Aren't TROLLS Funny?

We've been having an amusing time lately on the Trombone List (a listserver email list specializing in all things to do with trombone). Well, not really. There is this guy who does what is called "LIST TROLL" stuff. Basically, this is Social Engineering, where the Troll sends falsified email identities' mail messages to the list and attacks other list members. The Troll will generally try and find persons who are either particularly sensitive, or cannot help but reply and reply and reply.

In the case of our list troll he presently has taken on TWO different identities and is actually creating separate streams of thought for one guy (he seems to be implying that this person is in Texas) and another, separate stream of thought for the other guy. Here is some of the text of these messages and you can see how the "baiting" is done, and some of the responses:

[the troll is coming in as "Gussieboy" and "Ed Neely" Paul Kemp is experiencing the typical sadness that comes from having a nice discussion list ruined by one of these odd balls!]

hetubameister@adelphia.net wrote:

>You know, Ed's last post finally got to me...
>
>Someone (Sam) comes out to defend his/her right (and/or wussieboy's) to participate on the list, in spite of their rude tone. And he was right that they sparked debate and communication.
>
>But now Mr./Ms. Needy has clearly defined his/herself as a troll but attacking the person, not the content, and with the cowardly veil of anonymity. Time to set his stuff to the spam folder. Spam's better company than these deserve....
>
>Mr. Danner, are you monitoring?
>
>J.c.S.
>---- Adrian Drover <slide.rule@adios.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
>>From: "sabutin" <sabutin@mindspring.com>
>>
>>
>>
>>>ed said:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Well pal, Come on down!
>>>>Don't be concerned about any "thought holes". That is the last place my
>>>>foot will go. It's the Texan way!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>Glad to. What's your address again? (Mine's easy to find.) Tell me where
>>>you are and WHO you really are and we'll have a little tete a tete.
>>>
>>>
>>Come on Sam, it's Ed Neely from Texas. He's easy to spot. He'll be wearing
>>a big hat and cowboy boots, buffalo horns on the hood of his Cadillac
>>convertible.
>>
>>A.
>>
>>Adrian Drover
>>ADIOS, Scotland www.adios.co.uk
>>Personal email: adrian@adios.co.uk
>>
>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
>
>
OK. I'll raise my head out of the sand just a little bit.

I've been a member of this list for about 10 years now. When it was on
the previous server, at the very beginning, I said something that was
perceived to be unkind about someone. I was promptly chastised for that,
and from that time on, I have tried very hard to do several things:

1) Delete the things posted on the list that were silly and frivilous
(in my opinion, much of what is said on this list is, and I'm sure I've
worn out at least 1 delete key).
2) When something really is worth talking about, I'll join in.
3) If I can't be kind and if I can't be honest, I won't say anything.

Got to go,

Paul Kemp

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BACK TO MY BLOG:

And so the list administrator has also, reminded us that the computer is located at a religious school and will likely be taken down if there are complaints sent to the university. That would be unfortunate, because the list, by and large, has really been quite innocuous and sometimes pretty informative about trombone stuff. Also, there are many people who "lurk" and don't message in or out at all.

Anyway, I'll be going to CSU Fullerton for "Trombone Day" tommorrow. Maybe I'll be able to get some recording done. Who knows?

Chris