Trolling

Page 2 of 4 [ 49 posts ] Go to page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4 Next

Joined: 15 Mar 2011
Age: 32
Gender: Female
Posts: 9,768
Location: Cannot be determined due to excessive knowledge of momentum

03 Mar 2012, 12:44 pm

Trolling is a friendly practical joke turned malicious.

_________________
If it doesn't make sense, it's probably a Team Fortress 2 reference.
http://failofcompleteepicness.blogspot.com/
http://self-fulfilling-destiny.tumblr.com/

smudge
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 6 Sep 2006
Age: 38
Gender: Female
Posts: 7,716
Location: Moved on

03 Mar 2012, 12:52 pm

Bun wrote:

I think that not all people who are called Trolls come into places with the intention of Trolling. I think it may be in the eye of the perceiver. Two instances where I supposedly 'trolled' an internet space:

1. I was involved in a discussion after a post I made, and told a commenter I agree with her, even though what she said was not in complete agreement to my original post. To me it's common courtesy, to think about other people's feelings and thoughts if I raise an argument. She also didn't believe me I could have considered the point she made prior to writing my post, and that I can include more than one POV when I discuss something. I also used to use smilies until then, to show I'm making a light-hearted discussion, but I got told by posters that smilies are 'passive aggressive' - whatever that means, because it means nothing to me.

2. On WP, I raised a question to a mother of an autistic kid, who said she's awaiting assessment for herself and another child regarding autism - I asked if she often suspects autism. Since then she backtracked/edited a lot of her posts, and also called me a troll via PM.

I think I was once accused of being a troll on here. It was when I was talking about my naive friend who got herself into situations, and I wanted to help her and I was accused of trying to control her life and that I was selfish and wanted her for myself, and all that BS. Interestingly when I said that I was a woman, people stepped back, except for one who decided to carry on defending his argument. Some people are so pathetic.

It sounds like you touched a nerve, Bun. Generally people on the internet have a stronger reflex to attack others.

MrXxx
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 11 May 2010
Age: 65
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,760
Location: New England

03 Mar 2012, 1:32 pm

Suspie wrote:

I am new to this site but I have pin pointed one guy as a troll so basically when I see his posts I just skip to the next one. I am very curious if he will have the balls to come and troll this thread! lol.

At least you've got the right approach when you do suspect it. Be careful though. With this place full of Aspies, it's not unusual for accusations of trolling to become more of a problem than actual trolling. It's not that hard to misidentify it here.

_________________
I'm not likely to be around much longer. As before when I first signed up here years ago, I'm finding that after a long hiatus, and after only a few days back on here, I'm spending way too much time here again already. So I'm requesting my account be locked, banned or whatever. It's just time. Until then, well, I dunno...

Henbane
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 4 Apr 2011
Gender: Female
Posts: 6,071
Location: UK

03 Mar 2012, 2:03 pm

I generally find it very difficult to identify a troll, and really I'd rather not know if someone is trolling/flame baiting with some sort of malicious intent. Most trolls on WP can be dealt with through logically answering their questions or with reasoned debate, and I have seen this occur since I've been a member.

I'm still really quite clueless about many aspects of online life, I only really started engaging with the internet in any sort of depth a year or so ago. And concepts such as trolling are quite strange to me still, which is why I asked this question. I'm not out to bash trolls in any sense, just gain understanding.

Is it just yobbish behaviour, or is there an ethical framework behind it? Is it the work of dysfunctional youth, or are there people who troll with maturity and reason?

Tequila
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 25 Feb 2006
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Posts: 28,897
Location: Lancashire, UK

03 Mar 2012, 2:05 pm

It's all about being able to wind people up without getting yer head stoved in.

Dillogic
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 24 Nov 2011
Gender: Male
Posts: 9,339

03 Mar 2012, 2:20 pm

It's a mild form of sadism that's usually without repercussions, which is why people do it [anonymously]. Sadists know that when you do it around others that know you [to some extent], they perceive you in a negative light and your standing is lessened. It's usually why sadists in person only do it around those like themselves and/or they hide it quite well.

(It's different to the 'net tough guy, 'net bully, and 'net inferiority complexes.)

