Pretty standard definitions...
AI Overview
A troll thread is a type of online forum or social media thread where one or more users deliberately post inflammatory, offensive, or irrelevant content to provoke a reaction from other users, disrupt the conversation, or simply for entertainment (often at the expense of others). These users, known as "trolls," aim to create chaos and negativity within the online community.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Provocative content:
Trolls often post messages that are designed to be controversial or upsetting, such as personal attacks, insults, or deliberately misinformed opinions.
Disruptive behavior:
The goal of a troll thread is often to derail the original topic of discussion, make it difficult for others to participate constructively, or even cause the thread to be shut down by moderators.
Entertainment for the troll:
Some trolls are motivated by a desire to get a rise out of people and enjoy the negative attention they receive, even if it's negative according to a forum discussion.
Not always malicious:
While often negative, some trolls may engage in "emotion manipulation" by creating fabricated stories to elicit sympathy and responses from other users according to a forum post.
Different from genuine disagreement:
It's important to distinguish between trolling and genuine disagreement. Trolling is characterized by the intent to disrupt and provoke, while disagreement is a normal part of online discourse.
Paragliding Forum - View topic - What is a Troll ? - new
May 20, 2008 — A person that post almost exactly like a troll with the difference that he actually believes in what he is posting. I ...