Eradicating A Troll

Troll eradication is one of those jobs that is dirty but necessary, like pouring salt on slugs.

Don't feel guilty about it; scientists assure us that they feel nothing. Maybe the slime protects them, who can tell. Who cares?The key to a successful forum is the moderator; and the key to troll eradication is low key. Never argue with a member; but if intervention is required, act quickly, quietly and effectively. There are two rules for moderators that you ignore at your peril:

1. You loyalty is to the forum, no member is above that
2. Whatever a troll does, you can undo much more quickly

The Lifestyle of A Troll

The term 'Internet troll', originated in a comparison with the angler who 'trolled' a trailing bait to catch a fish. But for non-anglers, the mental image of a troll is the slabby, thick, moss-laded creature of Scandinavian folk lore, further popularised by Terry Pratchett in the Discworld novels, and J. K. Rowling in the Harry Potter books. This sad figure of fun lived under bridges and startles the unwary, but is easily outsmarted by anyone with any intelligence, or a small dog.

The truth is somewhere between the two.