Monday, January 19, 2009

Don't Feed The Trolls

The evolution of the Internet troll was a slow process which began as computer users started to more widely adopt the Internet. At first, the term referred merely to someone who was “trolling” for a response or opinion, in the same way that fishing boats cast out large nets to troll for a catch. Over time, trolls grew more aggressive, and the term began to be used specifically to refer to someone irritating or hurtful. In this sense, a troll could be compared to the nasty creatures of Scandinavian mythology which are also known as trolls.

There are a number of different types of trolls. In the most classic case, a troll harasses an Internet community for a few weeks, posting contradictory opinions or statements on bulletin boards in an attempt to stimulate a response. Internet trolls are differentiated from people who genuinely wish to present a different viewpoint by their attitudes and aggressiveness; their goal is not to discuss a situation, but to frustrate the members of a discussion board. They often use fallacious arguments or attack the users of a site when they attempt to defend themselves from the troll's activities.

16 comments:

Blue said...

I think in this case our troll posts something under his pseudonym & then a few minutes later rebuts himself as "anonymous" trying really hard to get use spun up.

Best recourse - Ignore him.
Don't ever respond to his posts, nothing.
When he does not get the attention he craves, he'll go away.

Anonymous said...

EAT ME!

nebber fergit.............

Anonymous said...

I always liked Irwin

Anonymous said...

http://www.broomhilda.com/irwintroll.htm

or

click my name

Anonymous said...

He can save us!
He Can save us!!
He is here........

Jimbo said...

You left out the most defining (lowest) common denominator of trolls; they’re dweeby little dipwads who were most likely shunned in middle school and never had dates.

That and they have a hard time forming complete thoughts. As a result, between insults, they cut and paste other's stuff they've read elsewhere in a lame attempt at intelligence.

Trolls are the electronic equivalent of 'home invaders' (no better than spam) and about as useful as a cat turd in the kid's sandbox.

Anonymous said...

Or perhaps troll refers to someone whose ideas are backed by facts you can't refute.

If you want an echo chamber of total consensus, why have a blog? I'm sure your personal lives are full of people with the same misguided opinions based on ignorance as you do.

Anonymous said...

HLF said...
Or perhaps troll refers to someone whose ideas are backed by facts you can't refute.

Smarter than a 5th Grader said...
"That's why they [Republicans] can't hold on to power for very long." Troll

1861-2008
Democrat presidents = 72 years
Republican presidents = 81 years

1952-2008
Democrat presidents = 20 years
Republican presidents = 36 years

Schteveo said...

Point, BLUE!!!

Look at this dumbass, excuse me DMX, did exactly what you said man.

Anonymous said...

Who's Chuck?

Chuck said...

Chuck-

Born on January 5, 1939, Bronx, NY

Moved to San Jose, Calif. in 1948 with my father

Third generation American, grand-parents from Palermo, Sicily

Went all the way to the 10th grade in school

Not always on the right side of the law

Schteveo said...

Feed the trolls to the starving polar bears.

Spider said...

Chuck is a Sicilian from The Bronx? This Sicilian from Brooklyn likes Chuck!!

Chuck said...

Hey Spider

You're a Sicilian too? You're a good fella.

Anonymous said...

My family's from Catania. And in Bklyn, we're all good fellas!

Chuck said...

Let me know if you ever get out west. Ill take you to a restaurant in San jose thatll make you think you were back in Palermo- Original Joes.