What on earth is a troll?
By katerina
@thea09 (18305)
Greece
July 8, 2009 4:36am CST
I've just been browsing around and had a look at a political discussion which is the kind I've decided to be wary of posting in as they can seem to deteriorate into personal slanging matches. The person who posted was accused of being a 'troll' but I have never come across this word before, I am certain it must be American English. Can anyone enlighten me?
4 people like this
6 responses
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
8 Jul 09
A troll is an internet troublemaker.
Here is an article which is very informative:
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/What_is_a_troll%3F
Trolls, sadly, are frequent here. They impersonate other users and should be reported and then will be removed by the admins. They should be ignored.
3 people like this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
8 Jul 09
Hi mysdianait, I don't really want to know how they impersonate other users but are you really saying they are actually stealing someone elses name and posting under it. I suppose you'd have to be on here a pretty long time to notice. If someone is impersonating someone else I wouldn't know it so might not ignore them.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
8 Jul 09
Some of the older users do indeed recognise them immediately, report them and usually action is taken immediately by Mylot - then they return 
2 people like this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
11 Jul 09
Did you read the article and then relate it to the discussions in the 'hot' topics Robert?
Trolls should not be fed bait as that is what they hope for. Those discussions also bring the attention to both newer users here and, hopefully, to the Admins here too as the situation regarding trolls (and other negatives) is deteriorating rapidly. Trolls have always been a problem but of late little seems to be done regarding them hence the necessity to make both users and Admins aware of their presence.
1 person likes this
@stmartin (157)
• Macedonia
8 Jul 09
Troll means, to circulate, to move around. Actually it is someone who 'spams' and posting the same thing over and over again. People don't like the trolls because they are irritating and ask or post the same questions or answers, and do not want to stop, so they get banned.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
16 Jul 09
I remember asking that same question a few years ago...lol! I think a troll also sometimes goes through all of someone's posts and gives out negative ratings if they don't like someone. I remember being told a few years ago how they sometimes travel in packs and gang up on some unassuming member who is trying to mind his or her own business here. I think ignoring them is the best thing to do until they get deleted because it's attention they want and if they don't get it they'll get bored.
Annie
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
16 Jul 09
Hi anniepa, yes I am now much enlightened to troll activities since posing this question. Not only do I ignore them I also ignore discussions they have latched onto on the presumption the whole thing will be deleted. Also it would seem like entering the firing line and I would run a mile for any sort of slanging match which these creatures indulge in.
1 person likes this
@Bionicman (3958)
• Czech Republic
8 Jul 09
Troll is someone who says something that he doesn't really mean just to make people angry (on the internet).
1 person likes this
@Bionicman (3958)
• Czech Republic
8 Jul 09
Through the way he said it.
What did you say btw? Maybe you said something so stupid that people just assumed that it can't be for real
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
10 Jul 09
I was as much in the dark as you concerning trolls, but unfortunately, if you post interesting discussions or responses, you won't need to look for them, they will find you soon enough. I've had some very nasty posts, as have many members. Difficult though it may be, it's probably best to ignore them, because continuing a slanging match is counterproductive - believe me, I've tried it and it doesn't work. I've now decided to ignore the trolls as far as commenting goes, but I will be reporting them. The only good thing is that if they are banned by admin, they'll lose anything they've earned, but as they post a lot of rubbish, that probably isn't much anyway.
