XPost: comp.programming 
 From: tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail.com 
  
 Steve  coughed up the 
 following: 
  
 > Thomas G. Marshall wrote: 
 >> I've been interested in the following, but am not sure if it violates 
 >> the ethics and charter of usenet. 
 > 
 > There is an ethics of usenet? 
  
 yep 
  
  
 >> Please tell me if I'm asking this in the wrong place. 
 >> 
 >> I've noticed that there are many miscreants out there that flame 
 >> away, and even /prefer/ to become plonked, because it gives them 
 >> freedom of sorts to respond to the plonkers without argument. 
 > 
 > No offense, really, but if you are worrying about something like this 
 > then you have something in common with the troll:  lack of a better 
 > use of your time. 
  
 "better use of my time" ?  That's only assuming it's a terrible idea, 
 which was the entire reason I'm asking about it. 
  
 I'm not /worried/ about it per se.  I'm considering the newbies and 
 folks who also fruitlessly engage in the flamers, and end up wasting 
 their time.  When they see someone continually plonked at the /subject/ 
 level, it's a clear flag. 
  
 I get the suspicion that people are thinking of this as a continual 
 posting of blocked messages, when it's not---it would be rare, only when 
 the troll attempts a direct reply to someone who has plonked him. 
  
 But I suppose it's so far considered a bad idea, so heck: asked and 
 answered. 
  
 I'll run for cover :) 
  
  
  
 > 
 > Plonk em, find something better to do and then move on. 
 > 
 > Steve 
  
 -- 
 Onedoctortoanother:"Ifthisismyrectalthermometer,wherethehell'smypen???" 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)