Trap that evolved…
[QUOTE=GeneChing;849736]Many of our veteran members are unkind to newbies, mostly because we’re so infested by trolls. Many of our veteran members are trolls too. We’ve tried spraying for them. We’ve tried the no-trolls strips, but they keep coming back. After all, this is a martial arts forum, so we all like to fight after a fashion. Of course, fighting on an online forum is a bit trivial, but hey, for most of us, it beats whatever it is we’re supposed to be doing when sitting at our monitors. 
, if you want to post, it’s always good to search first. Look before you leap. Search before you post. And if you’re only trying to speak to one person, PM them instead of posting. Posts are in the public forum and will always garner response from the general membership.
There’s often a hazing in the martial arena. Here on our forum, getting battered about for an early post is a typical hazing. Happens to the best of us. Welcome to the forums. :)[/QUOTE]
I think that may be an understatement Gene 
I was very careful to word my post as non-offensive as possible but it seems that the “veteran trolls” here will interpret it any which way and then just run with that ball. It all happened in such a short time span while I was awaiting your response (and only yours). I guess you could say that I fell into a trap but then again, it actually turned out to be a good experiment at gaging the type of personalities you have on board here.
I find it funny that you used the word “hazing.” This being a MA forum, and the members being such, I thought that they were above such juvenile tactics. I had experienced such things at other forums and thought that this place would be a little different. Sharing a commonality had, in my past experience, a way of ingratiating newcomers. However, as was witnessed, I had incorrectly surmised. But I am not put off in any way. The trolls will always be there and they are free to post whatever garbage enters their minds and exits through their finger tips. I leave the enforcement up to you and your entourage. Still, this valuable experience and those past has made me more aware of spotting such posts.
Yeah, it would be a good idea to search first. I’m sure I would have found this thread and most likely have resurrected it with the same result and same reaction from your “veteran” members. I could have sent you a PM but I had posted on the public forum to prove my point…besides, all the other OT stuff was being posted there as well Point well-taken though Gene. I’m sure you all have discussed everything under the sun, moon, stars and galaxy…but as we progress in our training and our experience, I’m sure that the same questions will arise from younger and newer members who look to these “veterans” for answers based on their knowledge and experience. I know that it may have looked as if I were disturbing the status quo over here but as I explained earlier, that is not the case. Like you said, the trolls had come out to play and age and experience here in this forum does not necessarily imply respect or deference (based on what just happened).
Anyhoo, thank ye for the warm welcome Gene.