Mummy_of_Peanut
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 20 Feb 2011
Age: 53
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,564
Location: Bonnie Scotland

03 Mar 2012, 3:10 pm

Suspie wrote:

My best advice would be to tell a mod of your suspicions. Maybe we're suspicious too (I have a few in mind), but have missed the tell-tale posts. Don't get into any arguments or accusations in any threads, tempting as it might be. :wink:

_________________
"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiatic about." Charles Kingsley

Alexender
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 2 Jan 2012
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,194
Location: wrongplanet

03 Mar 2012, 3:22 pm

I have been called a troll twice by the same person, unjustly. Calling someone a troll can also just be another insult.

On certain sites (thinking of gamefaqs not WP as much) trolls can be really funny. On gamefaqs if someone is acting really out there about what they are saying it can be funny. But then there will also be the people who just try to annoy others.

_________________
www.wrongplanet.net

Sylkat
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 2 Sep 2011
Gender: Female
Posts: 17,425

03 Mar 2012, 3:27 pm

Way off-topic, but...
Dear MummyofPeanut, I adore your new avatar! Is it a baby dragon? Is he in a box and trying to get out?

Sylkat

Last edited by Sylkat on 03 Mar 2012, 5:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Mummy_of_Peanut
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 20 Feb 2011
Age: 53
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,564
Location: Bonnie Scotland

03 Mar 2012, 3:36 pm

Sylkat wrote:

Way off-topic, but...
Dear MummyofPeanut, I adore your new avatar! Is it a baby dragon? Is he in a box and trying to get zout?

Sylkat

It's Idris, the dragon, from 'Ivor the Engine', a magical TV programme from my early childhood. He lives in Ivor's boiler, so he's peeking out of there. Take a look on Youtube. It's really special.

_________________
"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiatic about." Charles Kingsley

Suspie
Velociraptor

Joined: 6 Feb 2012
Age: 54
Gender: Female
Posts: 478
Location: Kent, UK

03 Mar 2012, 4:52 pm

Sylkat wrote:

Dear Suspie, Welcome to WP!
And, you sound pretty correct about trolls.

Sylkat

thank you, nice to be here!! :-)

Burzum
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 26 Apr 2011
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,205

03 Mar 2012, 6:07 pm

Henbane wrote:

Most trolls on WP can be dealt with through logically answering their questions or with reasoned debate, and I have seen this occur since I've been a member.

If you can deal with a troll through reasoned debate then they are not a troll, or at least not a good troll.

Henbane wrote:

I'm still really quite clueless about many aspects of online life, I only really started engaging with the internet in any sort of depth a year or so ago. And concepts such as trolling are quite strange to me still, which is why I asked this question. I'm not out to bash trolls in any sense, just gain understanding.

Trolling isn't restricted to the internet. In fact you can witness children engaging in primitive forms of trolling. You know when a kid will copy everything another kid says just to get a rise out of them? That's essentially trolling.

Bun
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 8 Jan 2012
Age: 42
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,356

03 Mar 2012, 6:22 pm

Burzum wrote:

Good point.

_________________
Double X and proud of it / male pronouns : he, him, his

hyperlexian
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 21 Jul 2010
Age: 54
Gender: Female
Posts: 22,023
Location: with bucephalus

03 Mar 2012, 6:52 pm

i consider trolling to be a form of bullying, especially since trollish posters will often support each other's posts and hang around the same threads together.

some prolific or long-term members have exhibited behaviour that could technically be considered trolling on here at one time or another. sometimes aspies are easy targets as they can't always tell when the joke is on them, and some less scrupulous members like to take advantage of that. i think it is entertaining for them. but some trollish posters reform into well-regarded members eventually.

occasionally someone will not even realise that their behaviour is trollish, and can't be made to understand why their posts are not acceptable on the site. in spite of the fact that they have innocent motives, their actions are equally damaging to other members.

EDIT: Henbane, identifying most non-obvious trolls is HARD, especially if the person who is trolling also has legitimate posts.

_________________
on a break, so if you need assistance please contact another moderator from this list:
viewtopic.php?t=391105

Nim
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 7 Sep 2008
Age: 42
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,510
Location: Away

03 Mar 2012, 7:57 pm

*feels like the student waving his hand around in the back of the class while the teacher ignores him*

Sylkat
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 2 Sep 2011
Gender: Female
Posts: 17,425

03 Mar 2012, 8:24 pm

Dear Nim, Why?

Sylkat

Page 2 of 4 [ 49 posts ] Go to page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4 Next

Jump to:

Trolling Post Reply New Topic

Trolling