I've seen the word "troll" misused countless times during my year on Gather. "Troll" is, in internet years, a very old word with a specific meaning. As a public service I provide the definition below.
The term "troll" dates back to the dawn of USENET and internet mailing lists. A troll is someone who makes unsupported assertions often accompanied by name calling for the purpose of starting a flame war. Trolls may argue their point but will avoid facts and logic. They use the ad hominem argument and/or change the subject to fit the insult they have in mind.
There are two generally accepted versions of the etymology of "troll." One is the Three Billy Goats Conjecture, trolls trolls pop up from under bridges to ambush people. The other is the Commercial Fisherman Hypothesis, trolls troll the internet waters looking for people who will argue irrationally with them.
Trolling for Suckers Lying in Wait
Trolls are always rude. Rudeness is a necessary but not sufficient quality. Honest criticism can be rude too. The mark of the troll is irrational hostility completely devoid of reasoning or examples.
If someone says "This game is not stimulating. Coming up with things that begin with the letter 'S' is way too easy." or "This game is designed for beings with the intelligence of slime molds. Who can say seriously that naming things found in a kitchen demands any intelligence or creativity?" that's not trollish behavior. The first is reasonable criticism. The second is rude criticism. A troll would say something like "This game sucks and your brother is a communist homo." Note the difference. The troll offers an opinion but doesn't bother to develop the premise. Instead he/she moves immediately to a personal insult.
A continued exchange of personal insults is called a "flame war." Trolls frequently cause them. I've seen awe inspiring flame wars on USENET and mailing lists.
Let's get our terms straight. How can we have Gather wars that conform to the universally recognized internet forum rules of engagement otherwise?
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 49
and besides, isn't that a troll on my head?
Internet troll may not be in a regular dictionary. I agree. Referring to people who disagree with you as trolls is a way to avoid the issue through name calling. We probably need a name for malicious flaggers. I know "flaggit" has been proposed. I think the db 1 is perfectly OK. Nobody should be able to control how others rate their content.
But if you leave a one on an image or article at least have the decency to say "I am leaving you a one because your image is blurry or out of focus" don't down rate people just because you think you are smarter than them, its arrogant and rude.
Actually, the complete phrase is "flaming flaggit", to indicate that the intent of the misplaced flag is to instigate a flame war. (I speak with authority here, since as far as I can determine, I coined the term and that's what I meant it to mean).
Ignorant enough, either. Have you noticed trolls can't form coherent sentences, can't spell or punctuate, and can't even get their trollish "thoughts" across? It must be that every troll was once a Child Left Behind.
The reason I go there in the first place is to express my opinion of the members contribution. That is the purpose of the comment section. Write a comment about a member's content or in response to comments others have made.
Matt
In such cases, dictionary contributors ADAPT the definitions to fit the manner in which the culture has slaughtered the word, much (I am sure to the disgust of Elizabeth Windsor, and the entire House of Windsor).
start submitting your work to Bay Area papers; you are really quite good, almost as good as Herb Caen, and that's NOT a pile of crap.
I'm relieved to see that your definition does not include people who seek shelter where they can in lieu of a traditional home. I prefer to think of them as "human". Ironically, many of the under-the-bridge dwellers that I have spoken to are friendlier and a far sight more intelligent than the name-callers.
As a USENET participant (still!) I am well aware of what a troll is. Unfortunately, this definition is probably lost on many of the people here who like to toss it around for any behavior they don't like. Ironically, those who write articles about "trolls" are in fact the ones exhibiting trollish behavior.
"Internet troll may not be in a regular dictionary.
But it is in The Jargon File.
I think I've lost the ability to spell.
Really, it is too sad that the herd isn't thinner.
But there are bigger problems here. Some people believe that any comment on their stuff that is not "you are awesome" or "this is great" constitutes harassment, and if more than one person makes a critical comment, they are all the same person.
Put that thing away before it comments on something!