What exactly is a troll?

[Kairosgrammy]

Either that or trying to sell us something we don't need or want.

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?

[jonnybee]

A troll is a poster who knows what a troll is but asks "what exactly is a troll?", lol

[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

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

None of them. The troll is usually either the OP or the person who leaps in and hijacks the thread. In this case, the OP (from 2007) piped up with an Andy Rooneyesque thesis statement that, given the readership, begged for a comeback. Sort of like Guy Fawkes lobbing a grenade at Parliament. And here we are 5 years later, still talking about it, or what specifically is trollish about the OP. So I say that is one helluva troll.

[jnk]

. . . the person who leaps in and hijacks the thread. . . .

Hello, everyone.

My name is Jeff.

And I am a troll.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=74405&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... 60#p683168

[Slartybartfast]

Jeff,

A troll is not always a bad creature. Sometimes one hijacks a boring or moribund thread, or resurrects one as is the case with the thread I cited, and breathes new life into it. So rather than skulking under your bridge, celebrate your trollishness. But make sure you use your super-powers for good, not evil.

[chunkyfrog]

Hello, Jeff.
How long has it been since you posted?

[jnk]

Hello, Jeff.
How long has it been since you posted?

I haven't trolled in two hours, thirty-seven minutes, and counting.

I think I need a sponsor.

Real bad and quick.

Before I post something I'm gonna regret in the S9 repair thread . . .

[Mr Bill]

I once had a college room mate who would not stoop to trolling on-line. But if a salesman called, the gloves were off. He would try to waste as much of the salesman's time as possible. That was his entertainment.

[rocklin]

Hello, everyone.

My name is Jeff.

And I am a troll.

Hello, Jeff.
How long has it been since you posted?

I haven't trolled in two hours, thirty-seven minutes, and counting.

[SleepingUgly]

I'm becoming against the whole don't-feed-the-troll philosophy after someone said that on another thread where I felt strongly was started by someone in trouble. How do we ever know for sure if it's a "troll"? And will we ever even agree on what posts deserve attention and which don't? No, we won't. Even if some/many of us did agree, someone won't and will respond. This is part of why even two parents with one child can't very easily succeed with an intervention of "planned ignoring" of an undesirable behavior, because sometime, someone, somewhere will give attention to a behavior, and the behavior will continue. It's a ridiculous, futile, and presumptuous request. Personally, I'm going to feed the "trolls" if I see fit. (So there.)

[idamtnboy]

I'm becoming against the whole don't-feed-the-troll philosophy after someone said that on another thread where I felt strongly was started by someone in trouble. How do we ever know for sure if it's a "troll"? And will we ever even agree on what posts deserve attention and which don't? No, we won't. Even if some/many of us did agree, someone won't and will respond. This is part of why even two parents with one child can't very easily succeed with an intervention of "planned ignoring" of an undesirable behavior, because sometime, someone, somewhere will give attention to a behavior, and the behavior will continue. It's a ridiculous, futile, and presumptuous request. Personally, I'm going to feed the "trolls" if I see fit. (So there.)

Right on, SU!

[rested gal]

Most of the time, people I've seen called "trolls" on here were not trolls at all - imho. They were simply people who had an opinion (often strongly and/or repeatedly expressed) that was different from that of the majority of active posters. They also often were people who had suddenly appeared on the board.

Having a strong differing opinion, and sudden appearance (hey, everyone has to start "sometime") does not, in and of itself, a "troll" make. Not in my book, anyway.

Then there are the few highly skilled ones like Jeff (jnk) who slyly craft beautifully written, wonderfully reasoned posts...hundreds of them...and who help so many people. Becoming so familiar. Putting everyone at ease.

Glad to see he finally admitted what no one (except himself) suspected. LOL!!

[deltadave]

When I hear "troll", I always first think of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff".

Back in the days of parchment, before all this electronic stuff, there used to be "books". These "book things" had "stories" or "fables" in them...

Anyway...

...in the fable, BA Gruff basically grabs The Troll and rips his MF face off.

I liked that story.

[jnk]

. . . before all this electronic stuff, there used to be "books". . . .

Uncle Dave is old.

[Gazhacks]

They say that some trolls look like this



and some would say that anyone can pretend to be anyone, like this



but for me most trolls are people from the darkside who are usually loners who cant find anyone low enough on the dating ladder and usually get up to no good and stick their beaks where they arnt suppose to. They usually end up like this