The moderating team has noticed an increasing usage of the word “t r o l l” by members. The problem with this trend is that it is offensive to posters who really are NOT t r o l l s. Also, the correct way to deal with a user suspected of inappropriate behavior is to use the “Flag” option so that the moderators can review the poster’s history and determine if action needs to be taken.
Therefore, we are asking members to refrain from using the term, “t r o l l.” The word is now being filtered, so that if a user includes it in a post, it will show up as ****. According to the Terms of Service, <<word filtering.="" the="" forum="" will="" automatically="" filter="" certain="" words,="" including="" many="" swearwords="" as="" well="" websites,="" and="" names="" that="" have="" been="" targeted="" by="" commercial="" promoters="" here.="" please="" do="" not="" attempt="" to="" “spell=”" around"="" filter.="" if="" a="" term="" you="" are="" trying="" use="" is="" in="" filter,="" it.="" deliberately="" evading="" our="" cause="" loss="" of="" posting="" privileges.="">> Under this provision, spelling the word with spaces as “t r o l l” (or any other variation, like “trol”) is a violation of the rules. If you see asterisks show up in a post for ANY reason, you should edit the word out immediately.</word>
Please help us make College Confidential, in the language of the TOS, “a friendly and welcoming place, and one in which members can post without their motives, intelligence, or other personal characteristics being questioned by others.” We appreciate your assistance in this manner!
Thanks. In most cases the words is used simply to describe someone with an unpopular opinion. It is frustrating and I for one am glad to see it banned.
Part of our reasoning for the prohibition is that it’s hard to edit a thread when it becomes, “He’s a t r o l l!” “No, I’m not!” “Yes, you are!” etc., etc.
Lets see how long it takes for some to come up with a euphemism for “provocative message board user”. We’ve already seen many references to the little people living under the bridge being crossed by billy goats.
But what if someone it pretty apparently really a tr<em>ll? Just have to report them? Some posters take tr</em>lls seriously and it degrades the value of the real threads. Just have to hope people can see through the nonsense.
It’s OK to write something such as, “Hmm, in your other thread you say you are a high school senior. Now you say you’re a freshman. What’s up with that?” Stick to the facts. Just because somebody says they got a 2400 on the SAT doesn’t mean you should call them out, though.
Its usually the "I’ve only taken 1 AP and I have 3 D’s in 9th and 10th grade, but I have an upward trend and a 1150 SAT. Will I get into Stanford? " post that screams the “t” word
Can we use the term when we flag for you? Or will it star out there, too? I have to say, I don’t feel like we have had an overabundance of the “t” word accusations lately (deserved or otherwise). Maybe I am hanging out on the wrong forums…
@intparent, you’ll have to trust me when I say we’ve been seeing it a lot. I usually sigh, trying to decide whether to delete a bunch of posts or just ignore them.
Yes, it will be starred out in the report, but it’s usually obvious!
Oh, and when we click on “Edit,” the unfiltered word shows up!
Most of the posts I have seen that fall into the category of That Which Shall Not Be Named are from antagonists–bored high school kids who want to get the parents here riled up
ML, I know you mentioned before but I forgot. If we want to report something but are on our phones and can’t flag or PM, how did you want us to let you know?
There is an amazing ginormous sculpture under a bridge in Fremont, WA near Seattle. Every time I see one of these online posters, I now think of that thing under the bridge. I think MaineLonghorn you should google it so at least you might smile the next time you encounter one.
Wow SL, I would love to see one of those sculptures. Unfortunately I live too far so I may have to continue to only see them here through the silliness of HS kids that don’t have a life.
I have a feeling this new rule may encourage other sculptures to grace us parents with their presence.
