For you new folks.

Every so often I feel the need to post one of these so bear with me. Every so often you'll read posts from new members that can't be taken seriously; here's some examples:

1.) The Noob that starts his post out by writing something like: "Hi! I HATE everybody! I HATE society! I can't find a job anywhere!(obviously.) Does anybody know where I can find free land to go and live on?

Of course if any of us knew where free land was we'd of already took it! Plus, if you hate everybody why are you talking to us?

2.) What's the best survival knife to buy?

We get asked this question a lot. The answer is what ever you already have. You're used to it, it's worked for you in the past. That's all you really need. If, however, you wish to up-grade then check out the "Knives and Blades forum," Google the names of knives that you find there, and go for it!

3.) Hi, I'm (12 to 16) years of age and I want to learn to survive!

Well, if you're alive right now, then you're surviving. If you want to learn how to enjoy and survive out in the wilderness and you're that young then try the Boy Scouts. Many of our members have been in that Organization and have learned a lot. Lacking that, find an outdoors group that will work with you, but be advised, most organizations require parental permission slips from minors. Sometimes they want to buy a knife and want our help. I refuse to help anyone with knife info that's under the age of 18.

4.) Sometimes we get the occasional troll that does a drive-by, throws a grenade, then runs off, only to never be heard from again. This is cause for a Wolf Pack feeding frenzy! WARNING! It's NOT pretty!

5.) The shy one:

This is a person who doesn't want us to know anything about themselves, but expects extensive, specific, personal information. They usually take it personal when we tell them that we need more info in order to give them the information that we need.

6.) The hard-headed troll.

This one doesn't go away on their own, A mod has to ban them! Oft-times they are mental cases and just enjoy verbally abusing others. They don't last long!

At the end of the day, do not fret, the mods have it all under control...that's why we make the Big $$$$!..:cowboy:

Big $$$$$?????....Bhohahahaha

Be nice to trolls. I was one once. But I came back. :eyepoke:

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Originally Posted by Sarge47

4.) Sometimes we get the occasional troll that does a drive-by, throws a grenade, then runs off, only to never be heard from again. This is cause for a Wolf Pack feeding frenzy! WARNING! It's NOT pretty!

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It might not be pretty but it sure can be fun. :boxer: :fisticuffs:

I say we double Sarge's pay.

Actually, I think the mods here do an exemplary job.

I see three ways of dealing with trolls (that seem to work in the cyberplaces I've frequented.)

Entertainment - there's a line in the church that the devil hates being laughed at - but since they're there anyway, why not milk it for what it's worth.

Ignorement - (I made that word up - heh). Trolls want attention so the best way to get rid of them (except for the increasingly prevalent bots) is to very pointedly ignore them.

Therapy - at base, trolls have problems. Well adjusted people don't act like that. But I have taken some of them to task before and found seriously damaged people - sometimes, I've even been able to be helpful.

But, of course, an Internet forum isn't a place for counseling (I despise online counseling almost as much as I despise people like Dr. Phil) and therapy sessions interfere terribly with the regular business of most forums.

Actually, there's a 4th but you don't see it. We hunt them down and torture them for days. You should see the dungeon in Crash's basement...shoot....forget that last part.

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Originally Posted by WolfVanZandt

But, of course, an Internet forum isn't a place for counseling (I despise online counseling almost as much as I despise people like Dr. Phil) and therapy sessions interfere terribly with the regular business of most forums.

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Obviously you have a reason for saying that. Could you please share with the group what that is? :whistling::innocent::tt2::toomany:

Why troll a survivalist forum of all places? Go to a religion or abortion or political website if you want to do that. Half the time I don't think the people are intentionally trolling. They are probably just clueless younger people who don't understand internet etiquette.

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Originally Posted by ninjasurvivor

Why troll a survivalist forum of all places? Go to a religion or abortion or political website if you want to do that. Half the time I don't think the people are intentionally trolling. They are probably just clueless younger people who don't understand internet etiquette.

