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By Roz Rogoff

About this blog: In January 2002 I started writing my own online "newspaper" titled "The San Ramon Observer." I reported on City Council meetings and other happenings in San Ramon. I tried to be objective in my coverage of meetings and events, and...  (More)

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The Troll

Uploaded: Oct 2, 2014

Dictionary.com defines "Troll," used as a noun, as "one of a class of supernatural creatures that dwell in caves or mountains and are depicted either as dwarfs or as giants."

On the Internet a Troll is defined as "An electronic mail message or other (electronic) communication which is intentionally incorrect, but not overtly controversial." I didn't know there is such an art to internet trolling.

The important element in the above definition is, "intentionally incorrect," which is the intention of the Troll who has been posting intentionally incorrect messages about Lulu the dog spreading Ebola.

In the first place, dogs cannot get or spread Ebola. Ebola is only contagious when symptoms are present, and dogs do not have symptoms.

Ebola is centered in Africa. No cases of Ebola have been reported in South or Central America. So all parts of the Troll's messages are "intentionally incorrect."

I'm not so sure about not being controversial. The Troll claims that by suppressing his comments, I am in violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution: "My Dear Roz, THE CONSTITUTION IS THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND. My comments are apparently 'offensive.' I respectfully ask you to cease taking away my rights!"

This is once again intentionally incorrect. Most people misinterpret the First Amendment of the Constitution in exactly the way the Troll wants you to believe. The Troll is quite literate and should know that the First Amendment does not apply to private industry.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Hello? Congress isn't suppressing the Troll, I am! I am not a member of Congress or any Government Agency. I am a blogger with the San Ramon Express, a privately owned business. A business can suppress anything they do not want published under their name.

I'm pretty sure the Troll knows that and is again being disingenuous to get my goat. Well goat gotten. I asked Gina to block the Troll's IP addresses, but she suggested locking replies on my blogs. So that's what I did for the time being.

All I want is for the Troll to stop posting stupid, childish comments about my friend and her dog. You even called her a "hoarder," because she fosters cats. If this Troll does not know that these things are hurtful and offensive, he is seriously lacking in empathy.

Take your shots at me. I have a thicker skin with lots of cushiony fat under it. I don't wound as easily as she does. Just no more "intentionally incorrect" comments about Eli or Lulu. I would like to take the locks off of my blogs.

Comments on this blog will be open for registered users. If the Troll is a registered user, you may post whatever you want to say about me. I'll leave it to my other readers to reply.

Local Journalism.
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Comments

Posted by Formerly Dan from BC, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Oct 2, 2014 at 8:51 am

Formerly Dan from BC is a registered user.

Roz,

Stop feeding the troll. Your writing suggests that he/she has gotten to you and all you're doing is facilitating his/her behavior.

Sorry if it seems like I'm blaming the victim.

Respectfully,

Dan


Posted by San Ramon Observer, a resident of San Ramon,
on Oct 2, 2014 at 12:56 pm

San Ramon Observer is a registered user.

Dan,

I agree with you. It's like when my brother used to tease me and I would get me all upset. Now I ignore him. You'd think he'd grow out of it after 70 years.

But this troll isn't attacking me. He's using my blogs to attack Eliana. It's OK if he wants to attack me, but I have to delete his silly comments about Lulu and Eli because they upset her and she has friends in Chile who read these articles too.

I'm probably going to take the blocks off soon. But I will leave the requirement to be logged in.

Roz


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