No place is immune. I've found that there are far fewer trolls here than just about anywhere else I've been on the internet.
Besides, perfection is overrated, boring, and basically unattainable anyway.

There are trolls here just as they exist everywhere in real life too. Devil's advocates, if you say it's blue they will fight to the death to try to get you to believe its white. They are miserable people who are just mean spirited. Best to ignore them. I just did that before I saw your statement. Some people just think they are right and can't be considerate or simply consider that they don't know everything and should be open to at least trying to understand another point of view. No time for some people.

There is always a fly in the ointment. And as this venue become more known and more popular there will be those who come only to be a distraction and irritant. Sadly that is human nature "You don't think and believe the things I do? Well let me go out of my way to come to you and tell you how you're wrong."

What's nice is that we can block and flag.

The only thing atheists have in common with one another, is atheism. Beyond that, we are capable of stupidity, ignorance, and ass-holery, and can also believe in such nonsense as ghosts, astrology, and "crystals" rolling eyes . Atheists can be criminals, have low IQs, be racists, bigots, and Republicans (hehehe), and don't necessarily have to have the capacity for deep intellectual inquiry or discussion just because of atheism. Atheists are as imperfect as anyone else. Ultimately, we are also just as capable as anyone else to empathize, have compassion, and understanding for those less enlightened too, and thank goodness.

If you don’t feed the trolls they eventually wither away. I was asked as well by someone stirring a fight to block them, I didn’t , just ignored. Don’t give the trol your most valuable resource, time.

There have been and are still among us. A lot have disappeared but I think it is good in that we see these people and how they react to us. I, myself, often come up with controversial ideas. However, I make an effort to be courteous and not point fingers at individuals and, above all, use hard evidence and reason to support my positions people react in like manner.

Funny, I noticed on Yahoo news there were thousands of tRump supporters. Recently, those numbers have gone way down and the comments are against him. This recent Russian indictment and the shooting have really changed things.

There are a few irrational, angry demagogues on this site who do not know how to carry on rational discourse -- an d don't appear to even want to know how to.

I didn't think one of them was a troll, but I might be changing my mind lol

Trolls offer no evidence and offer nothing but opinion. Kind of like alt facts. They deflect and veer off topic. When presented with evidence that goes against their opinion, they poo poo it and double down.

Did you know you can block people?

Wait, you mean someone has come here saying they think there may be a god,,,, or just disagrees with you about something else,, like gun control, or immigration reform? I think a lot of atheists are under the impression that all atheists are left wing liberals... ---NEWS FLASH--- they're not.. I dare say that doesn't make them trolls.. but that's just me..

Oh, sweetie, there is more than one. Smartass-ism is fine by me, what i look for are the posts that require you to posit the existence of a supreme being in order to discuss the ostensible question........fun fun fun!

A "troll" is argumentative by definition? On a page headed by the word "discuss" or is it just me being a troll.

I think that covers it

I have ran into a couple when this site was relatively new.. gave him my piece of mind and that pretty much ended that bullshit!

Amateurs Finally read before speaking this time.. I’ve not blocked anyone, if they get stupid or aggressive it only weakens their argument and takes from any popularity they may have accumulated. But then I’m likely battle-hardened from decades of being outnumbered by regressives in a rural zone with a powerful online presence…

Feeling dogged several times, the first offenders magically disappeared! A guardian angel? This is a mellow and civil site ..so I do my best to help keep it that that way ~

Of course, humans will always act like humans but compared to other sites its way better and they stand out like sore thumbs.

i'd be disappointed if there werent trolls on the internet

Ain't that the truth..

There are trolls, spies, informants, etc, etc, etc.

Who?

ah crap, after reading these posts I am going to look and see who has blocked me.

Is there any group in existence free of a 'lunatic fringe'? Is there any group opposing them that doesn't try to associate the whole group with that fringe? It's an insoluble problem like that one 'pain in the ass' on a jury. There must be some cosmically connected reason.

Well...only one. My other Atheist groups are plagued with trolls who defend religion better than Bergoglio does.