Why do some people posting on these forums have to be so arrogant? I have no problem with stating one's views (that is the point), but why must some consider themselves to have all the answers. In that there is an even greater ignorance than having no answers. A few members try to put themselves above evryone else, even writing in the third person. It is actually pretty annoying, because when I post, I would like an intelligent response rather than someone preaching from on high.

Why do some people posting on these forums have to be so arrogant? I have no problem with stating one's views (that is the point), but why must some consider themselves to have all the answers.

Most of these people are <a href="info.astrian.net/jargon/terms/t/troll.ht...>trolls</a> with no interest in the topic or self-proclaimed geniuses suffering from delusions of grandeur. Others are just lazy or bored. We've had good examples of all these in the last few days and I've left a *few* of their posts on the forum for entertainments sake. A typical thread goes likes this:

(1) troll: I am a genius you are fools.
(2) reponse: whatever
(3) troll: you can't handle the truth. you know nothing about blah [no intelligible claim or argument].
(4) response: wtf, #$@!/ ! etc.
(5) moderator steps in
(6) troll: Ah ha!! I told you so... blah blah first amendment rights...conspiracy against the truth etc.

Occasionally funny*, but mostly pathetic. Partly, it's up to members to ignore these people. Moderators will eventually get to the posts. An experienced troll will try to avoid deletion by mixing half-intelligent ramblings with venomous remarks and/or sucking up to some member on the forum who is perceived to have influence.

... when I post, I would like an intelligent response rather than someone preaching from on high.

Agreed. That is the point of this site and the reason why we urge the use of <a href="/e107_plugins/forum/forum.php">philosophical argumentation</a> as a means of constructive debate (as opposed to say posturing, making unsupported claims etc.). Of course arrogance does not entail ignorance, but there is a strong correlation on most discussion boards.


<blockquote>
<b>*</b>
Troll:
What's the matter, Dwarf, can't you see that a philosophical revolution is going on?
Are you completely blind?
What I say is not intended to give offence, but you choose to take offence!
Learn to choose right.
Stick with me and you'll learn something.

Dwarf_U_or_I?
Jan 31, 2004 - 10:52 AM
Don't worry. I'm in the process of making a large gold statue of you so that I can spend my days bowing to it. "The ass, however, brayed, 'Ye-a'".
</blockquote>

I just want to get on record as agreeing with adimantis here. Some people are arrogant without realizing it, and others are trolls. The difference is that a troll won't ever give a real response, because a troll has no personal or intellectual investment in the discussion above getting a rise out of others. The cardinal rule about dealing with trolls is: <b>Don't feed it and it will go away.</b> I've posted on personal attacks before, but I again urge all readers to ignore the things that tick them off and respond to whatever they think is thoughtful or otherwise worthy of response. And note that calling someone arrogant is a good way to turn them into a troll.

td