Bad Faith Actors. :: Steam Discussions

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MrQun 30 Jul @ 4:48pm

Bad Faith Actors.

Unfortunately Steam has a great number of dishonest trolls who lack integrity and who argue in bad faith. I would like nothing more than to name and shame these cretins but I don't think I'll need to, as you reader will probably have a good idea of whom I am talking about. Many of these trolls are also text book enablers who always seem to show up on threads that are about moderation/ corporation f@ckery. And these same enablers will do nothing but make all manner of excuses for said f@ckery.

My advice to users is to stop engaging with them as like I said before, they are dishonest, they have no integrity, they argue in bad faith and are full of crap. What they do is constantly gaslight and shift the goal posts in discussions. They also employ a lot of straw man arguments where they misrepresent or distort an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack. Instead of addressing the actual argument, they create a weaker, easier-to-refute version (the "straw man") and then attack that, making it appear as though they have defeated the original argument.

And they do this to either goad people into saying something that will get them banned or to derail thread(s) into unproductive arguments where said thread(s) eventually get locked down. And I have seen them repeat this behaviour ad nauseam.

Also, one of these trolls/ enablers is a retired moderator (again, I am sure you know who I am talking about) which is probably why they are able to get away with their BS.

Like I said, they are full of crap and any honest, reasonable conversation with them is futile. They are also quite predictable and as such I fully expect them to darken this thread with their presence despite my blocking them as they just can't help themselves.

Do yourselves a favour and just block such trolls as they are not worth the time nor energy.

Last edited by MrQun; 30 Jul @ 5:02pm

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Showing 1-15 of 23 comments

Shreddy 30 Jul @ 7:25pm

Yeah it’s a shame that steam allows it but ultimately there is no point engaging with sycophants who constantly spam strawman arguments anytime someone suggests improving the customer experience on this platform. Derailing threads to try and stifle discussions doesn’t benefit anyone but these people don’t have anything better to do with their time I guess.

ꉔꏂ꒐꒒ꇙ 30 Jul @ 8:43pm

Originally posted by Shreddy:
these people don’t have anything better to do with their time I guess.

If they just sit there hanging on Off-topic or elsewhere in the discussions, that makes it pretty obvious and clear.

Originally posted by MrQun:
fully expect them to darken this thread with their presence despite my blocking them as they just can't help themselves.

Do yourselves a favour and just block such trolls

Which is why I want a feature that prevents blocked people from interacting with any thread or so by said blocker. But they'll just get around that by using Alts (which is why I want main accounts being blocked/banned along with their many Alts)

You ban/block an Alt = their main account/other Alts get blocked/banned as well.

Last edited by ꉔꏂ꒐꒒ꇙ; 30 Jul @ 8:47pm

Zefar 30 Jul @ 10:57pm

Originally posted by MrQun:
Many of these trolls are also text book enablers who always seem to show up on threads that are about moderation/ corporation

Oooooh it's about moderations topics. The ye olde gang of moderators show up because there are users who spew nothing but lies about the Moderation team. They make ridiculous claims as well and claim that these moderators will ban for anything. Yet they can have their thread with full of lies about moderators up for months without any issue.

It's almost as if what they are saying are not true at all. Who'd thought?

Originally posted by ꉔꏂ꒐꒒ꇙ:
Which is why I want a feature that prevents blocked people from interacting with any thread or so by said blocker. But they'll just get around that by using Alts (which is why I want main accounts being blocked/banned along with their many Alts)

You ban/block an Alt = their main account/other Alts get blocked/banned as well.

If you want the block feature to work like that you'll have to keep arguing on your profile. Because the forums are public space for all users where only the moderators get to decide who is allowed to post or not.

The reason such a feature is not going to work like the way you want it is because people could be blocking someone and then start to spread lies that the other user can't fight.

Draug 30 Jul @ 11:03pm

No idea what this is in reference to, but maybe I suggest turning off the computer for an hour or two and taking a break? You seem a little obsessed with the forums.

MrQun 30 Jul @ 11:09pm

Originally posted by Draug:
No idea what this is in reference to, but maybe I suggest turning off the computer for an hour or two and taking a break? You seem a little obsessed with the forums.

Good idea. I think I will take a good break from the forums for a while.

