If members were being deliberately provoked, anger would be the desired
response, and the provokation would continue. I understand that this is
the reason for not feeding trolls.
I don't believe that members are being set up. I believe that all we've
got is inadequacy, inexperience, a desire to have the last word, and a
mind-boggling and quite unfounded self-confidence.
Before rushing to condemn, I'm ashamed to admit that I recognise
myself at 20. It's no credit to me that my acquaintances put up with
me forty years ago, and many of them didn't.
Let's acknowledge good behaviour with praise and encouragement. Let's
ignore not-so-good behaviour and get on with our lives. By all means,
if we must, let's write exactly what we feel - but let's send our own
rage and frustration to /dev/null, not to the archives.
In twelve months time we'll all be a year older and a year wiser. Well,
I hope that I will be.
