Opinion on paraspriting threads (Poll)

[ZukoIsBestPony 561]

Paraspriting, verb: A special brand of 'trolling.' Effectively 'eating' and destroying an online conversation with memes, comments, or pictures of or about ponies.

 

So I've been noticing an interesting trend among some of my fellow bronies on the internet. Often two or more people would get into an online conversation/fight about something that has absolutely nothing to do with My Little Pony, and some brony would butt in with a random pony comment. From there, the results are amazing and really funny! The conversation more often than not spirals into an uncontrolled inferno of anti-brony hate, and the brony who started it just fans the flames for lols, taking obvious joy in destroying the conversation.

 

These troll threads are fun to read and write, but it's no fun being on the receiving end. So my question is, what do you think of the paraspiters out there? The people from our fanbase who use the show to start fights. Is this type of trolling good, bad, funny, or harmful? I await your opinions below.

Edited May 29, 2014 by HarmoniousWhovian

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

I tend to be against trolling in general, as it's most often just used as an excuse to be ridiculously rude. It's like slapping someone across the face just to make them mad and pretending it's alright because it's "just a joke".

Edited May 29, 2014 by Henny Penny Benny

[GenderIsAnIllusion 2,177]

Immature, pointless, antiproductive and hypocritical are all words that come to mind....

[Ryzu 984]

It's stupid. It's just trolling, which everyone hates but trolls. Trolls are people who enjoy other people being annoyed or in pain. Plus some people debate because they enjoy it, its not always the regular youtube commentator fights.

[ZukoIsBestPony 561]

I tend to be against trolling in general, as it's most often just used as an excuse to be ridiculously rude. It's like slapping someone across the face just to make them mad and pretending it's alright because it's "just a joke".

 

Immature, pointless, antiproductive and hypocritical are all words that come to mind....

Respectable opinions. But trolling can be rather clever and telling. Satire is a type of trolling.

[GenderIsAnIllusion 2,177]

Respectable opinions. But trolling can be rather clever and telling. Satire is a type of trolling.

True... But satire has a place, and a clear motive.... And it's not to annoy its audience and entertain the person satirizing. Satire is meant to play with our expectations by either giving us a totally different, or extremely over exaggerated result.... I do appreciate humor, but it has its place and uses and trolling just isn't one of them.

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

Respectable opinions. But trolling can be rather clever and telling. Satire is a type of trolling.

 

Eh, arguably so, but that's almost entirely a matter of semantics, how the word "trolling" is defined. A quick Google search finds it defined as a verb in informal use as: "make a deliberately offensive or provocative online posting with the aim of upsetting someone or eliciting an angry response from them." By that definition, satire is not a type of trolling. Satire is most often meant to make a serious point through exaggeration, sometimes using offense to make people think about a serious issue, whereas trolling (by that definition) is purely meant to offend.

[Shady Bubbles 429]

It depends on how serious it is. As long as no one is being insulted or ridiculed to the point that they are emotionally hurt, then I see no issue. It's just like any other form of trolling. The trolls just need to know when enough is enough. It can all be in good fun for a while, but it can get annoying and in some cases can have serious consequences. 

 

So it's a case by case thing just like anything else. In certain scenarios it can be okay. In certain other scenarios it can be a horrendous crime against God that is punishable by eternal damnation and all that. It just depends on the situation 

[Spagem 505]

Yeah, I have a few times actually. Most of those times it wasn't intentional though. I'd post a pony reaction image/pony meme that had to go on topic, and it would get hate from anti-bronies, which overall brought the thread off topic.

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

It depends on how serious it is. As long as no one is being insulted or ridiculed to the point that they are emotionally hurt, then I see no issue. It's just like any other form of trolling. The trolls just need to know when enough is enough. It can all be in good fun for a while, but it can get annoying and in some cases can have serious consequences. 

 

So it's a case by case thing just like anything else. In certain scenarios it can be okay. In certain other scenarios it can be a horrendous crime against God that is punishable by eternal damnation and all that. It just depends on the situation 

 

True, true. Although that brings up the issue of how to know when enough is enough. Considering that people online are.... well, people online—people who don't know each other IRL, where one doesn't have any idea how the other thinks and feels—it's darn near impossible in any situation to know for certain how a comment will affect someone. What may be totally harmless to one person may be the final straw that leads another person to suicide. Extreme? Yes, but not entirely unrealistic. And in the end, is it really worth the risk for a couple laughs?

[ZukoIsBestPony 561]

True... But satire has a place, and a clear motive.... And it's not to annoy its audience and entertain the person satirizing. Satire is meant to play with our expectations by either giving us a totally different, or extremely over exaggerated result.... I do appreciate humor, but it has its place and uses and trolling just isn't one of them.

I would have to respectfully disagree.

Eh, arguably so, but that's almost entirely a matter of semantics, how the word "trolling" is defined. A quick Google search finds it defined as a verb in informal use as: "make a deliberately offensive or provocative online posting with the aim of upsetting someone or eliciting an angry response from them." By that definition, satire is not a type of trolling. Satire is most often meant to make a serious point through exaggeration, sometimes using offense to make people think about a serious issue, whereas trolling (by that definition) is purely meant to offend.

