Trolls

[Earthbound Engineer]

I was thinking that, with the recent surge of newcomers on this site, the word "troll" has been thrown around very loosely. I will admit, I am one of the people who have found themselves doing this.

Let me give you an example: the other day I made a thread, and I called a guy a troll just for posting first on my thread. Now, albeit, he did make a comment about being the first post, but he was only trying to be funny. I felt horrible about doing this, because, it's not as if he was screaming "FIRST POST!!1", no, he was actually contributing to my thread.

I've seen other people do this as well. So, what exactly is your definition or context of the word "troll"? If there are any smart-asses reading this, I'll save you some time, "A troll is a member of a race of fearsome creatures from Norse mythology."

There, now what is your definition of the internet terminology of the word troll.

For me, It seems to be a lot of things.

A troll, to me, is someone who:

A) Posts first frequently on threads.

B) Has an obscenely high post count compared to how long they've been here.

C) Posts something that is unnecessary, just to provoke a flame war.

D) Posts something completely irrelevant. (I rarely see this on the Escapist)

E) Types with bad grammar and/or spelling, or types in Aim Talk, Leet, or any other foreign internet tongue.

F) Uses swearing, sexism, racism, or other types of explicit content very often, or unnecessarily.

G) Quotes somebody more than twice in a back-and-forth argument, suggesting that they are trolling.

[sub][sub]And, my favorite reason for calling someone a troll...[/sub][/sub]

H) USES CAPSLOCK!!!1

Now, after you start naming these off for yourself, you'll see that you, yourself, have done some of these things as well. Even you, yourself are a troll, by your own standards. Just remember that before you call someone else a troll. I know, I will.

*wink*

[small]User has been banned for this post (Permanent)[/small]

 

[JRCB]

Points A and B aren't really grounds for calling someone a troll. I mean, look at Furburt. Is he a troll? I wouldn't say so.

(sorry for using you as an example, Furburt)

 

[Radeonx]

Your first 2 points are false.
Posting first on most threads mean you are observant and check the threads a lot, and a high post count compared to your stay isn't that big a deal with user groups and other things of the sort.
In fact, now that I think about it, I disagree with most of your list.

 

[Jharry5]

I don't think that A or B automatically make someone a troll, to be honest. The rest of your definitions are what I'd use to define one (well, okay, not all of them but the majority).
Is the word troll thrown about a lot? Yes.
But I don't think its always justified...

 

[GreyWolf257]

I don't really agree with B. I mean, Furburt has an insanely high post count, yet he isn't a troll by any standards.

Oh, and I also don't agree with A.

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[YoUnG205]

I think that instead of all this you could have just said that a troll was some one who seeks attention by arguing with everyone and starting flame wars.

 

[dmase]

....wow and banned well sucks for that guy, but people get put on probation all the time for putting first even if they contribute. It just an annoying thing people try to weed out.

 

[Jaranja]

I agree on C and F.

Other than that, no.
Caps is good to use sometimes, if you really want to emphasis the word

Looks like we've reached another agreement Max.

[Audience Laughter]

 

[lasherman]

Yeah, seriously, why did this guy get banned for his post?

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

Not all these definitions are accurate. Some are.

Although, I do like your attempt at defining a troll. We could use fine people like yourself in the Order of the Troll Slayers.

 

[RyQ_TMC]

From your list, I would say only C and F count. Most of the others are annoying, but do not belong to the realm of trolls.

For me, a troll is generally a person who insults other users' gender/ethnicity/creed/whatever. Even if the rest of their post is well-constructed, insulting other participants in a discussion has no reason beyond trying to provoke a flame war.

Bonus troll-points if they came to a forum and set up an account only to be the first to fling some poo round.

EDIT:

Yeah, seriously, why did this guy get banned for his post?

I'll let you on a little secret: He didn't.

 

[ParadoxBG]

Ehh, a troll is like the internet equivalent of that person who barges in on your conversation without anything useful to add, interupting everyone with nonsensical pointlessness, and either feels like they're contributing (who's a big boy, joining a conversation with all the real boys? You are, yes YOU are) or thinks they're cool and rebellious for the interjection.

It's like little kids, who'll say anything because they know it gets a reaction, and will often say something that got a reaction before over and over again, hoping for more.

This is why you do not feed the trolls

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

....wow and banned well sucks for that guy, but people get put on probation all the time for putting first even if they contribute. It just an annoying thing people try to weed out.

He just put that at the bottom of his own post in red lettering for humor. It doesn't say "banned" under his profile picture.

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[Earthbound Engineer]

I agree on C and F.

Other than that, no.
Caps is good to use sometimes, if you really want to emphasis the word

That's what forum markup is for, so you don't have to use CAPSLOCK like the rest of the internet. You see, the way I look at it, every post that I write is made to look like a formal paper typed to be presented to a college professor. This maybe the reason for my obscenely low post count.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

A and B aren't trolling.
For B, look at me. I do it and everyone loves the Cap'n.
For A, Me, Hubilub and Furburt dedicate our lives to being both first and contributing to discussion.

You see, the way I look at it, every post that I write is made to look like a formal paper typed to be presented to a college professor. This maybe the reason for my obscenely low post count.

I see it more as though someone had recorded my part of a conversation and typed it up.

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[NeutralDrow]

I dunno. I thought a troll wa

If there are any smart-asses reading this, I'll save you some time, "A troll is a member of a race of fearsome creatures from Norse mythology."

...ass.

Anyway.

A) Posts first frequently on threads.

Unless they literally post "first!" they're not bugging anyone. Why would this be trolling?

B) Has an obscenely high post count compared to how long they've been here.

These always confuse me, but I don't assume trolling unless they try lording it about. Some people like to hang out in Forum Games, or just find a crapload of threads to post in.

C) Posts something that is unnecessary, just to provoke a flame war.

Textbook definition of troll.

D) Posts something completely irrelevant. (I rarely see this on the Escapist)

Eh, sometimes. Other times, it's just people make bad but harmless jokes.

E) Types with bad grammar and/or spelling, or types in Aim Talk, Leet, or any other foreign internet tongue.

Annoying, perhaps, but not necessarily trolls. Some people don't have English as a first language or just aren't good with grammar or spelling to begin with, and some people using the latter might just not be used to typing complete sentences on the internet.

Leet is probably a fairly reliable troll indication, though.

F) Uses swearing, sexism, racism, or other types of explicit content very often, or unnecessarily.

Either trolls or just plain asshats. Asshats aren't really trolls unless they're deliberately trying to be disruptive or invoke bad feelings.

G) Quotes somebody more than twice in a back-and-forth argument, suggesting that they are trolling.

Annoying, but not necessarily trolling. Depends on the context.

[sub][sub]And, my favorite reason for calling someone a troll...[/sub][/sub]

H) USES CAPSLOCK!!!1

 

[Sneaklemming]

I agree on C and F.

Other than that, no.
Caps is good to use sometimes, if you really want to emphasis the word

That's what forum markup is for, so you don't have to use CAPSLOCK like the rest of the internet. You see, the way I look at it, every post that I write is made to look like a formal paper typed to be presented to a college professor. This maybe the reason for my obscenely low post count.

CAPS is for when you are shouting.

And whats wrong with quoting back and forth? Have you been to the Politics and Religion forum?