What is trolling?

[ThatJagoGuy]

Hey people!

I'm writing a research proposal about online deviancy and am running into difficulty defining 'trolling'. While I thought I knew, it would seem that the term is actually somewhat subjective. Some people say it's the same as flaming, others say that it incites flaming... others just pass off any vulgar online communication as the act of a troll.

For example, on BBC News, they said a guy went to prison for trolling the memorial page of a child mauled to death by a dog, saying he performed sexual acts with the corpse. That doesn't fit my idea of trolling as it's far too overt and obvious. Am I wrong?

If you could spare the time to give me your definition of 'trolling', I'd be really appreciative.

Cheers!

 

[Phishfood]

Well, personally I would define it as any action performed purely to elicit a negative response from someone for your own amusement.

So in a forum like this one it could be "PIRACY IS GREAT!" or a real life example of my own - one my friends strongly objected to the spice girls so on a regular basis I would say, within his earshot, "Isn't this new spice girls song great?" not because I thought so, just because it was funny to see him rant about how crap they are. I'd say the BBC news story was trolling, just rather too far.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

Dictionary defintion states trolling as 'to send an e-mail with the intention of provoking an angry response'.

[link]http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0884300#m_en_gb0884300[/link]

But the definition is a little wider than that these days. Basically 'trolling' is 'being a dick'. Or 'being funny'. It depends on the situation and the sense of humour of others.

 

[Bags159]

Posting / doing / saying something that you know will make people angry for the sole purpose of making them angry. Generally involves trickery and dishonesty; you know/think what you're saying is wrong but you say it anyways.

The general internet populace seems to have confused jokes / sarcasm / disagreements as trolling. Like with Blizzard's April Fool jokes... every April the forums are filled with threads such as, "OH LAWD BLIZZARD IS TEH TROL US XD".

 

[TheRealCJ]

Apparently around here, trolling is defined as: "having a contrary opinion to someone else"

 

[bdcjacko]

I believe everyone on here is correct except it involves malice. I see a difference between just trickery and laugh and going out of your way to be a dickhole a pissing people off.

 

[bdcjacko]

Apparently around here, trolling is defined as: "having a contrary opinion to someone else"

If I was to disagree with you here, would that mean I just trolled you?

Though I agree, around here, trolling is meaningless term to sling at someone when you run out of arguments.

 

[TheRealCJ]

Apparently around here, trolling is defined as: "having a contrary opinion to someone else"

If I was to disagree with you here, would that mean I just trolled

Well, no, of course not.

But then again, you and I are in possession of fully functioning prefrontal cortexes. So it's hardly a fair question.

 

[bdcjacko]

Well, no, of course not.

But then again, you and I are in possession of fully functioning prefrontal cortexes. So it's hardly a fair question.

Well I have lysdexia, so me having a fully functional prefrontal cortex is entirely up to debate. Wait, did I just troll myself, now I am sad. :'(

 

[kane.malakos]

Trolling is where you say something deliberately inflammatory in the hopes of getting a response. It's basically deliberately making people angry for fun.

This is probably the best definition to go with. And as to your original post, that was definitely trolling. While a lot of trolling is fairly subtle, it can be blatant too, as long as it's just designed to provoke a response.

 

[TheRealCJ]

Well, no, of course not.

But then again, you and I are in possession of fully functioning prefrontal cortexes. So it's hardly a fair question.

Well I have lysdexia, so me having a fully functional prefrontal cortex is entirely up to debate. Wait, did I just troll myself, now I am sad. :'(

Yeah, probably should've quit while you were ahead. now you has a sad and I don't have a point.

 

[AVATAR_RAGE]

Hey people!

I'm writing a research proposal about online deviancy and am running into difficulty defining 'trolling'. While I thought I knew, it would seem that the term is actually somewhat subjective. Some people say it's the same as flaming, others say that it incites flaming... others just pass off any vulgar online communication as the act of a troll.

For example, on BBC News, they said a guy went to prison for trolling the memorial page of a child mauled to death by a dog, saying he performed sexual acts with the corpse. That doesn't fit my idea of trolling as it's far too overt and obvious. Am I wrong?

If you could spare the time to give me your definition of 'trolling', I'd be really appreciative.

Cheers!

To me trolling is being obscene, offensive or just down right rude in an online environment for the sake of it, or with little or no reason act in such a manor. Usually acting in a way they would not in a regular (real life) social environment.

Trolling is difficult to describe really because it spreads over such a wide area. Trolls can find anything to troll about really. I personally have been trolled at because of my poor spelling (I mean really nasty things have been said about it).

I hope this has helped.


(on a side note I started up a group to help prevent trolling and such in online games if you are interested check it out : http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Generation-Game-GG )

 

[bdcjacko]

all the above are good answers

this is a troll

Looks more like a goblin.

 

[retterkl]

I think the general theme here is more of 'baiting' people, which is a term that's gone out of fashion. Trolling really should mean simply providing an opinion which isn't an expression of your own though, rather one which causes controversy. It doesn't necessarily have to be directed at people.