There are whole subforums devoted to the paranormal, ufos, and monsters here. Or haven't you noticed.? So obviously threads on that topic are to be welcomed here and encouraged. And to remain on topic, to post threads in these subforums on these topics is not the definition of trolling.
Sure, didn't I just say that?
And just as obviously they will be refuted and derided and shown to be completely without substance when necessary.
And if you don't want your unscientific rubbish to be criticised for what it is, don't post it. Simple as that.
We have whole subforums devoted to these topics here. So obviously threads on these are accepted and encouraged. If you don't like them, then don't read them. Simple as that..
[/B]It seems to me that the crucial feature of troll behaviour, from the definition you supplied, is the intent to annoy, provoke or disrupt.
[/B]
Actually annoying, provoking, and disrupting more accurately describes the behavior of those who get upset about a new thread that goes against their beliefs. In this case, the belief in science. Thus you have one person being harassed and belittled by an angry mob of other posters all in the name of good science which in fact fits the definition of trolling given in the OP. This person may even post in another subforum on an unrelated topic and further get attacked and insulted for that other thread. That's another aspect of trolling---dragging in other thread issues into an entirely unrelated post. Happens all the time here, even with the moderators.
Given that, how would you classify someone like Theorist-Constant, who seemed to actually believe the material he was posting? I.e. someone who is not out to annoy people - but who repetitively posts blatantly inaccurate material, and continues to do so even when he is shown to be wrong?It seems to me that the crucial feature of troll behaviour, from the definition you supplied, is the intent to annoy, provoke or disrupt.
I'm not interesting in you moaning, I'm interested in getting a common understanding established of what trolling actually is, which was the title of this thread.
If you don't want your ideas to follow and be critiqued by the scientific method, why would you be posting on a science forum in the first place? Why not just join a ghosts forum, or a UFO forum, or a bigfoot forum, or whatever type of forum is more relevant to whatever unscentific subject you're talking about?
Most my threads in the fringe section are simply derided and trolled with no proof to the contrary, usually culminating in outright flaming and insulting me as ignorant, stupid, or foolish. Very few times has the evidence I presented ever been refuted here.
Because sciforums is a forum with alternative sections specifically provided for such discussions.
There are pure science forums on the net, and people who don't want anyone to discuss ghosts, monsters, God etc should join them.
Depart to your pristine world of pure science!
If MR started posting parapsychology etc. in the science sections, you would be justified in asking for his removal.
As things are, avoid the woo sections if you don't like them.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
Although those that deride your nonsense may not have actual evidence as to what your claim is, other then unexplained at that time, your penchant to immediately jump to the most anti science conclusion that could possibly be, on a science forum, could certainly be construed as trolling.
As someone said, havn't they got specific ghost forums for this stuff?
As an example, in church groups they would also discuss atheism, evolution and other certain scientific theories, but that doesn't give me the right to burst in one Sunday, crying out that their God is a joke, or a myth, or crazy or whatever.
Your definition of trolling as posting and defending unscientific ideas doesn't even match the definition I quoted. Why is that?
Like I said previously, what you claim as evidence for extraordinary claims is not conclusive...there are many other possibilities....the same possibilities you in turn deride, or just won't accept.
From what I have seen you propose and suggest, they have all been scientifically rebuked, or at least extreme doubt thrown on your extreme version of what you imagine it to be.
Let's take your Imaginary Big Foot for instance..how old is this entity? Over how many years has he been seen or inferred?Why in this day and age, hasn't more substantial evidence ever been found? How come all we ever see are fleeting photos of someone that could be in a heavy fur coat?
In essence, it is laughable and crazy to claim with certainty that some "monster" exists, that has avoided being captured, or seen. [except by a tiny impressionable minority]
Video, audio, and eyewitness testimony IS extraordinary evidence.
Not really. The first two can be faked. Just ask any faked Moon landings conspirators, and eye witness accounts are not always trust worthy.
"Unexplained at that time" isn't a scientific explanation. It's nothing. So when I say the evidence points to paranormal or extraterrestrial or whatever, I'm simply providing the best explanation we have. And that's not trolling. It's backing up my thread with logical argumentation.
That's only your own impressionable opinion. Unexplained, simply means unexplained. If it can't be explained by some scientific aspect, does not give anyone the excuse to claim some silly anal probing Alien.
Like I said, we have subforums where posting and discussion of these topics is encouraged. Doing so isn't disrupting, annoying, or provoking anyone who doesn't want to be provoked. It's not trolling.
And in doing so on a science forum, you leave yourself open to refutation, logical applications re other possibilities, evidence to the contrary, and the laws of physics and GR. And that isn't trolling either.
Like I said, it's the method in the madness of certain posters, in trying to purposely get a raise out of people...like the character jcc for example.
You need to stay on topic. This thread is trying to define trolling, not trying to prove the existence of Bigfoot. Post about that in the appropriate thread.
That's all OK and well and good, but that doesn't mean they should not be critiqued, or actually shown to be wrong.
And in doing so on a science forum, you leave yourself open to refutation, logical applications re other possibilities, evidence to the contrary, and the laws of physics and GR. And that isn't trolling either.