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Howie Briton and "The wall of God."(complete with katana.)
The Freakin' Bear.
others whose names escape me right now. Like that guy with the Busse Battle Mistress knife who told us how to kill Anacondas...like green ones!

Sometimes these guys will come on here and seem perfectly normal for awhile, then go ballistic. Justin Case was a good example. Usually if they've been a benefit to the group we try to reason with them 1st, but if that fails then we hit "the ban button."

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Originally Posted by ninjasurvivor

Why troll a survivalist forum of all places? Go to a religion or abortion or political website if you want to do that. Half the time I don't think the people are intentionally trolling. They are probably just clueless younger people who don't understand internet etiquette.

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Not true. We are pretty tolerant of those that may be unfamiliar with forum etiquette, both young and old alike. We've gotten pretty good at recognizing and handling trolls and spammers.

Even those the just post to disagree with what ever is being discussed.......and not adding anything to the conversation.

I have said it before and I'll say it again; this forum has an abundance of information and many experienced people for members. It will take a little time to get a feel for everyone's personalities, just as if you joined the conversation of any group of people. You must always remember that a forum by its nature is a discussion of varying views which in most cases doesn't arrive at a consolidated final opinion. One piece of advice I would like to give new members is; don't feel obligated to respond to every thread. Choose what interests you, a positive and constructive comment has much more value than a off the cuff comment, especially when your new. New points of view is the life blood of any forum, we welcome you to take part.

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Originally Posted by Sarge47

Howie Briton and "The wall of God."(complete with katana.)
The Freakin' Bear.
others whose names escape me right now. Like that guy with the Busse Battle Mistress knife who told us how to kill Anacondas...like green ones!

Sometimes these guys will come on here and seem perfectly normal for awhile, then go ballistic. Justin Case was a good example. Usually if they've been a benefit to the group we try to reason with them 1st, but if that fails then we hit "the ban button."

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I've been banned from other forums in the past. I've found that the main reason this happens, at least to me, is when my ideas conflict with, or are perceived to conflict with, the collective culture the forum has cultivated. There's generally a base of "regulars" who get on everyday and refer to each other by first names and give one another virtual high fives ad nauseam. Much like a close clique of friends. Many times the only thing I did wrong was simply present a viewpoint that differed from the prevailing viewpoint of that forum's culture.

One time I posted my opinion (on a different forum) about something and the replies were stuff like "Shutup troll!" But isn't that type of response trolling in itself?! It serves no value but to incite the other person. Even saying that people post nothing that adds value to the conversation is itself a worthless contribution to the thread. Ironic? Hypocritical? Particularly if the person was actually explaining an idea, which while may not be agreed upon, was at least a developed thought that could be discussed further or simply ignored.

Rest assured that you will not be banned from this forum for posting an opinion that differs from others. You will be called out on information that you post that is wrong. In those cases it is usually the reactions that follow being told you are wrong that cause a banning.

Everybody here is free to disagree with anybody. It would be a pretty boring place if we all sang from the same sheet of music. However (and this is a big however) incorrect information, especially as it relates to many of the topics here under the heading of survival MUST be corrected. To not do so can cause somebody harm.

I don't think too many would care about incorrect information regarding what key Elvis sang Blue Suede Shoes in.

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Originally Posted by ninjasurvivor

I've been banned from other forums in the past. I've found that the main reason this happens, at least to me, is when my ideas conflict with, or are perceived to conflict with, the collective culture the forum has cultivated. There's generally a base of "regulars" who get on everyday and refer to each other by first names and give one another virtual high fives ad nauseam. Much like a close clique of friends. Many times the only thing I did wrong was simply present a viewpoint that differed from the prevailing viewpoint of that forum's culture.

