[Summit] Trolls

[Michael McGlynn]

First, let's define a term, slang though it may be:

"In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows
discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by
posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online
community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the
deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of
otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_%28Internet%29

Second, and more importantly, this person, unlike every single other
regular participant in the list, is not identifiable by name. He or she
uses a pseudonym as a means of saying anything without fear of societal
repercussion.

You'll note that services such as Facebook and YouTube, who are quite
infamous for toxic comments on posts, have moved to make commenters use a
real identity, which certainly cuts down on venomous (or worse) comments.

Sites like the Providence Journal's have moved away from generic commenting
systems, where any user name can be chosen, to Facebook, which, while not
foolproof in this regard, typically associates a real name with an account.

Bob, I think think I can speak for all list participants in saying that SNA
invites all opinions on issues with which we engage. However, if a comment
is legitimate, it should, in my personal opinion, come from a identifiable
person. My opinion is informed by knowledge of internet communities, which
has been my business and my interest for quite some time.

Further, though *you* may be happy to delete messages from trolls, their
presence degrades the utility of the list for all. Some folks may choose to
forgo using using the list because of them, thus robbing the list of its
purpose, which is to serve the Summit neighborhood.

-- 
Thank You,
Michael McGlynn
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