Internet troll

AProudLefty

AProudLefty

Black Kitty Ain't Happy
A troll is a person who posts offensive or provocative messages online or performs similar behaviors in real life. Trolls can range from benign to sadistic in their methods and motivations.
Troll can also mean: To sing the parts of (as a round) To sing or recite loudly or merrily To harass, criticize, or antagonize (others or another) A lure or a line with its lure and hook used in trolling


Generative AI is experimental

@Lionfish we're looking at ya.
 
AProudLefty said:
A troll is a person who posts offensive or provocative messages online or performs similar behaviors in real life. Trolls can range from benign to sadistic in their methods and motivations.
Troll can also mean: To sing the parts of (as a round) To sing or recite loudly or merrily To harass, criticize, or antagonize (others or another) A lure or a line with its lure and hook used in trolling


Generative AI is experimental

@Lionfish we're looking at ya.
Click to expand...

I've been on internet forums since the days of BBSes, IRC (chat relay), and Usenet (actually before the internet, but continued as the internet was developing). The concept of 'Troll' always meant that, for example, say a forum is dedicated to the teachings of Christ, a troll would do a fly by and call Christ a pedo, and get everyone riled up, where the troll was not interested in a serious discussion, they are only interested in getting a rise out of people for his or her own gratification. That's not a definition, that's an example of how real trolls operate. Someone who says provocative things, but engages in the conversation in a real way, is not really a troll, so you need to be precise about what a troll is. A troll is NEVER sincere, or interested in a real discussion, they motivated by upsetting people for personal gratification, only, that's it, that's what a troll is. Also, a troll is NEVER a 'regular' on any forum, they are always fly bys (well, mostly, anyway because there are grey areas, there are troll-like subject lines, and troll-like behavior). So, someone could be 'troll-ish', but really is just an annoying prick. There is some subjectivity about the subject, as well.
 
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Publius said:
I've been on internet forums since the days of BBSes, IRC (chat relay), and Usenet. The concept of 'Troll' always meant that, for example, say a forum is dedicated to the teachings of Christ, a troll would do a fly by and call Christ a pedo, and get everyone riled up, where the troll was not interested in a serious discussion, they are only interested in getting a rise out of people for his or her own gratification. That's not a definition, that's an example of how real trolls operate. Someone who says provocative things, but engages in the conversatioin in a real way, is not really a troll, so you need to be precise about what a troll is. A troll is NEVER sincere, or interested in a real discussion, they motivated by upsetting people for personal gratification, only, thats' it, that's what a troll is. Also, a troll is NEVER a 'regular' on any forum, they are always fly bys. There are grey areas, there are troll-like subject lines, and troll-like behavior, so. There is some subjectivity about the subject, as well.
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Personal gratification sometimes being promoting UTOPIA....chaos advantages the authoritarians.
 
I think internet trolls come in two forms, with subtypes of each.

The first form is the insulting, asshole, provocateur who simply posts insults, stupidity, and vulgarity to get a response. They are less than worthless and have nothing to offer in a thread. Here on JPP, Doc Dutch is such a troll, as one example. Their posts are almost entirely vulgar insults and asininity. They make everyone miserable but offer nothing, usually less than nothing, to a thread. Their comments are irrelevant.

The second form is the insulting, asshole, provocateur who uses a combination of contrary facts, evidence, and stupidity to get a response. While the difference is subtle, this sort of troll makes those with a contrary position uncomfortable and forces those posting to defend their positions. A good troll of this sort uses sarcasm, snark, and puns to create a response that provokes further discussion or makes the shallow, ill-informed, poster STFU.

The first is worthless to the board as they offer nothing of value. The second is like a good comic or talk show host where their banter forces uncomfortable responses from others, or forces them to drop the subject.
 
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