Following News, I made a change to the “no trolling” rule in Politics and World (rule 4 for Politics, 5 for World)
“Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to “Mom! He’s bugging me!” and “I’m not touching you!” Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.”
What if the person ‘drawing out subtle trolls’ actually ends up looking like they are, themselves, doing the trolling? After all, they’re trying to escalate a situation into being rude, and this tends to occur by being - at the very least - heavily obnoxious.
More than looking like. It very much is trolling a troll.
Then I agree with the mod who says to report and not engage.
I do as well, on the assumption that the mods will take an overall harsher stance on the activity. If enforcement remains lax, though, then nothing will change.