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Quotes from a forum troll

Since I recently discussed how to deal with a forum troll, I thought that I would share some excerpts from a recent email exchange with our most bothersome troll.

Email #1 - I know what's going on..you're trying to make it as hard as possible for me to continue so I'll quit. (name removed) did the same thing when I was attacked repeatedly and I returned in kind. Religionists are all the same and this is the best you can do to vent your frustrations. You're pitiful.

Email #2 - But as I've said I've found christians are the worst liars. You feel doing what you want is ok because you've been programmed to believe that as long as you confess it's ok. You can commit the same 'sin' repeatedly and as long as you confess you're still going to heaven.

You won't respond because you're wrong and won't admit it. Again, I'm used to that after 28 years here.

Email #3 - Why do christians find it so easy to lie?

Email #4 - Just as I said..because I don't believe in your silly fairy tale you have chosen to stop me from posting. It's just what I expect from you small minded religionists. You can't handle the truth.

One would think that because of the overwhelming message of these emails that this person may actually know something about me personally. You would think that I am a Christian conservative or religious zealot of some sort. But, that would be rather incorrect. I am, if anything, extremely tolerant of all faiths and rarely discuss any matters of any religions.

This does get back to some of the common behaviors of the troll. Many seem to have a favorite subject that they beat into the ground. If you don't pick up on it, this guy is an atheist and thinks all Christians are evil. He tends to try to take every conversation this way when he can. If someone uses the statement, "Thank God for ..." he will quickly start his discussion of how most of the world doesn't believe in your god or how The Bible is a fairy tail.

Dealing wih forum trolls

Are there many things more annoying that the forum troll? Everywhere I have been there have been the trolls. It is difficult to understand the thought process of someone that wants to be hated in an online community.
I could sit around all day and espouse on what I think makes these folks tick and it would not really accomplish a thing.
Paul Graham shared my most common excuse for these people,

The third cause of trolling is incompetence.  If you disagree with somoething, it's easier to say "you suck" than to figure out and explain exactly what you disagree with.  You're also safe that way from refutation.  In this respect trolling is a lot like graffiti. Graffiti happens at the intersection of ambition and incompetence: people want to make their mark on the world, but have no other way to do it than literally making a mark on the world.

The keys to beating the troll are persistence and using your tools effectively. Many forum and comment tools have the ability to ban a user. This is the easiest way to first stop the troll. But, many times it is easy to just get a new account and start trolling all over again. Check your toolbox and see if you can ban IP addresses as well. Remember that the tech savvy troll will know how to change his IP address though. This is where persisence comes in. You have to stay vigilant and look for posts that fit the troll's begaviors. If you can kill off a troll's new account early they will get frustrated quickly.

One last tip. When you remove a troll's account. It can help to go back and remove all of their posts. If a troll sees that the moderators are serious, they will often find another place for their antics.