Hi there. I'm seeing a lot of misusage of the word troll recently, and on the internet in general it's thrown around as the insult-of-the-day. But does anyone really actually know what it means anymore? The definition is disputed by only the most sagely of internet scholars, which is a real thing that exists, and a consensus never seems to be reached. So I'm not actually here to describe it directly, lest someone disagrees.

What I am here to do is list what it is not. I do this because I believe if this community in its entirety could learn from this, then that's a decent chunk of the internet's stupidity dealt with.

Things a troll is not:
1) Someone you don't like
2) Someone who disagrees with you
3) Someone who is rude or unsociable
4) Someone with disagreeable opinions
5) Legitimately stupid people
6) Someone who proclaims they are a troll (see #5)
7) Angry people
8) People who misplace posts or make mistakes
9) People who make very logical posts against you (see #2, and then see #5)

Note that the list is not exclusive, and a troll could still be any one of those things. Being one of those things does not make you a troll, though.

If you have any uncertainties, feel free to ask. However, the only answer is to just not use the word if you aren't sure.

I guess the tl;dr of this is

Stop calling people trolls if you don't fucking know what it means god damnit (see #2, #3, #7, #9)

This response was triggered by a thread I didn't feel like bumping somewhere. I lost it now (read: too lazy to find it). It was a stupid thread due to its undue string of stupid replies and I don't want to see more of that happening.

I'm going to sleep.

A normal troll, to me, is someone knows what they are doing is wrong. They spam well-aware of the fact that it's wrong. They may know proper English, but they purposely write "laiku diss" when they know people don't like it because they /want/ to annoy people. A troll's goal is to bug the shit out of people as much as possible. Once he feels that he has bothered them enough, he'll go back to his cave in satisfaction. It's usually just a short, simple process for the general troll.

However, a /good/ troll likes to fuck with your head, and if you try to debate with them, you end up babbling nonsense. They know exactly what to say to piss you off, but are smart enough to not put you over the edge. It's usually a longer process for the smarter troll. They know when to come and go.

Damnit. I forgot where that beautiful post of Ayanavi's went explaining how to be a good troll. I think it might have gotten deleted 'cuz it may have been in a sage... fuck. I'm not sure how well I explained it, but w/e. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I remember that one time where I made a thread on Main about the definition of a troll in your opinion so long ago, also due to misuse of the word. Man... Nostalgia. Anyways, my bad bro.

Here are some Urban Dictionary definitions:


1a. Noun
One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument.

1b. Noun
A person who, on a message forum of some type, attacks and flames other members of the forum for any of a number of reasons such as rank, previous disagreements, sex, status, ect.
A troll usually flames threads without staying on topic, unlike a "Flamer" who flames a thread because he/she disagrees with the content of the thread.

1c. Noun
A member of an internet forum who continually harangues and harasses others. Someone with nothing worthwhile to add to a certain conversation, but rather continually threadjacks or changes the subject, as well as thinks every member of the forum is talking about them and only them. Trolls often go by multiple names to circumvent getting banned.

I object to you looking at urban dictionary for definitions of anything. It's a parody/satire website that is more often than not filled with completely bullshit and ill thought-out definitions that only serve to high light and reinforce the ignorant use of a word in the first place.

Be ashamed, Umbra. Be very ashamed.

>>5 >>3

One thing you mistake is that you both think the intent makes someone a troll right off the bat. Refer to #3, #5, and #7.

I'll elaborate. Any stupid faggot can come to a website and say "I'm going to play mindgames with everyone herpaderp!" and just spam the hell out of some thread with "lol random xD" bullshit. They have the intent for people to get mad at them, but does it make them a troll?

No, it makes them a god damned retard.

Additionally, someone could be very well aware they are making someone mad, but this could be through an argument or caused by a personal vendetta. A troll does not hold personal convictions to anyone when he works - if they're doing it for any reason other than lulz, it's petty garbage.

The second part of Barabi's definition comes the closest it can get to describing what it really is. A troll is almost a persona you put on for the sake of guiding others into a well-laid trap. If you're just a rude person, you aren't a fucking troll - that's not what a troll is, you're just a jackass.

Similarly, assuming someone is "trolling" is an insult to yourself if you go by the definition you put forth - you're basically crediting them and telling them they're doing a good job of stirring this ruse, even if your intention was to insult them.

In fact, calling a legitimate troll a troll is even more of a compliment. There is absolutely no reason to ever use the word in anything but reference.

>>4 I thought I remembered something like this existing at one point - it was 6 AM when I typed this up, my memory wasn't very good, and other excuses. I didn't think it still existed though.

Also a troll for those who don't live in Michigan is anyone who lives under the Mackinaw Bridge who are called that by the people who live in the Upper Peninsula, the Yoopers who are basically Canadian

>>8 -Lives in Michigan-

-Lives in Lower Peninsula-

-Feels very offened by that statement-

Alas, if only I could explain this to my classmates. For they have been exposed to the internet, and god knows what they do. They consider themselves trolls for doing the most stupid and ridiculous reasons (like backtalking teachers).

