Despite the accuracy issues in HBs post, he did (I can't believe I'm about to say this... please... somebody.... just shoot me now... two in the chest, and one in the head... I really don't want to say this...) he did allude to an interesting point that I'd considered prior to opening this thread.
We, being a science-y forum are likely to attract a specific "non-science-y" type of troll, and even more likely to attract religiously motivated trolls who see science as an affront to their "this makes me feel good/faith based" approach to life.
However, if it were a religious forum, discussing (I have no freaking idea... how many imaginary dogs you must pray to in order to avoid the next volcano eruption and ensure that the spaceship stops at your house prior to departure.... really, people... I have no freakin idea...) discussing religious topics, then someone coming in with a scientific mindset could, very well, be considered a troll for asking questions related to evidence and verification.
I, of course, spending the many hours I do at
childish fantasy camps ...erm...
fairy tale based believer communities ... I mean... spending the many hours I do at science-y forums, I very possibly have a selection bias, and a non-representative population sample. The trolls I see are ridiculous morons who do one of a few things:
- Preach their special book
- Challenge evolution using kindergarten arguments
- Deny global warming
- Assert how relativity is wrong while offering nothing better
- Just be a jackass who asks ridiculous off-topic questions to keep everyone off of the actual topic or get attention
All of those things remind me of theistic religious practitioners. This thread hasn't, however, gained much traction, so let's go help the poor and throw rocks at some homos instead so we can serve the lord.
