Reply #13: Trolling is a fine art.

[TreasonousBastard]

Been through this for years on usenet and every other discussion board.

Most of the time, it's extremely important that no one actually post anything well thought out and knowledgable. That intimidates people who just want to argue or yak and keeps the thread short.

Vagueries, with a couple of hot buttons pushed, give a chance for those with nothing much to say to start saying something. This is a well known phenomenon at any committee meeting or dinner party, to say nothing of usenet or discussion boards.

Ask for a cost analysis of wind power over gas powered electric generation and you get three replies, only one of which mentions cost per kilowatt installed and compares maintenance, storage, and fuel costs-- if lucky enough to get that one. Say Dean is anti-environment and it goes on for a week, with not one post properly explainng why he is or isn't.