Well, no -- you, Connie, don't. But the community as a whole does.

What do they do to them?

They stomp. No debate, no questions, do not pass go. Just the stomp. Delete the post, then a post from the mod that says something to the affect of, "You're done."

And that's that.

Because the nature of this board is to discuss in increasing detail until the pain is excrutiating, a troll can act freely for 8 years while we discuss who, and how, the person gets stomped.

Well, Cindy, here's the thing:

1. In our first incarnation, we did have people in that role. They worked for Salon, not for the board, but they were there. In fact, I think the first person with the Stompy Foot line in her tag was Mary Beth.

2. Hashing everything out in the current way in Bureaucracy is clearly not working.

My proposal was meant to be as community-based, non-authoritarian, and consensus-driven as possible while still empowering people to act against disruptive forces. But if we wait for consensus in dealing with trolls, every single one of them will end up like this one has been, and I can't think I'm alone in feeling like that might kill me.

Oatmeal!

Allyson, one problem a lot of people have with TWoP here is that the moderators stomp people for, really, no good reason at all. And I think that it's worth stressing that we'd need a system where individuals would be less empowered than the mods are at TWoP, because I don't want a board where, say, Jengod could get booted because Victor didn't like her style, or amych could get stomped for signing her posts. I do, however, want a board where we don't tear ourselves to bits trying to deal with a two-bit troll.

Well, except TVWOP seems to stomp one and delete threads for people accidently posting in the wrong place-- so a little overboard...

I can see where Michele is coming from, and I in some ways agree. It very, very difficult for this many people to discuss things, as we have seen. I can't see the Buffistas as a whole going for that much of a culture change. Maybe if everyone served?

That was my hope, Sophia -- that everyone who wanted to would serve at some point.

They worked for Salon

I think that's the difference.

But if we're an independent board, we need to do this for ourselves. Which was my point with the Giles and Buffy conversation quotage.

Allyson, one problem a lot of people have with TWoP here is that the moderators stomp people for, really, no good reason at all

And you think that we'd do that?

And you think that we'd do that?

I think there are some people here who might. I don't think 98% of the people would, but there are certainly some who I could see going overboard. Not full-on TWoP on their ass, but overboard.