What is Trolling?

[pdescobar]

Originally posted by Padma
I don't know whether to laugh or cry. "Making up jargon or slang words" We haven't made up a single word here that I am aware of. The definition of trolling that I posted was originally printed over 20 years ago!

I actually am torn between two reactions as well. This crossed my mind when this thread originally appeared and that last response triggered it again. I wonder if anyone else had similar thoughts, or if am I just that much more cynical than the average person. The two reactions are thus:

(1) Perhaps the poster is, in-fact, a well-meaning internet newbie who is both confused and bothered by this bit of Internet jargon. If so, Padma has done an exceptional job of trying to help.

However, there is another possibility,

(2) Perhaps this poster knows *exactly* what trolling is and this entire thread is an excellent demonstration of that knowledge.

No offense intended, of course

 

[Alcibiaties of Athenae]

The latter is more likely.

 

[anarres]

It smells distintly like a DL anyway, since this question was raised in a thread where there was borderline french-bashing ('frogslegs' ). Also, the user registered after the thread was started and has only been used to question 'trolling'.

I assumed this was the DL that Padma banned a few days ago, but I must be wrong...

 

[Padma]

Originally posted by anarres
It smells distintly like a DL anyway, since this question was raised in a thread where there was borderline french-bashing ('frogslegs' ). Also, the user registered after the thread was started and has only been used to question 'trolling'.

I admit I had that same thought - but a quick check against "likely suspects" didn't show any correlation.

I assumed this was the DL that Padma banned a few days ago, but I must be wrong...

Nope, wrong subforum. (And from that one's PMs and posts, I don't think he has the subtlety to pull off a highly polished troll. )