No, it's really not - see e.g. https://youtu.be/BFSe5-i1LoU and actually I cannot recommend that entire channel highly enough, it is amazing! It is like a mini college course in the subject, and describes how the Alt-Right movement in America (following patterns used in Russia for years) resorts to many tactics that are low-effort and literally designed to waste the time of the responder.

Imagine you had a PhD, specifically in vaccines, and you were arguing with a 2-year-old who no matter what you said then responded with "nuh-uh", and occasionally threw in zingers at the level of "I know you are but what am I?!"

It is not important to refute the bullshit of people refusing to engage in good faith, and in actual fact it is precisely the opposite: by giving them the opportunity to continue forward you are merely playing into their game.

Maybe you pick your battles I'm not suggesting otherwise, just that in general I find it best to not engage with trolls. I tried that on Reddit, as a mod of two small gaming subs, and I learned my lesson: it was me who was changed, not them. Until I decided to leave Reddit entirely, regardless of whether I came here or not.

And now that I'm here, forewarned is forearmed, and I'm not enjoying having to go through that fight yet again, but it must be done by the only way is forward... towards whatever goal I choose, and for the I choose happiness rather than continually hitting my head against a brick wall:-).

[–] Cryophilia@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Depends on how you engage. If you recognize a troll, don't fall for the sealioning. Just call them names and make fun of them until they run away.

[–] OpenStars@piefed.social 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

If that works for you, then go for it:-). Would we call this "anti-trolling"? :-P

But the OP was about how to bring in normies, and in that context, I would like to see some kind of warning label slapped onto certain places on the Fediverse - as in, "warning: this place often spouts bullshit, just so you know, caution is advised". Again, we are talking about "normies" - they may not all want to anti-engage with trolls as you do.

i.e., doing so should be opt-in, rather than opt-out, imho.

[–] Cryophilia@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

That's fair. But I think that's kind of what I'm doing by combating the trolls. "Some of these people spout bullshit, but they get called out by the community".

[–] OpenStars@piefed.social 2 points 3 weeks ago

Them:

BuT wE sHoUlD bE fReE tO sAy WhAtEvEr We WaNt!

After you talk to them:

No... not like that!?