Edit: If you think I am obsessed then you should see the posting history of those enablers. All they do is troll the steam forums and they all seriously need to get a life. Anyway, I am out for a good while.

Last edited by MrQun; 31 Jul @ 1:46am

Tito Shivan 31 Jul @ 1:15am

Originally posted by MrQun:
And they do this to either goad people into saying something that will get them banned.

I suggest you doublecheck your OP then.

Nx Machina 31 Jul @ 2:17am

Odd you chose to start your thread with:

Originally posted by MrQun:
Unfortunately Steam has a great number of dishonest trolls who lack integrity and who argue in bad faith.

And then continued with a classic example of doing just that.

Originally posted by MrQun:
I would like nothing more than to name and shame these cretins

BJWyler 31 Jul @ 2:31am

There are plenty of opportunities to have engaging, fun, and safe discussions in these forums. However, it needs to be done in good faith on all sides. Those that hide behind alt accounts in attempts to troll certainly do not fulfill that parameter and should be rightfully dismissed out of hand.

What many here fail to realize is that the gaming community is not the same as it was back in the 90's and 00's. People want gaming forums to reflect the gaming community that uses them. What they fail to understand is that they now do. What may have been permissible back during the reign of the Edgelord Neckbeard is no longer tolerated by the general Gaming Community. And this is now reflected in the forums we use on platforms that are designed to appeal to that greater Gaming Community as a whole.

One needs to either accept that and learn to play within the rules, or one will find oneself rightly banned from those forums. Because, in the end, these forums are not a personal playground. Others do not find amusement in these types of antics. If that is what one seeks, then Valve has provided Steam Groups to serve that purpose, or one can use a myriad of online blog options. What is desired and enlightening are conversations and debates made in good faith among those who understand that no individual is the center of attention, and no one else is interested in playing the classic role of fodder for the PKer who is camping outside of the newbie spawn point for his own entertainment. Griefing, be it in an MMO or on a forum is passe, and those who wish to partake will no longer be tolerated.

Chaosolous 31 Jul @ 2:42am

Once the internet requires ID to use, trolls will mostly go away.

Not all of them, but most of them. Since, you know, it'll be easy to find out exactly who they are and alt accounts won't be something people can hide behind.

Last edited by Chaosolous; 31 Jul @ 2:43am

Sciencemile 31 Jul @ 3:07am

Originally posted by Chaosolous:
Once the internet requires ID to use, trolls will mostly go away.

Not all of them, but most of them. Since, you know, it'll be easy to find out exactly who they are and alt accounts won't be something people can hide behind.

Ah I don’t think it’s going to work that way; otherwise the people with private profiles wouldn’t be advocating for it.

Steam would get to know who you are, or a third party would and assure steam. But you and I wouldn’t get any more information other than knowing perhaps we’re speaking with certified adults.

Now, when the data leak inevitably happens, then you might see what you’re thinking of.

#10

Tito Shivan 31 Jul @ 3:30am

Originally posted by Chaosolous:
Once the internet requires ID to use, trolls will mostly go away.

Because Facebook, where people go with their full name isn't short of them.

You underestimate the disregard toxic people have for their privacy.

It's going to damage a lot of people who may NEED privacy (Think LGBT people from countries that deem them illegal, for example. Victims of harassment who don't want to use their real IDs for protection...) But trolls? Nah, that people will just keep trolling.

#11

Yasahi 31 Jul @ 3:55am

Originally posted by Chaosolous:
Once the internet requires ID to use, trolls will mostly go away.

Not all of them, but most of them. Since, you know, it'll be easy to find out exactly who they are and alt accounts won't be something people can hide behind.

The EU solution for proving that the person is 18+ doesn't actually share the identity of the person with the service they're using.

#12

bansama 31 Jul @ 6:25am

Originally posted by Som3th1ng:
You should have to prove your literate and sensible to participate in discussions what a dream that would be. They should also just make a boxing room of sorts for all those types who show up simply to argue. Those guys are the worst.

Yes. They should. Then people who make topics calling for a discussion and then use it to simply avoid any and all discussion would't be allowed to post here. Or did you think people have forgotten a certain topic in which you acted in exceptionally bad faith?

#13