There's a term in fishing called trolling in which you draw bait through the water in the hopes that a fish will bite. I've always assuming the term trolling was based on that since a troll will make outrageous comments in the hopes of getting someone to take the bait and get drawn into a flurry of name calling. I don't see a connection between the act of trolling and a mythical fairytale creature except in the name.

I don't really agree with the definition of a troll in that article. Posting insults on an RIP page on facebook is true trolling as the point can only be to see if someone will take the bait and get into it but any opposing view is seen as trolling these days. If you accompany the view with antagonistic and insulting language it qualifies i suppose but simply calling yourself a troll doesn't make you one.

I'm sure most people that engage in "troll" behaviour are normal well adjusted people in the real world that take to the web to vent anonymously their true feelings. There are a lot of touchy subjects (gay rights, racism, piracy, the environment) that you can not go against public opinion safely unless you're anonymous because to speak your mind labels you a troll. But we all have our own opinions on these things and the web seems to be the only place we can express them. I don't think that's being a troll unless, like some, you accompany it with a generous helping of insults and verbal abuse.

Agreed, I don't think that any particular opinion will make someone a troll, it's how the opinion is expressed.
A controversial opinion doesn't make you troll, expressing any opinion rudely or disrespectfully does.

I was expecting a fair bit of humor in that article so I'm a little disappointed I read it all.

I don't agree that 'trolls' have psychological issues.  Maybe some do but probably some non-trolls have them too.  From what I've observed on the net, trolls are labelled as such from a majority with a differing opinion to theirs.  They didn't begin as trolls.  What makes a 'troll' a troll, IMO, is a few traits they all share such as stubbornness to leave, eagerness to put their point across and the most important one, too much time on their hands.

Take 'dribble' for instance.  He probably came in here at some point and shared his views about us all being 'morons' and that 'we all deserved this'.  He probably came in here saying the same thing in a much more respectable way.  Most people probably didn't agree with him, a few ignored him but due to his stubborn nature, he couldn't let it go and at some point, emotions flared and he got himself banned.  Most people would get over it and either do two things:  1. come back anonymously keep it respectful and keeping a low profile or 2. leave the site and do something constructive.  However the 'troll', with too much time on his hands and his stubborn nature, comes back firing up worse than before and on top of voicing his opinion, he tries to mock anyone with a different opinion.  This time emotions don't even need to flare up before the name-calling starts.  He'll start the name-calling to invoke emotion.  What's the worse that can happen to him?  He'll get banned and come back to repeat the cycle.  At this point he knows and defines himself (to himself) as a troll.

They don't bother me just like three year olds who throw a tantrum don't bother me.

Quote from: digitalexpression on June 03, 2012, 08:56

........I'm sure most people that engage in "troll" behaviour are normal well adjusted people in the real world that take to the web to vent anonymously their true feelings........

I'm not too sure about this, in my experience most trolls have pretty serious psychological issues. Usually big persecution complexes/ superiority issues.

"everyone disagrees with me because I am so much smarter", "everyone else is a sheep", "I'm the only one that can see what is going on" etc. etc.

Quoting anyone in particular, with a big ego, that trolls through here every day, seeing if anyone will take the bait? Messages like, if they would remove the trash, my images would sell better? That person? 

There's a term in fishing called trolling in which you draw bait through the water in the hopes that a fish will bite. I've always assuming the term trolling was based on that since a troll will make outrageous comments in the hopes of getting someone to take the bait and get drawn into a flurry of name calling. I don't see a connection between the act of trolling and a mythical fairytale creature except in the name.

You are correct, it's pre-internet Usenet and Fidonet speak. People just coming to a forum or writing to incite and "bait" others. So someone who probably wasn't born when the term was coined is going to explain it to us? Just keep in mind that you can find an answer for anything, any question, on the Internet. Sometimes even the truth and facts. 

Trolling is something that insecure, shallow, self centered people will do anything to disrupt a conversation, family gathering or forum, just because they want attention. It has nothing to do with the question, conversation or interestingly enough, nothing to do with what someone might answer. They don't care about the answers, they just want to attack and disrupt, cause chaos and this empowers them because they feel like they have control.

Want to know what blows their mind and makes them unravel? Ignore them and don't take the bait. It's so simple, ignore and don't answer. They fry like spit on a hot griddle.

That's what trolling is all about.

New UK rules for website owners regarding troll identification:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18404621