Ah, but by that definition, satire IS trolling.

 

Satire, noun

 

the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

 

Satire is often used by trolls to evoke a reaction from the side being satirized well using the satirized side's own logic against it. The act often has an added benefit of being really, really, funny. The satirized side gives the needed angered reaction, and that gives the 'trolls' who satirized them more fuel to anger them some more and make jokes. Their doing the same thing as internet trolls, but their considered fine well internet trolls are hated.

 

It just goes to show that trolling is an art. And like most art it has its goods and its bads. Some trolls are considered fine art, well others are considered crude stick figures drawn on a dennys menu. But clumping them all together is overlooking A LOT of great content.

Edited May 29, 2014 by HarmoniousWhovian

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

 

I would have to respectfully disagree.

Ah, but by that definition, satire IS trolling.

 

Satire, noun

 

the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

 

Satire is often used by trolls to evoke a reaction from the side being satirized well using the satirized side's own logic against it. The act often has an added benefit of being really, really, funny. The satirized side gives the needed angered reaction, and that gives the 'trolls' who satirized them now have more fuel to anger them some more and make jokes. Their doing the same thing as internet trolls, but their considered fine well internet trolls are hated.

 

It just goes to show that trolling is an art. And like most art it has its goods and its bads. Some trolls are considered fine art, well others are considered crude stick figures drawn on a dennys menu. But clumping them all together is overlooking A LOT of great content.

 

 

Satire and trolling can occur simultaneously, sure, and they can even build from each other. But that doesn't change the fact that satire is meant to make a point, even if that point is that someone's being an idiot. It's meant to "expose and criticize", whereas trolling is meant to piss people off for the sake of personal gratification.

[Shady Bubbles 429]

True, true. Although that brings up the issue of how to know when enough is enough. Considering that people online are.... well, people online—people who don't know each other IRL, where one doesn't have any idea how the other thinks and feels—it's darn near impossible in any situation to know for certain how a comment will affect someone. What may be totally harmless to one person may be the final straw that leads another person to suicide. Extreme? Yes, but not entirely unrealistic. And in the end, is it really worth the risk for a couple laughs?

That's a good point. You can never really know how your post might affect the person on the recieving end.

 

brb killing myself you hurt my feelings

 

But in all seriousness, it's not something that should be taken seriously. Sticks and stones and all that. I often find myself messaging people online who are victims of trolling to remind them that if they get mad or hurt that they are letting the troll win. They are (hopefully) smart enough to realize that the best way to deal with these things is to join in on the joke. I don't mean to ally oneself with the trolls, but instead to troll them back. Fight fire with fire. Of course that can be bad too...

 

It's just hard to define it as good or bad. It's like everything else in life. There is no black or white, but rather many shades of gray. And no, I'm not talking about the porn book 

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

That's a good point. You can never really know how your post might affect the person on the recieving end.

 

brb killing myself you hurt my feelings

 

But in all seriousness, it's not something that should be taken seriously. Sticks and stones and all that. I often find myself messaging people online who are victims of trolling to remind them that if they get mad or hurt that they are letting the troll win. They are (hopefully) smart enough to realize that the best way to deal with these things is to join in on the joke. I don't mean to ally oneself with the trolls, but instead to troll them back. Fight fire with fire. Of course that can be bad too...

 

It's just hard to define it as good or bad. It's like everything else in life. There is no black or white, but rather many shades of gray. And no, I'm not talking about the porn book 

 

I agree, it shouldn't be taken seriously. It's not meant to be taken seriously. But if I punch my friend in the face and tell him it's not meant to hurt, that doesn't change the fact that it hurt, and that pain is my fault.

 

Yeah, it can be hard to define as good or bad, but little if any genuine good can come of it, whereas a whole lot of bad comes of it all the time, so it just makes more sense (to me at least) not to take part in it in any way, shape, or form.

[ZukoIsBestPony 561]

Satire and trolling can occur simultaneously, sure, and they can even build from each other. But that doesn't change the fact that satire is meant to make a point, even if that point is that someone's being an idiot. It's meant to "expose and criticize", whereas trolling is meant to piss people off for the sake of personal gratification.

Some trolling, sure. But when I troll I make sure of two key details;

 

1) The person I am trolling is being a) An idiot, or B ) Being mean to others

2) The things that I say must not be deliberately cruel or mean. Instead they must have a funny wit to them that cheers up others.

 

I like pissing off people who are being mean to others or saying things that are flat out dumb. It's pretty fun. My 'trolling' is meant for entertainment and knocking mean people down a few pegs. Is that wrong? Well, you like what you like, you can't fault somepony for that. But it may be wrong. It's sort of a moral gray zone. What do you think about that? Am I wrong?

Edited May 29, 2014 by HarmoniousWhovian

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

Some trolling, sure. But when I troll I make sure of two key details;

 

1) The person I am trolling is being a) An idiot, or B ) Being mean to others

2) The things that I say must not be deliberately cruel or mean. Instead they must have a funny wit to them that cheers up others.

