Let's Make This Community A BETTER Place!

ATTENTION TO ALL TROLLS:

YOU AREN'T COOL!

thanks for listening to my pep talk

I don't know any of these guys but I see who posts in the troll threads that hit u or the club and it's always exactly same people lmao.

yeah

"I don't know how familiar you are with the whole matter and our desperate attempts to unite the community, especially this small subset of individuals who seem only to seek negativity and unease, in an attempt to truly set an example of kindness and forgiveness, but all of these attempts have unfortunately been in vain."

I've seen a good snapshot of these threads, and I view your attempts not as "desperate" as you suggest, but more "impatient" than anything else.  Even accepting that certain folks come on to spew hateful comments, the questions is - for what purpose?  What do they view as the payoff for it?  I think the answer in most cases (the one just now being a prime example) is that they want to get an emotional reaction out of you.

Right now, I'm having a constructive conversation with you, @Colby-Covington, and I'm frankly glad you asked me to talk to you about this matter.  I find your goal of generally friendlier forums admirable, but I don't agree with your stated methods of attempting to bring that environment about.

There's no such thing as a world where everyone gets along.  Civility can only be upheld by example.  Even if folks on the other side "aren't interested in finding a peaceful solution", that's no reason to stoop to their level.  After all, THEY are trying to silence YOU.  Don't give in to that, keep talking, and know that those of us with open minds will always be in a mood at least to listen and understand, even if we won't always agree.

If folks want to be hateful morons, let them be.  Who cares about someone who is essentially posting what most people will roughly translate as "Look at me, I'm an imbecile!"?  When you block/mute them, you make them feel like they and their opinions matter to you, which is exactly the wrong impression to give such individuals.

The vast majority of people won't think less of you for ignoring them, whatever they say, even if it is directed at you.  When you try to silence them, however, you are the one who comes off as intolerant.  The right answers can stand up to any amount of criticism and/or scrutiny.

First, let me say that I too am very glad to simply have a measured and civil discussion with someone. That's what we need to finally make a difference, people exchanging ideas with the sole intention of coming to a conclusion that both sides can benefit from.

I understand what you are saying and why you are saying it, but that is the one point that we disagree on.

I think the origin of this disagreement is a philosophical one. Your approach seems rather optimistic, whereas I like to think that mine is a realistic one.

Before I started running a club, I would have wholeheartedly agreed with you, but after all the experiences I have made with this very specific problem and the question how best to combat or even solve it, I have come to realize that the only viable and sensible countermeasure is the establishment of clear boundaries and threat of imminent sanction.

After certain individuals have been identified and confirmed to only have one single purpose, which is to cause disruption and disarray, you simply cannot allow them to remain within your group, as they will most certainly continue until they have actually realized their goal.

In a case like that you have to think of your members safety and comfort first, while almost having a duty as OP or club owner to immediately remove any such individuals and not allow your members to be subject of any planned or coordinated attempts of trolling.

You won't be able to change their minds with kind words or reason, they will simply pursue their goals until either one of you gives up. That has been my experience so far and is the reason why I would rather block them than being made a fool of, for repeatedly attempting to place my trust in their self-proclaimed good will, which ultimately leads to the same disappointing result, every single time.

I think this is the first time I've ever been called an optimist (I'm as half-empty as the come, to be honest), though it is clear we are having a philosophical disagreement.

I think Ludwig von Mises put it best: "Yet the criterion of truth is that it works even if nobody is prepared to acknowledge it."

As that quote might imply, I am an adherent of the Austrian School of economics, and politically a libertarian.  I am firmly convinced that freedom can and will solve all of the problems of the present day if only it is given enough time to work.

I freely admit that this time-frame is longer than most people today have patience for, but would argue that "faster" approaches generally have unintended negative consequences, chief among them is that they make people on both sides of an argument angrier and generally less willing to listen than they would otherwise be.  In your case, that would run specifically counter to your intended goal.

To quote you: "You won't be able to change their minds with kind words or reason, they will simply pursue their goals until either you or they give up. That has been my experience so far."

This is undeniably true, I'm just suggesting that you are giving up too easily.  I understand the point that as a club owner, you have obligations to your members (particularly if there are young people among them), but even there I feel jumping in with timely verbal support for them is more appropriate and constructive.

I've had many disagreements with folks over the years, and I operate the local club in my area, and not once have I been forced to throw someone out, or seek help from another to do likewise.  Arguments can often be sharp, especially at first, but usually they will be stopped with a question as simple as "What do expect to achieve by this?", or "Do you have anything constructive to add?"

You, my friend, have a clear objective here, one which few rational people would take issue with.  As such, the only thing I question here is how well the means you are employing are likely to achieve the ends that you seek.  Every time you block someone, you give at least some people the impression that your views can't stand against theirs.  I think that causes people to pile on, rather than back off.

Take some time, think about it.  Have the trolls become less numerous?  Less frequent?  Less annoying?  If you trained yourself not to care, you wouldn't ask that last question at all.

Well, I do have work in the morning, and so I must bid you goodnight.  I wish you the best of luck, sincerely.

I think you are right, with the exception of those who have no points or arguments to make, and only seek to disrupt.

I followed your advice and it worked. Just wanted to thank you for that insight.

giftedguppy1000 lied and he even posted the proof himself. He said Colby forced him to delete a post from RollingRabits troll thread but this is the truth. Just another troll that is mad for being blocked for trolling.

We have already determined that certain people only have one single goal, we cannot grant them the attention that they so desperately crave.

I will always listen to anyone who would like to offer constructive criticism or a reasonable suggestion to improve our movement and aid us in reaching our goal of eliminating the toxicity in here. However, I we will not entertain trolls, simple as that.

@Princess please remove that screenshot, that was a private message that I sent to giftedpuppy. We need to move on from this and focus on our own goals.

hey there colby, i was wondering why you started this group as an inclusive fun space yet ban anyone who you dont like? seems kind of weird but thats just me idk

Please guys, don't multi quote everything it gets annoying to look at.

@hvenki, please state your suggestion.

@NewGlokNewOppNewMask you joined 7 minutes ago, may I ask how you even know about us?

hmmm lets just say my sources sent me on their behalf

Then you will understand that I'd rather speak to whomever would actually like to state their suggestion or grievance. If they have been blocked I'd happily afford them an opportunity to come in here and speak their mind, while obviously being unblocked for that exchange.

lol thats a nice one hvenki ill give you that

We are trying to move forward and from now on only valid arguments and reasonable suggestions will be heard, because that is the purpose for which this topic was created.

If you would like to state an actual suggestion, please do so.

im just laughing at the kibi vs colby opening thing being completely shut down and labeled as "trolling" with no counter argument at all

I am giving you one more chance to state an actual suggestion or grievance with regards to our movement, as explained in the OP, after that I will block you.

LMAO this is what i mean dude this is an actual grievance you just label it as trolling or whatever and ignore it, "were just trying to have a nice and peaceful environment guys, unless you say something i dont like" ill be receiving my block now i presume

@NewGlok The truth is that you don't have an actual suggestion for the betterment of our movement or support in achieving our goal, because that is not the purpose for which your account was created.

You have created this account for one reason only, and we will simply not tolerate it. Of course you attempt to twist the truth and claim that I am blocking you for personal reasons, but we both know what you are trying to do here. It is the same thing your original account was sanctioned for.