What is trolling?

[dfcrackhead]

I see trolling as trying to piss someone off "for the lulz"...

A good show of trolling: http://i.imgur.com/1F1Ya.jpg

 

[bdcjacko]

all the above are good answers

this is a troll

Looks more like a goblin.

no, goblins eat children. He just fucks up their objectives, like a troll.

Trolls have been known to eat children, and I'm unfamiliar with the folklore that says Goblins eat children.

 

[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.

Hang on, did you mean another of my posts or the OP's example?

Sorry, the OP's. I probably should have been clearer.

 

[zehydra]

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.

I disagree. Trolling CAN involve malice, but it doesn't have to at all.

 

[StriderShinryu]

Some of the posts here make mention of "being honest" or believing what you post to be true, but I would personally say that it doesn't matter. It's all about context.

Let's say we have a thread where a poster says they are deciding whether to buy a PS3 or a 360. They specifically state that they have no interest in buying a gaming PC. A conversation ensues where various users debate PS3 VS 360. MrX then comes along and posts about how PC gaming is superior and the OP should just buy a PC for gaming. In this example, I would say that MrX is trolling because, even if he believes what he says to be true, he's posting in a thread that has nothing to do with what the OP is posting about and it's simply meant to provoke responses.

 

[zehydra]

I see trolling as trying to piss someone off "for the lulz"...

A good show of trolling: http://i.imgur.com/1F1Ya.jpg

this is trolling in a nutshell.
It's really nothing more than this.

 

[Morgan Mars]

You can find out all you need about trooling at 20B.com

 

[Cutter9792]

Trolling is simply trying to elicit a reaction from someone else by being WRONG.

For instance, in this thread I could have given you the advice to go to a shock website.

 

[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.

I disagree. Trolling CAN involve malice, but it doesn't have to at all.

Well then I motion that we have separate terms for trolling with malice and without malice.

 

[DanDeFool]

You know what I thought of when I saw this thread?

WHAT IS TROLL!
Baby don't troll me...
Don't troll me...
No more..

<youtube=ECIgucKibps>

 

[ThatJagoGuy]

I see trolling as trying to piss someone off "for the lulz"...

A good show of trolling: http://i.imgur.com/1F1Ya.jpg

So if the victim in that scenario is actually lying (seems suspicious that he's posting from a separate computer to the one he bricked), is he trolling the others?

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.

So is flamebaiting a form of trolling?

I have a horrible feeling that the problem of definition is why there aren't any decent research papers about this subject...!

 

[Gottesstrafe]

Do your own damn research if it's for something important. Here, I'll get you started:

http://ohinternet.com/Troll

http://encyclopediadramatica.ch/Troll

 

[YesIPlayTheBagpipes]

rookie mistake

 

[hecticpicnic]

In my opinion trolling can be subtle and unsubtle comment as long as its dishonest and is hoping for a negative repose so it can start and argument.Flame is different but you can do both at one flaming is trying to upset some body e.g. if i went on to a Justin Bieber video and said something like "studies show if you were sexually abused by a priest as a child your are 60% more likely to enjoy Justin Bieber" i would be trolling if i went on to the same page in a parallel universe and said "This sucks!!" and didn't intend on being conversational i wouldn't be trolling just flaming.Also just wanting to be conversational/arguemental and flaming can be about what you believe.

 

[Moora]

The idea of trolling is to provoke responses from others. You'd normally just call it provocation or taunting, but the internet and it's anonymity allows for much more elaborate acts of trolling. I'm sure it's mostly because you're safe from someone reaching out and punching you in the face.

 

[Sir Thomas Sean Connery]

Trolling is what many people on a certain gaming website scream when someone says something with the slightest bit of emotion.

Or, it's every comment on every youtube video ever.

Take your pick.

 

[zehydra]

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.

I disagree. Trolling CAN involve malice, but it doesn't have to at all.

Well then I motion that we have separate terms for trolling with malice and without malice.

I concur. henceforth Trolling involving malice shall be known as "Vamfling", or to "vamfle" somebody.

The difficult part will be to get people to agree to use it.

 

[Chase Yojimbo]

Go to Chat Roulette and find out for yourself OP