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What is Your Definition of Trolling?

Last posted Dec 30, 2014 at 01:53AM EST. Added Dec 01, 2014 at 09:57PM EST
4 posts from 4 users

I've noticed that trolling takes many forms in people's eyes. Some define it as simply being an asshole because you can and it is fun. Others define it as inciting a humorous reaction at the expense of someone else. I personally see trolling as the latter, albeit in a way that both parties find funny. But as we can see, trolling is not exactly very concrete. On every social media site, one user's definition of trolling could lead to heaps of angry responses. Others could lead to constant upvotes and site popularity. It seems that everyone's idea of trolling is very different. To some, trolling is sarcastic misleading. To others it can be pure blatant sarcasm. The definition outright seems impossible to really understand, and as we've seen from Riff-Raff threads, many users use their definition of trolling in places they know it will be welcomed, while others may bash it, not really understanding the view of the poster. So I ask all of you: Do you think there is a catch-all term for trolling? Is it merely subjective and thus only seen as something that must be limited to those with similar standards? How do you define it? And when does trolling "cross the line" or become cringeworthy?

This is the noble concept:
The art of deliberately, cleverly, and secretly pissing people off, usually via the internet, using dialogue. Trolling does not mean just making rude remarks.

…Other than that is just being a prick or trying too hard.

There are two predominant definitions in my observations

1. Troll (Internet dickwad)
A more original definition. First used to describe people being generally miserable, fun-less downers that shit all over other people. A person who says stupid annoying shit that pisses off others and acts like a total tool because they really are that stupid/miserable/awful

2. Troll (Prankster)
A newer definition stemmed from the original. Someone that deliberately acts as above, but more as a joke. Someone who says or inflicts upsetting things just to elicit reaction and generate laughs at those who fall for it

I feel both are correct in the right context

verb

(angling)
-to draw (a baited line, etc) through the water, often from a boat
-to fish (a stretch of water) by trolling
-to fish (for) by trolling
-to roll or cause to roll
-(archaic) to sing (a refrain, chorus, etc) or (of a refrain, etc) to be sung in a loud hearty voice
-(intransitive) (British, informal) to walk or stroll
-(intransitive) (homosexual slang) to stroll around looking for sexual partners; cruise
-(intransitive) (computing, slang) to post deliberately inflammatory articles on an internet discussion board

noun

-the act or an instance of trolling
-(angling) a bait or lure used in trolling, such as a spinner
-(computing, slang) a person who submits deliberately inflammatory articles to an internet discussion

Skeletor-sm

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