One time I posted my opinion (on a different forum) about something and the replies were stuff like "Shutup troll!" But isn't that type of response trolling in itself?! It serves no value but to incite the other person. Even saying that people post nothing that adds value to the conversation is itself a worthless contribution to the thread. Ironic? Hypocritical? Particularly if the person was actually explaining an idea, which while may not be agreed upon, was at least a developed thought that could be discussed further or simply ignored.

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I don't consider you a troll and your opinions are welcomed here. When my opinions, or those of other members on here, disagree with yours that's okay as long as everyone remembers that it's okay to "attack the message, not the messenger." While I may feel that your opinion on a subject is foolish, I can't call you an idiot for it. The same goes for others on here. if someone on here were to say "Shut-up troll" to you for expressing an opinion that disagrees with one of theirs we simply go into that post, delete the phrase, and send them a nice warning via PM. Sometimes these members apologize, other times they lash back at the Mod, and then they're history.

BTW, I remembered the name of the weird former member with the big knife..."BLADE!" Hunter likes the Green Anaconda song thanks to him.....:w00t:

Nooooo, Not the Green anaconda song!....I'm stuck on this for the rest of today....Thanks.....

I was on some ninja forum several years ago. It was pretty bad. There was some good information but the number of posters was really low and they had some "interesting" personalities and backgrounds to say the least. We had a term called "ninjers" (nothing racist) to describe what most would classify as "mall ninjas".

Some of these kids would get on there and be like I wanna learn how to assassinate people and be invisible. This one kid wanted to kill the guy in Norway who massacred all those students at camp. Another kid I had to tell him not to mess around with poisons because he was going to get him and his friend put in jail for a really long time over stupid stuff. It gets kind of scary when these people take internet information and do god knows what with it in real life.

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Obviously you have a reason for saying that. Could you please share with the group what that is?

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Quite a few, actually. And, first, let me say that the training for my career (I'm a retired disability specialist) is a Bachelors in social and industrial psychology and a Masters in rehabilitation and special education (the only difference from that and community counseling is that, with the later, you have a M.A. and with my degree you end up with a M.S.).

There are mechanisms that are supposed to take place in counseling (such as rapport building and transference) that I do not believe happens over the Internet or, if it does, you don't really know who's on the other end of the line. Are you even building rapport with a human?

The other big issue is confidentiality, which is at the center of ever code of ethics of every profession there is. I don't think I even have to address Dr. Phil's case when it comes to confidentiality. How can you assure confidentiality online? Because they tell you?

Now, there is a form of lay counseling that resembles crisis counseling that may have a place online but, even then, it's more like first aid than primary care.

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Actually, there's a 4th but you don't see it. We hunt them down and torture them for days.

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Perfectly acceptable, but my folks try to keep that on the down low.

Sarge, ya'll should have kept those around simply for their entertaining names.

Heh, I did a no-no once (unintentionally) and the mods sent me a polite note and I stopped. I have been banned from several sites and each time I considered it a badge of distinction. There are good individuals in the world and there are bad folks. Just so, there are good forums in cyberspace, and there are bad forums. Many forums are very cohesive and exclusionistic. The purpose of their existence is the association of people with very like minds and it's perfectly reasonable that a person without their world view should not be there - some sites are poisonous and it is perfectly reasonable that they should be walled off from the rest of us. Their site is like an abscess, the purpose of which is to keep the infection from spreading to the rest of the Internet. I have never been banned in a way that made me feel bad about myself.

Diversity is good but there are individuals who are toxic. I'm rather impressed with these folks ability to distinguish between the two.

I would suggest that your bans might have been caused by posting some thought as the be all end all or as gospel. You've done a lot of that here. The Char Cloth thread being the latest example. It's one thing to tell folks that's not for me or to even state that you don't think it's reliable but to insist post after post that your way is the only way hints that your experience may be more from reading that from doing. So far, you've been wrong a lot, which numerous folks have pointed out, but that doesn't slow you down. If you've been banned from multiple forums perhaps it's time to consider the problem may rest with you rather than the "collective culture".

Certainly not everyone and every forum are a good fit.