[cumquat @replies]

I am forced to write again to this deplorable site, in light of the pathetic responses to the words of truth spoken by a troll and hater such as myself in my previous correspondence.

What is revealed, by the unfortunate “discussions” between participants on this regrettable site, is the tendency to exhibit a sense of “community” (what a horrid word!). Attachment to such a notion brings with it, of course, attendant attributes which are, unfortunately, on full display in this awful place. These include practices such as taking alternative points of view seriously, even to the point of responding in a “calm”, “articulate”, and “reasoned” way to present an alternative for “consideration”. Such practices are, of course, anathema to a troll and hater such as myself. We trolls are not interested in “discussion” but in shouting angrily without the necessity for evidence, or “reasoned argument” (horrid term).

If this is not enough, I have actually found that on this site, flowing from the horrid “discussions”, there is, being expressed, “congratulations”, “well wishes”, “humour” and even (and, as a hater and troll, it distresses me to even have to type these words) “a self-deprecating sense of humour”. All this, which is fetid to the hater and troll, is on full display here and is caused by the attachment to the horrid, horrid notion of “community”.

What the “discussants” on the site fail to appreciate, is that we trolls care nothing for “community”. Like the toddler who drops its toy and screams, we are not mollified by being picked up and “reasoned” with. We have resisted the corruption of “maturity”. That is our strength. We have no need for the process of “intelligent reasoning” or indeed of a “self-deprecating sense of humour”. No, we are driven by our all-consuming sense of…Entitlement.

As my late husband, Brian Unctious Michael Quat (no acceptor of PC rubbish, and in that sense, a true Troll’s Troll) would say to me:

“I have always admired your enormous ARSE”.

Yours,

Catherine Ursula Margaret Quat (Mrs.)

[cumquat @replies]

As a troll and hater, I am very distressed to being forced to write again to this distressingly “intelligent” (such a terrible word) group. It has been three years since I was forced to express my profound concerns about the appallingly civil tone of communication on this site. At the time, I pointed out (in a way that was clear to all right thinking trolls like myself) that there was something extremely worrying about the level of civility and the acceptance of alternative perspectives on this site. As a troll and hater, I found this profoundly disturbing.

Because of changed circumstances, I am forced (however reluctantly) to write again.

Much has changed since I communicated my concerns three years ago. Since then we have seen we have seen many changes that have advanced the voice of trolls and haters like myself. We have for example, seen the arrival of Brexit (not the manifestation of course, but the far more satisfying evidence of fear and confusion which is manna from heaven to trolls and haters like myself). We have seen, across to the former colonies, the arrival of the quintessence of everything that we haters and trolls stand for. I refer of course, to the truly wonderful new President of the former 13 colonies (and add-ons).

And, perhaps of even more importance to haters and trolls such as myself, we have seen the acceptance of acronyms such as “PC” and, especially, “SJW”. I cannot possibly communicate how thrilled I am by this later acronym, as it is so perfectly designed to supplant actual detailed, reasoned and intelligent argument.

You cannot believe how haters and trolls such as myself rejoice in this term, as it relieves us of the burden of having to mount a coherent and well-reasoned argument.

And yet, in spite of the wonderful developments I have seen over the last three years, I find that on this site there is an actual flourishing of “reasoned” and “intelligent” (horrid words!) argument. I see it evident, not only in long standing contributors (who continue to insist on civility and a welcoming acceptance of alternative points of view), but I also see it evident in new participants to the “discussions” here. I even see it evident in younger posters! It would seem that indiscriminate use of phrases such as “SJW garbage” is failing to capture even the young. As a hater and troll, it shakes my faith in the future. What if this propensity to civility and this use of reason in the development of an argument were to catch on? For a hater and troll such as myself, it does not bear thinking about.

For all these reasons, I write to this deplorable site (although some of my best friends are, indeed, “deplorables”) to communicate my profound unease at the level of intelligent discussion I have witnessed here.

As one who is used to angry dismissals, and the wonderfully empty accusation of “SJW”, I trust I will not be forced to write again to this deplorable (well, anyway…) hotbed of “intelligent” and “civil” posts (what horrible terms) as I find evident on this site.

Yours,

Catherine Ursula Margaret Quat (Mrs.)

