I was going to respond to this commendable thread http://prince.org/msg/105/445669 but found it locked.

If you stay on point and keep constructive discussion as a goal then yes definitely you can gain new perspectives and reach better conclusions.

I've noticed by reading a bunch of threads here that there is cadre of trolls, or persistent Last Word warriors, who are permitted to exist. They're crafted in trying to steer a thread away from constructive discussion into ego-based and emotion-based defensiveness and attacks all the while barely keeping within the forum rules. That is, they may not be being blatantly "offensive, vulgar, obscene, threatening, abusive or excessively profane" but they most certainly are instigating/encouraging flame wars.

My advice is to think before you react to these people. Ask yourself: "am I responding emotionally in defense of my pride, or am I holding true to the topic and objectively working towards maintaining a constructive discussion?" Your goal should be the latter if you want to get anything of value from participating here. If you believe you have made and heard constructive comments earlier in the thread then maybe you should consider just taking the blow and letting the troll have their last word.

wrong forum

If you think a post is in violation of the rules report it. I know some people cannot stand me because of my opinions and how I present them. but I have had very few posts deleted. I take all the hate in stride. And I call them out on theirs.


EDIT: and FYI that other topic auto-locked. topics lock after 60 days or 2 months...something.

[Edited 10/7/17 17:49pm]

I think sometimes the word troll is misused for people that have a different opinion and stick to their guns. Some people are so arrogant they can not take it when someone doesn't agree with them. What is see as trolling is when someone comes in just to say how dumb the topic is or will just make jokes to be insulting but do not add anything to the mix.