Once upon a time, there was a world called Y!Answers. That world was divided into many continents, called sections. Our story unfolds in the Greece Travel Section, or just Greece, located somewhere between the Netherlands and Denmark sections.
Greece was inhibited by many people, members as they we usually name them... They had only one mission to accomplish, one purpose in their lives, to answer questions, broaden their horizons and to help other people to do likewise.
For many years, everything worked to a fare-thee-well... Untill, suddenly, a group of trolls appeared. They tried to harm members, destroy their questions, insult them... This situation went on and on for years on end. For it was hatred that started poisoning honest member's hearts as well. One day, though, they decided to do something about it!..................
Few, that was long! Now, it's your turn! Finish the story as you wish! What can we do to make this section better and abuse-free? I know this is not a travel related question, but it concerns this section, so I couldn't post it elsewhere! ....give it up.
Because members, as weeks and months passed by, realized that it wasn't just the trolls. It was actually themselves that paid attention to trolls. It was them that created conspiracy theories without any basis at all. It was them who considered every thumb down and everyone who simply not agree with them a call to arms, even if they had made their mistakes that they could not and would not -of course- accept.
And if only they would just stop complaining about the trolls and start listening to each other, trolls would disappear.
But then they thought if they would do that would that make trolls winners? And also most members' felt they were always right, so people who disagreed with them would be winners as well?
So instead of being rational and democratic they begun yelling at each other (again) and did nothing about it.
And months and years passed, and now it is widely known: when Greeks use the web there will always be blood.
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Edit to add: Pessimistic? Realistic I would rather say. People cannot change overnight.
Unless they invent maturity or anti-stupid pills things can get different. What is surprising is what happens with Greek section does not happen in other sections of Y!A and history is repeating itself in Greek blogs, forums, myspace etc. Thanks for the points.
The real point is that someone has to decide where to spend time and effort as life is too short. Is it worth spending it in figuring out where trolls live? Report It
The trolls do appear often and the only harm they do is pointing suspicion on other members, that usually have nothing to do with the initial problem. They also make legitimate answers look ridiculous by their thumbs down or stupid remarks. Unfortunately, just because all the people who read the answers spend very little time to think, they take their remarks at face value.
For a long time I was branded as a troll and the treatment I got, was very harsh, but I stood my ground and let the tide ride.
Finally, as a gesture of good will I got in direct contact with the person that I had the conflict with. I hope some issues were cleared and it looks like the problem was solved, until the trolls reappeared doing their nasty games on me and other members. That clearly proved that the problem was not from the certain people I had the conflict with.
The other factor which is very abundant, is that our neighbors want to pass their propaganda on their respective topics of interest and in doing so they have to run Greece down.
Is in our hands to stop their derogatory remarks about Greece and set them straight. But that means direct confrontation with them which ends in more trolling since they don't like the other voice. Their views are the right ones.
So, as you see is a difficult situation anyway you look at it. There was a Greek, a French and an American. The aeroplane was flying over America, and the American goes "Hey we are flying over America", the Greek and the French go "How can you tell?", the American goes "Because I can see the Statue of Liberty"...
A few hours later the French guy goes "We are flying over France", the American and Greek guy go "How can you tell?", the French guy goes "Because I can see the Eiffel Tower"...
A couple of hours later, the Greek guy goes "We are flying over Greece", the American and French guy go "How can you tell?" and the Greek guy goes "Because my watch is missing!" Just to begin - WOW MC - someone found you and telephoned you????? Did you report them? How can someone trace you so easily? That's awful!
OK back to question (story).
There are many different Greeks/non-Greeks answering on this site - also Greeks from different countries - who know Greece because of what they've been told and a few weeks summer holiday here. There are Greeks on here that think I do not have the right to answer - even though I have spent 20 yrs here and been through many growing pains during this time.
I don't believe what we have on here are 'trolls' but the usual 'hot-headed' type of person who is narrow minded and as MC puts it 'tunnel vision'. It appears when someone asks a question to do with certain 'truths' about Greece - we are obliged to write in a positive manner ... or suffer the consequences if we dare to disagree with the chosen few!
Sometimes I wonder if I'm living in the same country as some of the answerers here!
I was even asked to remove my answer yesterday as someone disagreed with it - this is unheard of in other sections. I am ashamed to say I removed it as I cannot be bothered having a slanging match as I was subjected to on this section in Nov/Dec. It's a shame when one is not allowed to give one's opinion because it is considered negative towards Greece. WAKE UP - life is not a bowl of roses here - don't tell me what I have experienced here is in my imagination.
Other users may not have experienced the same things as me when I answer - example Airpole - I am guessing you are an elderly man - what comparisons can you make with me a foreign woman in her early 40s with 20yrs xperience in Greece (as a foreigner) - 10yrs living alone??? Obviously we have different outlooks and experiences - so maybe in your eyes I am one of the users that 'paint Greece black'.
I've come to realise that opinions are only accepted if you agree with the main 'users' - God forbid you make any negative comment!.
The End
Thanks to users like FAR for making this section bearable!
Anyone dare phone me and .... well ..... I'm from Ilkeston ...... look it up!
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Stop abuse by letting people have their say and - do not feel you have to 'answer' their comments - which can start a slanging match (I know I have been there)
There will always be people writing stupid answers - or questions - either thumb them down /report them or ignore them! Simple as that and NO ONE has the right to contact another person personally!
one more thing that I've noticed - the Greek users on here are much more abusive in 'Cyber world' than in the real world where most would not say boo to a ghost or get into such a slanging match! So they went into therapy.
And they discharged all their hurts which made them have complexes>prejudices>ignorance>and therefore being afraid and out of fear trying to hurt others. And then they finally UNITED.
You cannot do anything here apart from blocking a few to protect yourself.
jokingaround: this happened in Albania when Bush's watch disappeared from his wrist during a visit there! Totally agree with fretless! Pessimistic? Not at all! These are the facts.
Do you know the joke with the 鈥済aidaros鈥?that had a terrible smell? What did the man tell to his wife about living with him in the same house? 鈥淗e will get used to us!鈥?br>
If 鈥渟tinking trolls鈥?keep on visiting Y/A, what will happen? They will get used to us! You know what FaR, I wish more people had your attitude. However, there is a lot of nasty people on this site. I am simply not interested in this calibre of people.
They insult you, undermine you, and are sarcastic. Last week a very intelligent young girl, e mailed me to say that she has had it with the GREEK SECTION, as she was thumbed down and reported for no reason at all.
I just cant stand these people, and I have given up with that low class mentality...As far as the other sites are concerned, we might offer different opinions, and urgue, but there is no drama like this site.
All I can say is that these people can argue, and ***** with one another, but they will never have educated and outside opinions. They prefer to only read their comments. they are biased with one another and that is it.
They, are dogmatic, and tunnel visioned, in this section.
I was insulted, harassed, etc, because I gave my honest opinions, and experience, behind different topics. My education was questioned , eventhough I have an MBA and a degree,. and studying for my doctorate...
These trolls, only want the tourists, and people visiting this site, to have a one sided view, which is a lie, and nothing more. There is absolute no democratic right here, and freedom of speech on this site. I am afraid, a lot of people have realised who these woman are, and have choosen to go to other sites.
Every single question, I have answered truthfully and honestly, only to get thumbs down, and then geting a best answer from the person that asked the question. This alone proves, that some people appreciate frankness, and could not care less about the trolls. I am not interested, in dealing with their low IQ's and mentalities |
