imported post
Agreed on several points...
1) If you're posting a "situation" that happened to you, be detailed. If you got arrested for something, there should be a report of it somewhere (police, news article, etc.). A lot of us talk about personal experiences we have had, but if it's something big, there will be written (or typed) proof of it. On the topic we deal with, it's hard for anything to happen "in a big way" and not have a news van show up or a police report written as fast as possible.
2) If we answer in a polite and respectful way with facts and logical arguments, who cares if they're a troll? Once they realize that they're not getting a rise out of us, they will leave and not come back (until they find another story they think will work us up). But, there may be someone sitting on the fence just browsing through the topics trying to inform themselves a little about the people and logic behind the open carry movement. I know I (even though I already had my beliefs solidified) looked around the site for about an hour before deciding to "join the ranks" with you guys. By just reading our intelligent conversations, there might be someone that moves to our side and helps our cause.
3) We are rational, they are emotional. The more rational we are, the more emotional they will become. If we keep this up unceasingly, we will eventually get the better press as there will be no other way to portray it. Which post do you think the liberal media would stick on the face of open carry after someone asks a "What if/Troll type question". The one that says "I appreciate your interest in open carry. Here is some information...", or the one that says, "TROLL! LEAVE YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF CRAP!!!". If you're honest with yourself, you know they'll use the second one. Let's give the people who are trying to destroy us less ammo to use against us.
If you don't want to talk to the trolls, don't. Leave that to calm, level headed people. Until he/she is rude and emotional, we should treat them as rational. Once they appear to leave logic at the door, we should tell them that we feel they aren't being rational and move on. No reason to keep bumping the post and feeding the fire.