I posted, in another thread, the phrase "do not feed the trolls." It became apparent that many people on this board are not familiar with the term, so I thought I'd include the following from The Subtle Art of Trolling:

What Is A Troll?

The WWW gives this as a definition:

troll v.,n. To utter a posting on Usenet designed to attract predictable responses or flames. 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.

The following extract is from a broader expansion of the defining comments given above:

In Usenet usage, a "troll" is not a grumpy monster that lives beneath a bridge accosting passers-by, but rather a provocative posting to a newsgroup intended to produce a large volume of frivolous responses. The content of a "troll" posting generally falls into several areas. It may consist of an apparently foolish contradiction of common knowledge, a deliberately offensive insult to the readers of a newsgroup, or a broad request for trivial follow-up postings.

There are three reasons why people troll newsgroups:

People post such messages to get attention, to disrupt newsgroups, and simply to make trouble.

This site points out why trolls are a big problem to a community like this one:

Some people -- particularly those who have been online for years -- are not upset by trolls and consider them an inevitable hazard of using the net. As the saying goes, "You can't have a picnic without ants."

It would be nice if everybody was so easy-going, but the sad fact is that trolls do discourage people. Established posters may leave a message board because of the arguments that trolls ignite, and lurkers (people who read but do not post) may decide that they do not want to expose themselves to abuse and thus never get involved.

Another problem is that the negative emotions stirred up by trolls leak over into other discussions. Normally affable people can become bitter after reading an angry interchange between a troll and his victims, and this can poison previously friendly interactions between long-time users.

Finally, trolls create a paranoid environment, such that a casual criticism by a new arrival can elicit a ferocious and inappropriate backlash.

The Internet is a wonderful resource which is breaking down barriers and stripping away prejudice. Trolls threaten our continued enjoyment of this beautiful forum for ideas.

What can be done about trolls?

When you suspect that somebody is a troll, you might try responding with a polite, mild message to see if it's just somebody in a bad mood. Internet users sometimes let their passions get away from them when seated safely behind their keyboard. If you ignore their bluster and respond in a pleasant manner, they usually calm down.

However, if the person persists in being beastly, and seems to enjoy being unpleasant, the only effective position is summed up as follows:

The only way to deal with trolls is to limit your reaction to reminding others not to respond to trolls.

When you try to reason with a troll, he wins. When you insult a troll, he wins. When you scream at a troll, he wins. The only thing that trolls can't handle is being ignored.

---

I did find something interesting on another site on the consequences of trolls which is my biggest fear here:

Trolls generate an intelligence drain - when a troll wreaks havoc in the group, all discussion will become less intelligent.
Self-explanatory. When the things get heated, people concentrate on flaming, and flaming is about mindless ranting and raving. Who cares about logic or intelligence.


[This message has been edited by MatthewClement (edited 12-03-2001).]

Thanks for that post. Sometimes we forget that some of our community are not only new to us, but also to this genre of community. Of course,hearing themselves described is likely to have little or no effect on the behavior of trolls themselves, but it is a nice refresher course to read again the only effective course of action: don't feed the trolls.

Said by one who frequently (and stupidly) believes that some calm and logical response will enlighten the troll

Thank you for that education. I do appreciate your taking the time to ask me about my demeanor, however, I must have missed your similar messages to VicOsaki and R&R, both of whom are long-time users of this board and who had posted the trash to which I responded to, as well as that of BooBooKitty, who has admitted that she was a long time lurker of this board.

Thank you very much for your knowledge, as well as your selective use of same.

[This message has been edited by DOC 2 BE (edited 12-03-2001).]

Doc2Be, the reason that I didn't send a message to VicOsaki, R&R, or BooBooKitty doesn't imply my support of their views. It implies that I choose my battles.

If, in the course of everyday life, someone says something I find offensive, it certainly changes my view of that person. But I don't make it my business to change anyone's views. Right or wrong, they're entitled to their views. I think less of them as people, and it influences whether I interact with that person again.

When I invite someone to dinner who spouts Nazi propaganda, I may choose to argue, or I may remain silent, deciding that nothing I say will ever change his views. It's a battle that's not worth fighting. But he'll never be invited back to dinner again.

In America, the right to hold bigoted views is constitutionally protected. People may think and say hateful, ugly things, but unless they act upon those emotions, they've broken no laws. It's part of living in a free society.

You will, I'm certain, make a good lawyer. You've got an eye for the letter of the law. Unfortunately, this is not the same as understanding the spirit of the law.

We're a community here, warts and all. Flyertalk is a wonderful resource and a place where I enjoy being. Right now, you're a little bit like that neo-Nazi at my dinner party. You've upset me, I've given up trying to change you, and I'm asking others here not to invite you back to the dinner party until you can behave with the other guests.

I stand by my advice in my very first post to you on this topic:

My advice here on "trolling" wasn't directed at you. I realise now that like the bigots I've discussed above, you'll continue to rant and rave regardless. It's a shame you're not a bigger man than that, but so be it.

My advice here was directed at the other readers here, urging restraint and hopefully allowing this whole pissing contest to come to its natural conclusion.

QED

------------------
Please visit The Mileage Runner's Toolkit and Unofficial United Airlines Guide

We had some very similar issues come up ( of course about religion ) on a professional newsgroup I belong to. Since it was NNTP we had the option of the "BOZO BIN" ( and before someone jumps all over that that is what it is called in Gravity newsreader). The only recourse here is to IGNORE the thread.

The post on 'trolling' was most helpful in understanding some of the posts! Thanks!

Interesting, that you again wish to identify me at the "troll" for I have only responded to what passes for a feeble attempt as an attack on my logic.

You on the other hand, appear to attack my motives. In another thread, you likened me to a Neo-Nazi -- Now, that certainly is use of a "Straw Man" if there ever was one --
but I don't expect you to abide by your or anyone else's rules.

For instance:



My statement concerning anti-Semitism was in direct contradiction to Randy's statement that the matter had been resolved and his statement that he had only had 1 complaint of same in this forum. My post was to serve notice that the matter was not at an end, and that this should serve to advise him of that fact.

My posts have been in responseto others posts who might fall within in that category, if they did not believe their own anti-Semitic drivel. I do not see them as having "trolled" for a reaction, so much as having uttered sentiments, nevertheless, if they were trolling, it is quite characteristic of you to complain about my response, and not the posts that had generated the furor in the first place.


The only attention that I had wished was for Randy to be on notice that all was not resolved by his intervention.

Now, this brings me to my final point. You have likened me to a "Neo-Nazi." Not only is that wrong, but it is morally repugnant for you to compare me to someone who holds the views that I have attempted to expose on these boards.

I will restate some of your citations, just so that you "get it":



and


You are correct, although I doubt that you would fully understand why. However, you might start by taking a long, hard look in the mirror.

Nevermind...

[This message has been edited by kanebear (edited 12-03-2001).]

Doc2Be, as I've asked before: please stop cross-posting.

I'm gonna go bake me some Troll House Cookies.

LOL!

Premex-- please send me complete detail & instructions on the baking process, I cant seem to find it in my version of 'The Joy of Cooking'... LOL

I still don't get it. When was d2b actually accused of being a troll by MC on this thread?

What am I missing here?

Or is it just a case of, say, a thief whose heart sinks every time someone around mentions the word "thief"...

Still curious as to what's actually going on.

BTW, the insistient and repetitive posting does remind me of a very infamous FTer who has now long gone.

Has anyone ever stayed at the Troll House hotel in Los Gatos?

That the one that's just off the Troll Road?