02-13-2011, 09:55 AM
Moderator: This is Wikipedia advice for.....
Dealing with pestering and misplaced criticism
Depending on the location and severity, this is best dealt with by ignoring it or treating it the same way as any other edit war. If it is occurring on your user talk page, ignore it, or revert slowly (once every few days). Don't feed the trolls.
Misidentified trolls
Sometimes trolls live under bridges. But not everyone living under a bridge is a troll.
Since the judgment that someone is a troll is a subjective one, it is always possible that someone will be misidentified as a troll due to his/her behavior. If you believe that you are being accused of trolling when you are being sincere in your editing, consider these possible solutions.
* "Don't do that then." If people are saying you are a troll because you do X, do not do X.
* Assume good faith. An optimistic approach will keep you out of a lot of hot water — you do not want to be first person to act in bad faith. Often, people really do have good faith intentions and wish to resolve any disputes amicably.
* Back away. Let the issue go for a while, let tempers cool down, come back and try discussing the matter again calmly and reasonably.
* Consider methods of dispute resolution such as w:Wikipedia:Requests for comment and w:Wikipedia:Requests for mediation.
* Rephrase. Often one is accused of being a troll because one is phrasing one's views in a particularly hostile way. Consider: are you openly advocating trolling on your userpage? Are you cursing at people or engaging in personal attacks? Are you accusing those who oppose you of being in a cabal? If you stopped that, people would probably respond better to you.
* Concede. Sometimes, no matter how right you are sure you are, the consensus is going to go against you. When this happens, let it go. Maybe someday someone else will come along and raise the same issue, and the discussion can begin anew, and this time turn out differently.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
Dealing with pestering and misplaced criticism
Depending on the location and severity, this is best dealt with by ignoring it or treating it the same way as any other edit war. If it is occurring on your user talk page, ignore it, or revert slowly (once every few days). Don't feed the trolls.
Misidentified trolls
Sometimes trolls live under bridges. But not everyone living under a bridge is a troll.
Since the judgment that someone is a troll is a subjective one, it is always possible that someone will be misidentified as a troll due to his/her behavior. If you believe that you are being accused of trolling when you are being sincere in your editing, consider these possible solutions.
* "Don't do that then." If people are saying you are a troll because you do X, do not do X.
* Assume good faith. An optimistic approach will keep you out of a lot of hot water — you do not want to be first person to act in bad faith. Often, people really do have good faith intentions and wish to resolve any disputes amicably.
* Back away. Let the issue go for a while, let tempers cool down, come back and try discussing the matter again calmly and reasonably.
* Consider methods of dispute resolution such as w:Wikipedia:Requests for comment and w:Wikipedia:Requests for mediation.
* Rephrase. Often one is accused of being a troll because one is phrasing one's views in a particularly hostile way. Consider: are you openly advocating trolling on your userpage? Are you cursing at people or engaging in personal attacks? Are you accusing those who oppose you of being in a cabal? If you stopped that, people would probably respond better to you.
* Concede. Sometimes, no matter how right you are sure you are, the consensus is going to go against you. When this happens, let it go. Maybe someday someone else will come along and raise the same issue, and the discussion can begin anew, and this time turn out differently.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
Punaweb moderator