Calling All DU "Profilers!" I'm Curious...

[Bark Bark Bark]

Okay, I'll admit it: I sometimes regret how I start a discussion. One person's "common-sense observation" is another's blasphemy, and I've insulted a lot of "religions" around here.

For example, I fully recognize that America's current corporate culture is severely screwed-up, and most CEOs are vile scumbags.

However, without saying that, I recently suggested that every single large business in the world might NOT be inherently EEEEEEEEEE-VILLLLLLLE!! This kicked a large hive of snarkwasps who let me know that all successful capitalist ventures involving more than two people are in fact, EEEEEEEEEE-VILLLLLLLE!!, and that offering consumers a service or product they desire is tantamount to genocide.

Yes, I know, I'm being snarky too. It's tough to resist, isn't it? Too much fun. And snarky was the way I opened that thread as well, so it's not like I can play innocent victim in that regard...

ANYWAY: It's not the snark that bothers me. When one of these schoolyard pissfights gets going, there always seems to be at least one poster who checks my profile--then reports back to the thread to either question me or make insinuations about the blankness thereof.

Recent example (paraphrased):
Me: "Blah blah blah fart blah blah."
Somebody: "Your profile's blank. Why?"
Me: "Never filled it out. Who cares?"
Somebody: "Fill it out. Do it now. What are you hiding?"
Me: "Um...no. Why do you care? What business is it of yours?"
Somebody: "You're ashamed of the day you joined DU."
Me: "...What? Piss off, you nosy tard."
Somebody: "JUST FILL IT OUT. NOW."
Me: "Make me."
Third Party (to Somebody): "Dude--what the hell's wrong with you?"
Somebody: "SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP HE BETTER FILL IT OUT NOW OR ELSE"
Moderator: "Okay...zappy." (deletes Somebody)

It's surreal...and I can't figure it out. What do these "profilers" hope to gain? Are they fishing for a name or an e-mail address with which to harass me? Do they think they're on Troll Patrol, and that a blank or hidden profile "proves" something? Do they think the mods will ignore such an open violation of the Rules? (Last time, the "profiler" got deleted before I could even get to the message--but I got to read the replies of the fellow "profilers." One even pointed out how easy it is to lie in one's profile--making my own argument for me. *rolls eyes*)

So please, help me out here. What IS it a "profiler" hopes to accomplish?

[Swamp Rat]

1. Check out mine.

:D

[Fridays Child]

4. I don't know how you can say things like that.

But it's good that you do. Yes, very good that you do.

(tiptoes out of the room)

[magellan]

2. I think it's funny that anybody even relies on the info in profiles

Unless you personally know the person behind the screen name, there's no way of verifying any information they might have put there.

[Fridays Child]

5. I know. You should see what my Free Republic profile says...

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[magellan]

10. Well I'd ask but...you know.

But I do like your TZ still of Billy Mummy as the kid who put anyone who wasn't agreeable "in the cornfield". Shades of Bush**! :scared:

[Dogmudgeon]

3. It's pretty plain

Freepers and other trolls never fill out their profiles. Never -- unless they want to flame and run, in which case they'll fill the profile with general snarkitude.

Once or twice, as I saw, you made some "suspiciously" right-wing arguments. Probably, you used a few buzzwords associated with the Right; maybe an argument, an attitude, or a literary trope. That sent many scurrying to read your profile, which was unavailable. So they jumped the gun. The crude, incorrect calculation of "Bayesian prior probabilities" -- usually called "the wisdom of experience" -- led them to label you a right-winger.

It happens a lot. We're a society of angry, polarized people these days. Liberals and Democrats are as susceptible to it as anyone.

--p!

[bananas]

6. They are trying to start or escalate a flame war.

If your profile was visible, they could attack you for something personal.
If your profile is hidden, they flame you for being a coward etc.
That is also a personal attack.
In other words, they are making a personal attack, in order to bait you into exposing yourself for more direct personal attacks.
http://redwing.hutman.net/%7Emreed/index.htm

[sweetheart]

7. Being inaccessable

If you want to be unseen and anonymous, fill out your profile with
something bland. To have it empty is to be shouting at profilers.

So maybe you can put in something totally misleading, and have an even
more profound effect with your profile, as an ordinary profile is
even less telling than an empty one.

[acmejack]

8. I like to read profiles

When I see a good post, I am often curious about the poster. Where they are and their age. Nosey, perhaps, but I often wonder why people don't fill it out, even knowing one could put down anything they wished.

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. Could you post a link to this alleged banter

that you are referencing. That sort of thing generally doesn't happen around here and if it did, it is certainly against the forum rules.

I've been on here for a number of years and have never had anyone ask me about my profile. We generally respect each others privacy and understand the fears some people have about posting on a political forum in a country were fascism is becoming the norm.

Thanks.

[Moderator]

11. locking.....

There is no rule that says a member
should complete his/her profile.

If someone is harassing you about
this, please click the alert
button on his/her post so the
the moderators can deal with it.

DU Moderator