Posted by Derek Janssen on 10/07/05 05:55

The Man With No Name wrote:

>>>>"Arguing with anonymous strangers on the Internet is a sucker's game
>>>>because they almost always turn out to be -- or to be indistinguishable
>>>>from
>>>>-- self-righteous sixteen-year-olds possessing infinite amounts of free
>>>>time."
>>>>- Neil Stephenson, _Cryptonomicon_
>>>
>>>Great line, and oh so true!
>>>
>>>Viz a recent thread in rec.arts.tv where some morons insisted that
>>>Carlos tampering with Gabby's birth control pills on /Desperate
>>>Housewives/ was rape. Their justification was that it was more
>>>serious than jaywalking, or something.
>>
>>Well, it kind of is. Instead of non impregnating sex she got
>>impregnating sex and stuck with those consequences.
>
> So then, is it still rape if you use a condom?
>
> (Couldn't resist replying.

Evidently--
At which point, we now introduce you to Internet troll concept #2, the
"Tar Baby"...

So named for the folktale object at which helpless victims would try to
"hit back" and find themselves stuck fast to the elbow...He hopes.
Even to the point of the farthest stream-of-consciousness thread
drifting, just so long as the thread can be prolonged on life support,
and no connection is too vague or bewildering, so long as it can be tied
to Controversial Sucker-Topic Button #1 through 23.

From which, as matched defensive maneuver we move on to Internet
ANTI-troll concept #3, "Pulling the Trap-Door Lever".
To which fans of old "Laugh-In" reruns, we need offer no explanation.

Derek Janssen (imaginary image of victim troll plummeting out of shot
with Goofy-whoop, optional)
djanss@charter.net

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