This could have been a 'Word of the Day' Misuto... WHY U DO DIS?

compltey undrstoodable....unlyk maself? woohooo

I agree witchuu cuz i hate them stoopid peepoh who jist go on fb ander all: Yo gaiz im a troll, she a troll, he a troll, you a troll. Or i hate dem peepoh who keep sayin :you mad bro?

Duh. peopl r so dummmmmmmmmbbbbbbuuuhhhh. obviously im mad if im yellin achoo. UGH. wooh. :V nawt sposed to be a rant so i'll jist say i agree wit yall. :A

>>7
I personally think a 'TROLL' isn't going to be called one by others.

If done right, you're not going to know whether they are a troll, or if they are being serious. If you come right out and call them one, then either they are a FAIL TROLL using the reasons as above, and not only that, they don't know what they are doing. That and/or the other person doesn't know what a troll is. As previously stated.

So, tl;dr?

A troll isn't going to be called a troll. They will keep themselves distanced enough, so you don't know they are doing it, until it happens. Even then, you don't know if they are being serious, or they are mind fucking you. You're just going to be completely oblivious to the "happenings" even way after the fact.

>>15

Well, to be fair, a troll only needs to be unrecognizable by the one he's trolling. I mean it's boring without an audience, sometimes. If a spectator notices, it doesn't mean they failed, as long as whoever they're trolling is still oblivious. But then in that situation, if someone calls it out when they weren't involved ("dont lisen to him hes trolin u"), refer to #5

So... yes, in any case, it does no good to call someone a troll.

I think the major issue is that people seriously think they're going to get the response they want out of them if they call out their bullshit. They think the guy in question is going to break down under superior logic, when it was their intent in the first place to riddle their interactions with fallacies. They believe their SOCIAL JUSTICE is going to leave the guy embarrassed or apologetic, when to troll is to ignore sympathies in the first place.

There is no way to win by being a white knighting faggot. It doesn't work on the internet the same way it does in old films with damsels in distress.

I think a troll is a bearded midget that lives under bridges.

Whenever people talk about trolls, all I can think of are those horrible little plastic people with the big colourful hair that you can stick on the ends of pencils...

ME! TROLROLROLRORLOEKyarjghkargha

I actually like Trolls. It's very amusing to see exactly how TORE UP people get on the net, when encountering shit that all they have to do, is turn their head away from their screen.

Bump

Done

>>17
>>19

Just to clarify, the thread isn't literally to ask what a troll is, if you read passed the first sentence.. or even the title. I forgot to take that into account, because now I realize it's destined to attract uninformed dumbasses who think they know what they're talking about. Not talking about you, of course, Takara - but it's a prelude to it.

This thread was for those who don't know, to inform them or dispute what I listed.

>>23 I did actually read the whole thing. I was trying to be humorous, but I guess it didn't work out as well as I thought it would.

>>6 I never said that I took them seriously, I just shared them for others to view and make opinions of. Besides, it's fun to look at BS definitions when I get bored. I have nothing to be ashamed of.

>>7 I see your points. The intent part was where I think I've been going wrong when describing a troll in my own words.

Bump

>>16

Well, I always thought the point was to have as many people in the topic, thread, game, etc. as butthurt as possible.

>>24 I know you weren't serious, but I have seen instances where people completely misinterpret a thread because they don't bother to read on. And I realized I made the mistake of enabling that for this one due to your post, which was still funny.

>>27 And in that case, your target is everybody. This isn't always the case, and you can't really generalize it that way.

Boop

>>9 not really i take in pride, even though i don't live there anymore but nevertheless i take being called a troll perfectly fine.

I had a hard time finding it again, but I did it just for you.

This is my definition of a troll straight from my reliable source.

"homosexual slang ( intr ) to stroll around looking for sexual partners; cruise"

It's a verb!

>>32 If it's such a reliable source, why was it hard to find?

Also, roleplay >|

>>33 I forgot which source the original was on. The original wording was the best. It can be found in many reliable sources, I just forget which source has the wording I like.

bump because we need this

What is a troll? I am. Trolling is an art. Trolling techniques have been passed down from generations of my family. It's in my genes to troll. Soon, these genes will be passed onto my children then unto theirs. Trolling is as infinite as the universe itself, exhisting even in real life.

Oh and, bump.

Dont give yourself so much credit slut. You are not nearly as amazing as you think you are

>>37 This.

>>37 This times 1000.

>>36
So posting stupid pictures makes you a troll? Then I guess almost everyone on this site must be one.

Listen, if you have to call yourself one, or someone else has to call you one, then by no means are you a troll. Even a fail one at that. You're just thinking annoying people is a form of trolling.

No, it's a form of just that. "Annoying people".

You're far from smart enough to be able to troll, and I highly doubt you ever will be.

>>40
Umad!

>>41
Not really. You're not really trolling, and if you have nothing better to do than waste our time, then you most certainly lack swag.

Fail faggot is fail faggot.

>>41 y u use spidey thread pictures incorrectly

Oh wait, you use everything incorrectly.

Idiots.

This thread literally killed me XD

Then how the fuck are you sending that message!? ghost!!!!!!!!!!

To >>45

>>47 this.

>thread all about the point of trolling
>people reacting badly to an obvioustroll
>reacting at all

Jesus Christ, you guys

>>49 strange world we live in?

Bump

Bump