What exactly is a troll?

[idamtnboy]

I thought a "troll" was anyone who said something we didn't want to hear. No?

Now you really are getting ugly!

[DreamDiver]

http://dictionary.die.net/troll - includes PST's definition from the Jargon file at the bottom.

In the Jargon File definition, the connotation appears to be that a few senior forum members are all 'in' on making fun of a newbie. To that extent, I suspect the more modern connotation seems to be a single external perpetrator plaguing all forum members, regardless of their degree of member noobness.

If a troll were anyone who said something we didn't want to hear, that would imply that forum members are closed-minded and incapable of changing an opinion. To me, most forum members come across as rational and capable of defending their opinions, but certainly glad to concede when better information is evident.

I think of a troll is someone who deliberately seeks to cause anarchy, strife-laden dissent and raw emotion either for pay or for some twisted pleasure by turning forum members against each other, eventually rendering a forum useless as potential new members see the strife and leave for more hospitable venues and the quorum of longer-abiding members dwindles past usefulness.

[RocketGirl]

When this latest trolling started, i was several times on the verge of pointing out the original definition. I remember those days too But times change.

In some of the habitats where current-day trolls hang out, there is a saying: "The trolling will continue until all the lolz have been had." In other words - until nobody ever rises to the bait. Unfortunately, that state won't happen until everyone, everywhere, is so net-savvy that there are no more internet or discussion group newbies.

I wonder when that will be? Maybe not as far off as it sometimes seems.

[Goofproof]

What I mean is what attracts them to this specific forum unless maybe it's sheer anger and frustration that most of us have secured the knowledge and been able to obtain successful therapy and they're still struggling to get a handle on it and refuse to ask for meaningful help. Something like that? I'm not comparing these trolls to those who have true mental illness but the effects of untreated OSA can make people do strange things. I'm just curious why they come here if they're not connected to OSA in some way?

Mostly the free food and water we give them. Sort of like Feeding Tribbles, feed one and all you get is more and lost grain. Jim

[6PtStar]

Don't feed the Trolls!!!!



Jerry

[-tim]

Occasionally I work on a hobby forum that has about 30,000 active users and is in the top 1000 forums world wide. Its admins get to deal with all sorts of mentally ill people. I'm talking about the types of people where the police come and take them away in a padded van type of crazy. Some of the crazy people are very good at trolling and I'm not sure what kind of mental grasp they have on their activities. It seems that some types of mental illness is related to some types of trolling.

For the people who still don't understand about trolling. Lets say your at a forum for cat owners so a trolls core object is annoy cat owners. The simplest troll will just post about how much better dogs are than cats to start a fight. More sophisticated trolls will start up a post about how their dog and cat don't get along but weave into the story that it's the cats fault. Other types will try to get arguments about how beagles aren't as good for hunting dogs as poodles. Others will try to get things political by explaining how some political party is doing bad things for cats and turtles. There will be a different type of troll that will keep bring up pet rocks. Some trolls are simply irrational such as saying their cats only have two legs and the front ones are arms.

I have friends who run forums have had to deal with trolls showing up at their house and yelling at them but so far they have all been the irrational type which also seem harmless. Sometimes trolls just forgot to take their meds.

[LinkC]

Hey PST -- Doesn't ObamaCare cover TB? (Trollish Behavior syndrome)


You DID practically beg for it! Lol

[rocklin]

I thought a "troll" was anyone who said something we didn't want to hear.

Yes.

In effect, a troll is a mirror held up to each one of us.

A board defines itself by it's reaction (or non-reaction) to a troll.

.

[jnk]

This is a very public place. It is a lot like your average street here in NYC. People scream sometimes for no real reason. Horns honk from impatient people in cars. A few people give rude gestures now and then. If that is the unmoderated beat you walk, the trick is not to react to it but to keep looking for opportunities to help people along the way. And if the screaming and gestures and honking offer an opportunity to start a helpful conversation with someone else, use the street sounds as a conversation-starter without being angered by it, I say.

In my opinion, if someone trolling on this board is posting on matters even remotely related to OSA or CPAP, the trolling posts can still often present opportunities for others to post helpful information for any newbies who happen along to read the thread (if that opportunity can be taken by posters who have the ability to keep from being controlled by the trollish tones of the poster, that is). To my mind, that is more likely to make someone attempting to disrupt this place give up and move on, since it becomes obvious that this board is disruption-proof.

And I truly believe that this board cannot be disrupted when everyone continues to refuse to get angry and simply keeps posting helpful info and discussing matters of substance, whether in a thread started by a troll or in other threads.

[Vader]

This is a very public place. It is a lot like your average street here in NYC. People scream sometimes for no real reason. Horns honk from impatient people in cars. A few people give rude gestures now and then. If that is the unmoderated beat you walk, the trick is not to react to it but to keep looking for opportunities to help people along the way. And if the screaming and gestures and honking offer an opportunity to start a helpful conversation with someone else, use the street sounds as a conversation-starter without being angered by it, I say.

In my opinion, if someone trolling on this board is posting on matters even remotely related to OSA or CPAP, the trolling posts can still often present opportunities for others to post helpful information for any newbies who happen along to read the thread (if that opportunity can be taken by posters who have the ability to keep from being controlled by the trollish tones of the poster, that is). To my mind, that is more likely to make someone attempting to disrupt this place give up and move on, since it becomes obvious that this board is disruption-proof.

And I truly believe that this board cannot be disrupted when everyone continues to refuse to get angry and simply keeps posting helpful info and discussing matters of substance, whether in a thread started by a troll or in other threads.

as usual, a Great post, JNK!

[DreamDiver]

A little bit about current and past troll memes:
http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/trollface ... ce-problem

[chunkyfrog]

An apnea diagnosis may well be an emotional experience for some.
We have seen anger akin to that which many of us have ouselves experienced.
CPAP can be painless; and the changes that it brings us are not always the easiest to see.
(all right; a little riff on the M.A.S.H. theme--I couldn't help myself)

[Slartybartfast]

I am serious - I see that on here but not really sure what the definition of a troll is? Someone who just stirs up controversy?

Here's one in a current thread: viewtopic/t24269/Is-CPAP-a-scam-of-sort ... ml#p209896

[jnk]

I am serious - I see that on here but not really sure what the definition of a troll is? Someone who just stirs up controversy?

Here's one in a current thread: viewtopic/t24269/Is-CPAP-a-scam-of-sort ... ml#p209896

I'm confused. Which of the CURRENT posters in that thread is the "troll"?

The resurrector, Brad949, didn't like his Rx for what was likely a PLMD drug or his diagnosis of OSA and chose to use positional therapy, but I see nothing trollish in the statements, myself.

Or did you mean the old post by Roster and his "racket" joke?

The OP from '07 seemed sincere enough, although unclear as to whether the chin strap was used in conjunction with PAP or without it.

This isn't the only time I've been confused about why some label others as trolls. In fact, I have such a hard time picking out trolls that I sometimes conclude that I must be one myself!

[archangle]

I thought a "troll" was anyone who said something we didn't want to hear. No?

Isn't that the definition of "friend?"

A troll is someone who wanted to be a bully in grade school, but wasn't big or brave enough to pull it off.