Mother of five (basset hounds)

[cumquat @replies]

I am forced to write yet again to complain about the appalling practice on this site to engage with haters and trolls like myself with reasoned argument. In spite of my previous warnings to fellow haters and trolls that interaction with this site could lead to an unfortunate awaking of civility and reason in the troll—a prospect, which for haters and trolls like myself, is profoundly unsettling—the occasional troll still stumbles onto this site. The outcome is, obviously, alarming.

For we trolls will fight against reasoned argument, and will stand our ground in the face of contradictory evidence, and continue to press our case (which, remember, is always a complaint). Why do we trolls do this? Because we want recognition. Very much like the screaming toddler who wants to be picked up. Reasoned argument does not work on the troll, for the same reason it does not work on the screaming toddler. What sets us trolls apart is our ability to not mature beyond the stage of the screaming toddler.

This is our strength. We are still pure, and have not been infected by the sins of maturity, such as reason and civility (such loathsome terms, I feel).

And yet we are so often treated as if we were mature, as I have witnessed on this deplorable site time and time again.

As my late husband, Brian Unctuous Michael Quat, used to say: “It’s a bleeding hayness crime”.

Yours truly,
Catherine Ursula Margaret Quat (Mrs)

[cumquat @replies]

I am forced to write again in regard to appalling practice on this site to be welcoming to new posters. This goes totally against the practice of sneering, ignoring, or attacking new or different views, which is the natural response of the hater and troll.

I was previously forced to write on these pages complaining about the ubiquity of reasoned discussion in a civilized manner that takes place here, and what was the response? I was actually warmly welcomed, and encouraged to make more contributions. This tendency towards acceptance and encouragement is precisely what distinguishes this site from the mean-spirited nature of the internet so embraced by haters and trolls like myself.

There was, at least, some slight criticism by one poster that I had failed to mention deus ex machina arguments, and on this basis was to be only accorded a score of 9.75 out of 10. However, it was clear that this criticism was not intended to be sneering and dismissive, which is what I associate with the internet, but was intended to be humorous and warmly embracing. As a hater and troll, I find this practice profoundly disturbing.

I should also point out to our so-called clever poster that the hater or troll may or may not use the deus ex machina argument. The point is to use it indiscriminately, because the point of trolling is to simply attack, be dismissive, be arrogant, and overall, to attack for the sake of attacking, not to be consistent or reasoned.

Clearly, therefore, my contribution should have been rated 10 out of 10. If not 11.

I hope I shall not be forced to return to these pages, as I find the whole atmosphere of conviviality, welcoming acceptance, and reasoned debate a very worrying indication of what might happen to the internet if these attitudes were to spread. Honestly, can you imagine what the world would be like if reasoned criticism was to replace ad hominin attacks, or acceptance was to replace condescension?

As a hater and troll, I shudder at the prospect.

Yours truly,
Catherine Ursula Margaret Quat (Mrs)
Mother of 5 (basset hounds)

[cumquat @replies]

I would like to write to indicate how appalled I am by the reasoned, well-articulated, and, perhaps most disturbing of all, civilized, discussion of Doctor Who that takes place on this site!

This is not the internet as I am used to it, and I am very worried about the implications it has for the healthy trolling that now dominates the internet and allows people like myself to make outrageous and unsubstantiated claims of abuse about any and all topics.

I am very concerned indeed that, left unchallenged, the sort of reasoned and civilized discussion that takes place on this site may actually catch on. The implications this would have for trolls and haters like myself to hide behind the comforting anonymity of the internet to engage in dismissive invective is troubling indeed.

Not only this, but I am especially alarmed that if one reads through the contributions to this site in any detail (something that goes against my better judgement as a seasoned troll) one finds that there are actually conflicting opinions and many dissenting views on the relative success of individual episodes or the use of tropes and genres (I find that even having to descend to the use of such language in this letter most offensive) so that one cannot even make grand ex-cathedra statements about everyone agreeing with each other on this site.

For example, I discover that in the discussion of the most recent episode there are posters who actually express reservations about the episode. And yet in reference to other episodes they express appreciation. As a hater and troll, who is used to one uniform position of unreasoned opposition, I find this most troubling.

I write, therefore, to encourage haters and trolls to avoid this site, as exposure to it for any length of time may awaken an urge to engage in argument based on reason, and, moreover, to do it in a spirit of convivial and civilized discussion. This is not something that should be encouraged in the world of invective and bile that I associate with the internet.

Yours truly
Catherine Ursula Margaret Quat (Mrs)
Mother (of five basset hounds)

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