Online Trolls

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Denise1952

Well-known Member
I came upon this today...because recently, I heard the term Troll. I thought it was some guy that lived under a bridge, and he'd grab your goodies if you tried to cross.

Evidently, it has another meaning which I found interesting. I don't know if many of you have heard the term, but during my time on Forums since about '90ish, I believe I've seen some. Looking for opinions and feedback, and folks experiences with online Trolls??

Here's wiki's definition:

For a Wikipedia essay on the topic, see meta:What is a troll?

In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.
 

Debby said:
I think that's an accusation that sometimes also gets thrown out there to try and shut down a differing opinion.
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Yeah, I could see someone doing that as well. It would be hard to determine the difference I think?
 
I think my first forum was 97. I have been a moderator on an expat forum but no trolls there. Just on other forums.
 
Not sure what you mean Denise.

What I've seen on Youtube for example, there's a discussion and most people are supportive in the comments and then someone comes along and says the opposite and the next remark is something like, 'you're just a troll so get lost'. I've seen that even when the opposing opinion is perfectly legitimate.
 
Debby said:
Not sure what you mean Denise.

What I've seen on Youtube for example, there's a discussion and most people are supportive in the comments and then someone comes along and says the opposite and the next remark is something like, 'you're just a troll so get lost'. I've seen that even when the opposing opinion is perfectly legitimate.
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Yes, those sorts of terms do get used wrongly. I do believe there are actual Trolls though, in forums. I edited and noted that it would be hard in some cases to tell the difference. I'd hate to be a mod. and have to make that decision.
 
It depends-sometimes it's used correctly and other times it's not.

If someone posts something that is intentionally meant to jab at someone, then it's considered trolling (posting strictly to get an inflamed response from someone). However a simple difference of opinion is not trolling. Sometimes the difference can be fuzzy, other times it's clear.
 
Ameriscot said:
Sometimes but not usually.
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Ok, as a mod. you saw a lot of posts, so you would know if someone is habitually doing the troll thing. That's what it would take, constant monitoring because they could just be having a bad day. But if they were having a bad year you might start to think something is rotten in Denmark;)
 
applecruncher said:
Yeah, I'm familiar with the term. First encountered trolls in the late 90s in the old AOL chatrooms.
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Yes, I remember those well. Remember the high cost of being on AOL. I remember one bill was like 300 bucks, ahhhhhhh!! Did the trolls you came across resemble the wiki definition AC? denise
 
DoItMyself said:
It depends-sometimes it's used correctly and other times it's not.

If someone posts something that is intentionally meant to jab at someone, then it's considered trolling (posting strictly to get an inflamed response from someone). However a simple difference of opinion is not trolling. Sometimes the difference can be fuzzy, other times it's clear.
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I see it this way as well DoIt, determining whether or not we have a virus, or it's just a temporary "reboot" and it's fixed is not always easy;) denise
 
Omygosh, this really was good, and this was so good for me to read, and hope it helps someone else if/when they come in contact with a Troll;)

Do not "feed" the trolls. We encourage community members to report abuse by trolls. But we also ask that you not engage with trolls in the comment threads. Reacting to their provocations is exactly what they want. If we see you feeding a troll, we will remove both the troll's comments and your responses.
 
My first experience of a forum involved younger women and occasionally someone would come online with a story of great tragedy in their lives, asking for advice, but for every sympathetic response the situation would develop more drama. The poster seemed to enjoy being the centre of attention and eventually someone would call "troll" because of past experiences. That was the first time I had heard the term.
 
I would say she wasn't a troll, at least not buy the Wiki definition. I know some folks have no one to talk to, so when they find "listeners" they just burst out with it all. Then we have to know how to help them, not enable them, like "ah quit your blubberin, and go blow your shnoz" right?:playful:
 
The young women were nowhere near as gentle as we older folk. They were also much more bawdy.
I learnt a lot but had trouble bringing my eyebrows down out of my hairline. :lofl:
 
I hear'ya Davey! I think dynamite works really well, on the fish, not the Trolls, LOL!
 

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