Engagement Trolls and Forum Engagement

[Cedric]

Does anyone have any trolls on their forum? Every forum gets a troll (or a few) at some point. While they can be a headache, they also have a knack for stirring up controversy and keeping discussions active. I would even argue that a well-managed troll can add a bit of spice to a community, making it feel more alive. When handled properly, they can actually be an asset rather than a problem.


That said, there’s a fine line between engagement and disruption. There’s no shame in having a troll on your forum, but they need to be closely monitored so things don’t get out of control. So where do you draw the line? Do you let them run free as long as they aren’t breaking the rules, or do you shut them down the moment they start causing trouble? Have you ever had a troll that actually benefited your forum?

 

[Bawse]

I have a short fuse for trolls, and if they don't change their attitude quick they'll get banned. Maybe a temporary ban depending on the situation.

 

[CTS]

Two words I keep,... guard rails. Just don't cross over them. But I would always give fair warning.

 

[Cpvr]

There are good trolls and bad trolls. Some can be beneficial, others just a headache. As long as they’re not too problematic, I don’t mind them one bit. They can most definitely bring a breath of fresh air—if they’re not just being problematic.

 

[Al]

Over on that other forum I think I'm considered a bit of a troll. Especially from one admin who shall not be named. I went through a bit of a fun phase of posting like Putin's Tangerine Fleshlight and most people got a real laugh out of it. But there's always one boring asshat who won't allow anyone to have any fun. MUST BE ALL SERIOUSNESS ALL THE TIME. Which is a shame, because if the community is getting some entertainment out of the troll, don't come along with your big admin stick and take that fun away. When you do that, you look like the problem, not the troll.

 

[Ravenfreak]

Over on that other forum I think I'm considered a bit of a troll. Especially from one admin who shall not be named. I went through a bit of a fun phase of posting like Putin's Tangerine Fleshlight and most people got a real laugh out of it. But there's always one boring asshat who won't allow anyone to have any fun. MUST BE ALL SERIOUSNESS ALL THE TIME. Which is a shame, because if the community is getting some entertainment out of the troll, don't come along with your big admin stick and take that fun away. When you do that, you look like the problem, not the troll.

LMAO Putin's Tangerine Fleshlight. xD I got a kick out of it btw, just saying. Anyways I never actually had beneficial trolls join one of my forums before. I did get a bunch of people join Mightyno9 Universe who didn't like the fact that a good number of members who didn't like one of the moderators on the official forums were posting on my forum. This was during Gamergate and one of the people working for Comcept was caught up in that drama. So they came over and started trolling my forum.