 

I like pissing off people who are being mean to others or saying things that are flat out dumb. It's pretty fun. My 'trolling' is meant for entertainment and knocking mean people down a few pegs. Is that wrong? Well, you like what you like, you can't fault somepony for that. But it may be wrong. It's sort of a moral gray zone. What do you think about that? Am I wrong?

 

I can't say it's wrong, because that's subjective. But you've got to remember, people who are being mean are still people, and they have feelings, too. "Mean people" aren't always just mean people. Sometimes they're just nice people who've had a sh*t day. Sometimes they're depressed people who don't know any better way to deal with depression than lashing out. And yes, sometimes they're just folks who enjoy being mean. But who are you to decide which is which when you don't know them at all? Nice people who've had a sh*t day need to be firmly but kindly told that they're taking it out on others and ought to stop, not knocked down a few pegs. Depressed people who are lashing out ought to be shown compassion and taught a better way, not pissed off for doing the only thing they know how to do. And people who just like being mean? They should just be ignored, because there's no reasoning with them. I can't think of a single scenario where knocking someone down a few pegs does anything but make matters worse. To me, it sounds like "Jim punched Joe, so I'll punch Jim even harder and knock him into mud so everyone laughs at him, and that'll prove that I'm the better man."

 

In short, when other people are rude, being equally rude in return solves nothing; it just worsens the problem.

Edited May 29, 2014 by Henny Penny Benny

[PartyWithPinkie 189]

I feel like doing that would make the fandom look pretty immature in the eyes of people who aren't involved in the fandom.

I've heard people talking about Bronies posting random pony content where it doesn't belong and most people find it annoying.

And I have to agree there, I've seen people "paraspriting" on various sites and it makes me cringe every time.

[The Crimson Cross 7,532]

I've never actually seen this kind of thing happen, but I think it would be pretty annoying in a non-pony related conversation.

I like to keep my ponies separate!

The point is that a lot of people on the internet see us a "trolls" which is a darn shame.

It's not like we're living under a bridge or anything! 

[ZukoIsBestPony 561]

I can't say it's wrong, because that's subjective. But you've got to remember, people who are being mean are still people, and they have feelings, too. "Mean people" aren't always just mean people. Sometimes they're just nice people who've had a sh*t day. Sometimes they're depressed people who don't know any better way to deal with depression than lashing out. And yes, sometimes they're just folks who enjoy being mean. But who are you to decide which is which when you don't know them at all? Nice people who've had a sh*t day need to be firmly but kindly told that they're taking it out on others and ought to stop, not knocked down a few pegs. Depressed people who are lashing out ought to be shown compassion and taught a better way, not pissed off for doing the only thing they know how to do. And people who just like being mean? They should just be ignored, because there's no reasoning with them. I can't think of a single scenario where knocking someone down a few pegs does anything but make matters worse. To me, it sounds like "Jim punched Joe, so I'll punch Jim even harder and knock him into mud so everyone laughs at him, and that'll prove that I'm the better man."

Hmm, interesting view. I can see that as being true. Actually, it kind of makes me feel like crap a bit. It's midnight, I'm going to bed. Thanks for chatting with me. I still like trolling, but I'll try to watch what I say a bit closer. It's hard not to view the entirety of the internet as a bunch people who just want to fight and troll me, sometimes I forget that the person on the other side of the screen actually has a face and a life and isn't just some program who I must do battle with. You've opened my eyes. Thanks.

[Graveyard Duck 150]

I speak for the good of the fandom to say: STOP THIS. Most brony haters cite the fact that we are an ultra aggressive fandom that . So stop shoving it down everyone's throat. If you want to have an actual conversation about MLP then by all means do so, but if you take part in this you're tainting everyone's view of us.

[Shenron00 366]

If someone's being a dick, then you post those ponies! Otherwise, try to restrain yourself, you're better than that.

[Rainblow H. Ash 5,090]

I don't ever use ponies to troll, but I have trolled before and quite frequently. Not on this website though.

 

If you're using it to get reactions out of otherwise mean or rude people and it's actually funny, then more power to you. People might be saying you're making the fandom "look bad", but I honestly have never put stock into that. It's other people's fault if they get so offended over one Brony that they judge all Bronies. I've encountered rotten or annoying fans of all stripes and never have let it affect my overall opinion of a group.

 

Just a part of being mature in my honest opinion. If you judge an entire group by a few obnoxious members, then that's your own fault.

[TheSupremeLeaderOfChaos 1,189]

I would do it to the point of using pony memes and such to continue a conversation, not hinder it.

[ReverseFaller 2,483]

I don't mind when people post pony memes for reactions, or responses on non-pony sites. However, there is a time when too much pony stuff is used, and I'm pretty sure it's just annoying the non-bronies of the site. 

[Ribbonfree 2,383]

The occasional reaction image is fine, all part of being from the internetz, and if people get peeved over a single one in context that's their own faults for overreacting. But doing it a bunch really isn't funny, is it? Bad humor does not trolling make. It just means you're being annoying.