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[–] 15134512? 1 point 6 points (+7|-1) ago 

I beg you to exercise this new found humility and reassess this issue.

I believe you are right that there are trolls around. (It's the internet).

However, these people you call shills (though they're not selling anything), or call other names, I put to you, are maybe nothing of the sort.

I often chime in with unorthodox views or unsanctioned positions. But I do it earnestly, in my search for truth, which is what I, and many others value from communities like this.

The response I often get, as you are aware, is close-minded, and presumptuous.

I put it to you...

What if these people are genuine folks, looking for answers? In all honesty, how could you know they are not?

There are, it seems to me, four ways you could deal with these so called "shills" (trolls, in my opinion):

  • Berate them, and "fight back",

** If they are trolls, it will delight and encourage them.

** If they are good people, it will put them off.

** If they are shills, it will not deter them.

  • Ignore them,

** If they are trolls, it will bore them.

** If they are good people, it will disillusion them.

** If they are shills, it will not deter them.

  • Preach to them the word of God,

** If they are trolls, it will make them laugh.

** If they are good people (and devout), they will feel ignored, diverted or hijacked from their genuine concerns.

** If they are good people (and irreligious), it will annoy them, and put them off.

** If they are shills, it will not deter them.

  • Engage with their ideas,

** If they are trolls, it will bore them.

** If they are good people, they will feel welcomed, and the community would potentially benefit from an enrichment of new ideas and perspectives.

** If they are shills, their claims and attempts at manipulation will be show to be faulty through argumentation and fail to hold up to scrutiny, thereby nullifying their effectiveness.

If we are here for answers, and if we are here for truth, then this is how we should proceed.

Please reconsider.

Thanks.

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[–] 15134771? [S] 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Did you read my OP?

This is essentially what I said...

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[–] 15134572? 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

DAMN. ^^^^^^ look out wisdom in use.