[Maritime Q-Scout]

I've been giving this some thought lately.

Are trolls online a good thing?

I'm starting to think, yes.


Now hear me out.

In the last Spring1 fiasco I argued with her, in quite depth to explain my viewpoint. I actively listened to what she had to say and responded as best i could as did others including but not limited to btimbit. I leaned a lot from him and others.

There was recently a second amendemnt debate where I tried to argue what I think is the real issue behind gun rights. I disagreed with my position but argued it and against what I, and most here, believed in. It helped me learn a lot about both sides.

Then the Redskins debate. There are two posters arguing for keeping the name. One is arguing a decent viewpoint (is this a vocal minority making a notice for the sake of making noise, or a legitimate concern) he didn't say under no circumstances should the name remain, but back up your argument with more than "I'm not native and I find the word to be offensive on behalf of others even those the others may not be offended". The other is either trolling or insane. But by arguing against the insanity, there are so many articles, facts and figures that have come out that we otherwise wouldn't have seen by taking a "yes it's racist change the name" argument.

Trolling makes you defend your position stronger. Is that a bad thing?

Can trolling be good? Be good for society? Be good for the internet? Be good for us personally?