[wallyfindme]

A troll is you.

[kesFockplek]

this thread is an example of this:

"posting bad things to bait people into responding"

meh... ive made my point.

[valiumcheepval]

OK, how about this?

troll
One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=troll

Edit: I just quoted the first definition; there are more.

[Cnbaapuy]

Originally posted by Lord Avalon
OK, how about this?
troll
One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument


http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=troll

Edit: I just quoted the first definition; there are more. I 'll go with that plus an underlying intention to spam.

[GentlieGant]

Originally posted by Lord Avalon
OK, how about this?



http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=troll

Edit: I just quoted the first definition; there are more. I found tons that are equivalent to that.

The thing that doesn't sit well with me about that is that it suggests that if someone posts something that seems stupid/inflammatory whatever then it makes them a troll even if they themselves honestly don't see how it is stupid or inflammatory.


It makes no sense to debate someone whose posts are insincere but debate can be justified if they are honestly trying to make a case.

If the element of sincerity is removed from the notion of trolling the definition seems a lot less useful.

[gamblingstats]

Originally posted by Dis


Depends on the context of the situation.

Say we have a nazi poster who loved Hitler. He posts a thread saying how great Hitler is. Knowing most people hate Hiter, he does this to provoke a reaction out of us. This is a troll, even though he is sincere in his love for Hitler.

but if he posted his Hitler admiration thread on a nazi board, it would not be a troll.

That's the best I can come up with. Ok for that example let's imagine two nazi apologists had some kids and home schooled them and steeped their childhood in their Nazi BS. The kids eventually start thinking for themselves and maybe post on the internet starting with their whackjob preconceived notions.

Are they trolls even though we might expect that contact and discussion with rational people might bring them around? Suppose they are actually willing to honestly debate the merits of their ****ed up ideology?

[Affiltavajefe]

Originally posted by Geronimo


Ok for that example let's imagine two nazi apologists had some kids and home schooled them and steeped their childhood in their Nazi BS. The kids eventually start thinking for themselves and maybe post on the internet starting with their whackjob preconceived notions.

Are they trolls even though we might expect that contact and discussion with rational people might bring them around? Suppose they are actually willing to honestly debate the merits of their ****ed up ideology? It depends on their motivations. Which makes it difficult to discern what is and isn't a troll.

If their intentions are to honestly debate the merits of Hitler, or even to try to sway our opinions of him, then it is not a troll.

But if their motivations are to go on a normal board (assuming they know normal people are vehemently opposed to Hitler), and start spouting off how great Hitler was in an effort to get a reaction, it is at a troll.

[MackBranon]

Originally posted by Dis


It depends on their motivations. Which makes it difficult to discern what is and isn't a troll.

If there intentions are to honestly debate the merits of Hitler, or even to try to sway our opinions of him, then it is not a troll.

But if their motivations are to go on a normal board (assuming they know normal people are vehemently opposed to Hitler), and start spouting off how great Hitler was in an effort to get a reaction, it is at a troll. I entirely agree. The thing is I can't find one definition of troll that takes that into account.

Is our concept of trolling here on 'Poly out of sync with what the majority of the rest of the population on the internet holds?

[wheettebott]

stupid people do not equate to being trolls, i agree. However, is is my preconcieved notion that a person with less-than-average intelligence that tries to join a higher-level debate... simply has no choce BUT to troll in order to feel noticed...

[RadcliffXX]

Originally posted by Hercules
and/or to continue the Troll by arguing provocatively against each poster who raises reasonable points. I've always thought that the key to recognizing a troll is to notice when a poster fails to show any sign of understanding one or more obvious holes in their argument that are repeatedly pointed out to them even when elsewhere they have demonstrated the intelligence to understand those objections and are replying to the objections in a way that leaves no doubt that they have completely read the objections.

At that point there is no point in further debating with the presumed troll.

I'm not sure of a good way to neatly fold that into a definition of trolling however. I suppose it doesn't really belong in the definition and the definition can simply point out the deliberate nature of the provocations of a troll and leave the detection of intent as an exercise for reader.

[Ocqljudq]

"What's a troll?"

Please see Alexander's Horse.

[gWhya5ct]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
As he said. Read posts by the Horse and/or Shiva. How can you not read posts by LS while browsing poly OT?

He seems more of a spammer/sincere poster than a troll to me most of the time IMHO.

Most of his posts don't seem crafted to elicit strong responses.

What about those sorts of posts makes you think of trolling?

[ArrichMer]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
His love of bananas for one thing. Should we compile a list?

Oerdin? Can you add to the conversation? So you think someone posting lots of amusing spam is a troll?

[ViagraPriceBuying]

What about his unmitigated hatred of Greeks?

[outdog]

troll (trōl)

n.

A supernatural creature of Scandinavian folklore, variously portrayed as a friendly or mischievous dwarf or as a giant, that lives in caves, in the hills, or under bridges.

[Old Norse.]

[GWRIeEQp]

Asher was right there, vying for position in the run for the roses.

[Kk21pwa9]

What's the dealio with the misanurany anyway?

[payloansday]

WTF?



Beat Shiva.

[DurryVony]

How long is this Heresson ban?

[Hokimjers]

Oops, sorry!