Trolling

This is an introductory/supplementary entry to Trolling and related online behaviors.

Trolling mememath via Penny Arcade

About

A troll is someone who will state something only with the intention of stirring up controversy. Typically the statement is so absurd that only the most noobish of noobs will get offended and respond.

For example, one might purposefuly spel things wrong or use poor grammar, knowing that this will drive some people crazy, eliciting a response.

A more advanced troll might even spell things wrong in a post criticizing the spelling in someone else’s post, hoping to elicit an angry counter-reaction. Numerous forums and Usenet boards are dedicated to the fine art of what the NYTimes called “manipulating other people’s emotional equilibrium” [trying to remember for sure if they should get the credit]

Trolling can be considered a form of cyberbullying and in video game circles the practice is often called “griefing”.

Why Troll?

Successful trolling brings lulz — pleasure at the expense of others. By participating in flamewars with a troll they become your puppetmaster, manipulating your emotions for their own enjoyment.

Wikipedia has an overview of research behind the human motivation to troll & acquire lulz.

If you respond to a troll, you are said to be feeding the troll. You’ve got better things to do than feed trolls… so keep your coolface on.

Trolling By Promotional Vector

A common problem is determining if someone is sincerely crazy/idiotic/racist/etc. on purpose… or if they are trolling.

This controversy often fuels the popularity of the original content so it tends to go unmoderated. The true troll stirrs up controversy over something’s legitimacy in order to fuel this popularity as part of their original intention.

• Boxxy is widely considered an ‘accidental troll’, containing many features of a troll but w/o the purposefulness and true intent needed to make her an actual troll
• debate over the legitimacy of WoW Freakout/Account Crusher accuses OP of trolling

Numerous derivative memes have also sprung up around communicating to others to beware that a troll is present in a forum thread or conversation.

Trolling In The Wild

• Tom Green’s call-in talk show is often trolled
• The mythical Gold Membership Required
• Trollface/Coolface is a meme originating with a comic depicting ‘what trolls want you to believe’ vs. ‘what is actually happening’
• I’m 12 years old and what is this???
• Obviously incendiary subjects like 9/11

External Links

• Wikipedia: “‘What Is A Troll?’ essay”:
• Wikipedia: Troll
• How To Troll Effectively