Can we ALL check our own posts and see if WE are trolls?
I have noticed a lot of name calling in the forums. Troll seems to be popular. I am hoping that we all can look at some of our own posts and see if that describes our own selves. I see posts that I have made, and see that indeed, I have trolled. I just didn't realize it at the time. I do know that everyone has the right to comment on all threads. And even appreciate that you take the time to do so. But some of the posts are not intended to be helpfull in any way. Just saying.
I am sure there are many definitions for "troll". Anyone who posts only to argue or to try to slander someone else . I hope we all can state our views. We each have our own, you know. Some agree with us, some don't. But, if anyone has something to say, then I think they should say it. Hopefully their intentions will be good and we all reply with good intentions and not "bad mouthing" that poster. So, do you have any thoughts on this?
By these definitions, then one can be perceivedas a troll by merely posting a thought provoking thread. I have done many such threads; but my intent is not to inflame those opposed to my opinion. Rather, it is to have a discussion in an environment that is NOT a place where I would be preaching to the choir. (what's the fun in that?) But where I would have a chance to expose what I believe to be a weakness on the part of my opponent, and possibly change his mind, or win over some of the silent readers who may be less certain in their position(this I know I have accomplished). Often, sadly, it has resulted in many many insults, attempts to discredit and accusations. Even suggestions that I should be removed from this life.
That is just what I am talking about....we all have our own agendas. I am sure that mine isn't the same as yours or yours the same as some others. But, that don't make you wrong at all. Just means "different strokes for different folks" , so to speak.
I have been very guilty of maybe saying stuff to strongly. I should NOT expect everyone to agree with me, but I would hope that most do and the rest will at least try to understand, without getting upset about it.
Thanks for your post, by the way
troll 1. v.,n. {From the Usenet group alt.folklore.urban} To utter a posting on Usenet designed to attract predictable responses or flames; or, the post itself. Derives from the phrase trolling for newbies which in turn comes from mainstream trolling, a style of fishing in which one trails bait through a likely spot hoping for a bite. The well-constructed troll is a post that induces lots of newbies and flamers to make themselves look even more clueless than they already do, while subtly conveying to the more savvy and experienced that it is in fact a deliberate troll. If you don't fall for the joke, you get to be in on it. See also YHBT.
2. n. An individual who chronically trolls in sense 1; regularly posts specious arguments, flames or personal attacks to a newsgroup, discussion list, or in email for no other purpose than to annoy someone or disrupt a discussion. Trolls are recognizable by the fact that they have no real interest in learning about the topic at hand - they simply want to utter flame bait. Like the ugly creatures they are named after, they exhibit no redeeming characteristics, and as such, they are recognized as a lower form of life on the net, as in, Oh, ignore him, he's just a troll. Compare kook. 3. n. {Berkeley} Computer lab monitor. A popular campus job for CS students. Duties include helping newbies and ensuring that lab policies are followed. Probably so-called because it involves lurking in dark cavelike corners. Some people claim that the troll (sense 1) is properly a narrower category than flame bait, that a troll is categorized by containing some assertion that is wrong but not overtly controversial. See also Troll-O-Meter. The use of troll in any of these senses is a live metaphor that readily produces elaborations and combining forms. For example, one not infrequently sees the warning Do not feed the troll as part of a followup to troll postings.
Troll
Good post. That should cover the term "troll".....I didn't take the time or effort to look it up, but I am glad that you did. Thanks for posting.
The definition as found in the many copies of the jargon dictionary derives from a time when the Usenet was essentially the only discussion technology available. Newsgroups still exist, but in general they are NOT for the weak of heart or conviction. There are a handful of groups that are moderated (and that are in many cases about as active as TN's groups). As an example, two nudism-related NGs are alt.nudism.moderated and rec.nude. The first is a monitored, civil group. As of this moment it has 2301 threads, the latest being on July 29 by the moderator (BVR's Webmaster), saying that its future is iffy. The second is the "wild west" of nudist NGs, with no moderation or limits on what can be posted. At this moment, after all the spam and trolls have been mass-deleted, there are 9488 threads. A raw download of threads done a few minutes ago shows 194,500 threads. In short, alt.nudism.moderated is what TN would be with effective moderation. rec.nude is what TN's forum would be if there were no control at all. When someone complains about an occasional thread that gets heated, or nasty threads attacking individuals, and intones ominously about the imminent death of TN because the forum is not all sugar and spice and everything nice, the one need a lesson in the reality of the Internet. The complainer should be bloody elated that TN is as well-run as it is.
Do you have any idea on how tn ranks between those 2 sites? So, that means that bickering is good for the site?...ok...I suppose. I hope I didn't misunderstand your post. That really blew my mind, but then again, that just ain't hard to do. Especially at my age.
By these definitions, then one can be perceived as a troll by merely posting a thought provoking thread.
Correct !
In fact, it's quite possible to start a flame-bait thread, while attempting to be perceived as merely thought provoking.
Some things are not black and white, hence the subtlty of being in on the "joke."
ok i checked, re-checked and tripled checked........no i'm not a troll
Well, I can be, and can be quite good at it if I do say so meself !
Remember, trolling finds the fish by provoking some response.
That response is not necessarily a flame war.