they may be Nobel Prize recipients....

...but I doubt it...

Howdy Web......

Hate mongers who are basically anti-social, don't care who they hurt, with little or no compassion and zero empathy for others. Is it no wonder that most, not all mind you but most are the up and coming next generation. All of the social networks gives them the one thing denied them outside of their homes...a venue to rant and rave as they please without consequence, they know they can get away with it. Outside they face retaliation, someone would take it not lightly and probably bash their head in. Inside on their computers they can remain anonymous and nobody would know who they are. They totally abuse the amendment that gives them freedom of speech and expression. You can't chastise them physically because then you are the villain and that is what they take advantage of. What they don't realize is that someone just might know who they are and where they live, it does happen. Payback is a bitch! 

Jafo been stalking me again.

I've never understood how anonymity turns some people into instant arses. Generally speaking I've never viewed the internet as a place where I can run around being a complete douche cause "no one knows who i am".

 I'll grant I'm not always the nicest person.. but I say what I think even when its likely to offend. Whoever said honesty was the best policy must have had a better brain to mouth filter than me.

As for the whole internet mob logic.. they aren't really different from real life Mobs logic.. You get a group of people with some common ideology and the wrong motivation and they do some crazy stuff.

And you say you can't understand it?  You're your own example...

If what you said as 'not nicest person' was accompanied by your name, address and home phone number would you not suddenly find a whole new degree of 'niceness'?

That's the whole point re anonymity on the net.

Accountability

....and the likelihood of a bloody nose if offence is taken ...

Anonymity is the bane of the Internet.  When people have no accountability for what they do, they'll happily indulge their basest desires.

Some people applaud that the Internet is "the great equalizer" which is great for the basement dwelling loser who gets to put their talent for trolling on display against people with demonstrated accomplishments and achievements.

No because I'm no different in real life. "Fistalis" has stuck with me for over 15 years.. I'm not gonna ditch it because someone gets annoyed with my opinion. Fistalis is who am just as much as my legal name. As a matter of fact it would take very little effort to link Fistalis to my real life identity. Its no different from Frogboy when he says or does things that some people may not agree with. He doesn't apoligize for his opinion.. he may not intend to offend.. but that doesn't mean it doesn't. My opinion remains the same regardless of whether we're here on the forums or having a drink at the local pub. Does it mean that some people think less of me.. sure.. but I'm not going to go through my life acting like i have opinions which are different from my real ones in order to spare some people the pain of being offended by my opinions. I don't share my opinions with malice.. but do so in the general course of discussion.

Now if you feel that its better to go through life lacking the courage of ones own convictions thats fine.. it's your choice.. but don't superimpose your preconceived notions of forced social niceties based on fear on me.

Glad to know you think of me as a troll though

Anyone who needs anonymity to feel empowered against another individual has nothing but a false sense of empowerment.

Seems like there's a lot of negativity in this thread. Sure, some folks have a tough time with things and take it out on other people. Does that make them worse people? Well maybe, but ain't nobody perfect.

As for anonymity, it's also the boon of the internet. It allows people to make and do things which will be judged on their own merits, not on a person's reputation, whether that be positive or negative.

Well said!

I don't think of you as one....you simply associated yourself with the traits of the troll.

Anonymity is not 'just' the name...it's the security of displacement....no real-life connection between protagonists.

If the Internet were a boxing ring [physical, not social] there'd be a lot fewer battles.

Trolls feel 'safe' because of the implied sense of anonymity as well as the 'so what are they gonna do....I'm 1000s of miles away anyway?'.

They don't then just post a legitimate opinion....they exaggerate and go for the Jugular.  They don't argue 'I believe you are wrong because....' unless the rest of the statement becomes  '....you are a fuck-wit'.

There has been a few occasions I can recall during my life on the net where trolls became genuine issues warranting real responses.  Two were resolved once they were informed of 'we know where you live - desist or your teacher/boss will be informed' .  Another was possibly down to my vehement stance re 'children' ridiculing the actions of another who had suicided [on Deviantart].  Things get quite REAL when you're contacted by the kid's parents thanking you for your support.

There IS NO place for trolling ... just as there IS NO place for bullying.  Both are the actions of the pathetic and weak.

The ICQ logs relating to eFront were a classic case in point.  The guys who ran that show were [to put it politely] bottom-feeders with particularly reprehensible 'ethics' [ie. none at all].  When the logs went public it spelled the end of them as a business.  As I recall the police had 'a chat'.

When an issue is important enough....that 'anonymity' ceases to exist....

No I associate myself with some traits that YOU ascribe to being troll like. Blunt honesty and lack of political correctness and/or diplomatic tact. I personally find those traits quite endearing

Ah....

...but when you become a site Administrator tasked with policing the 'troll' you find you need to draw the proverbial 'line-in-the-sand'.

Your job is to protect ALL Community site users equally.  Generally the average User is NOT obliged to 'suck it in' or 'grin and bear it' when confronted with "Blunt honesty and lack of political correctness and/or diplomatic tact."  Stardock's rules of conduct applying to ALL site users can an do preclude much of what you may consider 'endearing'.

Yes, 'political correctness' can be particularly tiresome.... and 'blunt honesty' can have its place, but not when it is a direct 'attack' on a fellow site member.

Rules are rules, and all facets of society have them.  Those who don't conform to them/abide by them [for whatever reason] soon find themselves on the outer - restricted/denied continued intercourse/interaction.

As Ned Kelly said on the gallows...."Such is life". ...