world.std.com
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PART ONE
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TROLL? I THOUGHT THAT WAS ONLY IN FAERIE TALES.
1a) What is trolling?
The use of the word "trolling" comes from the fishing technique where
a baited hook is dragged through the water, in an attempt to attract
and catch a fish. Usenet trolling is the act of posting an article, or
"troll" (baited hook) in a Usenet newsgroup (the water) with the
intention of attracting the native inhabitants (groupers) and
provoking an emotional response (caught!). The phrase was originally
coined as "Trolling for flames", where the posters intention was to
incite a "flame war", the Usenet intellectual equivalent of a bar
fight.
1b) What is a troll?
It is convenient that the word "troll" has multiple meanings. Aside
from the fishing example above, "troll" also is the name of a mythical
creature, generally thought of as ugly, fat, cantankerous,
wart-covered, smelly, and completely unlikable. Since trolling is
typically thought of as a detestable and unsavory activity performed
by loathsome, contemptible hooligans, the name "troll" fits them quite
well.
There are two basic troll species. Those with overactive minds (busy
brain, ADHD, whatever you want to call it) constantly seek out new
sources of mental stimuli. For these, myself included, newsgoup satire
acts as a sort of *Mental Floss*.
And there are those who are permanently disgruntled, or "physically
short changed" in some way and seek out ways to compensate for their
shortcomings through vicious personal attacks against others in order
to achieve a *Mental Erection*.
1c) Why do trolls troll?
There are as many reasons as there are trolls. Many trolls are just
practical jokers attempting to amuse themselves and their audience.
Some have genuine animosity toward a particular group or individual
that they believe has done them wrong. Some are just loathsome,
contemptible hooligans bent on disrupting the ordinarily peaceful
exchange of useful information for their own perverted pleasure.
Usenet provides a medium to create and express oneself, and gives the
added dimension of anonymity, allowing the troll to create and express
emotions, thoughts and ideas that he/she might not ordinarily express.
For many, Usenet is the first and only place their creative works will
ever be "published". Trolling, for many, is a creative endeavor, and
art form if you will, misunderstood by many, appreciated by a few, but
valid to the writer none-the-less.
1d) When is a troll not a troll?
If trolling is performed for any reason other than for an artful form
of expression or harmless amusement, it is a crime and the criminal
should be punished accordingly. Trolling is not about tricking senior
citizens or lonely spinsters out of their nest eggs, making dates with
teenage girls, verbally abusing or otherwise hurting anyone, or
bringing about the end of Usenet. If you are an asshole, sociopath,
disgruntled postal worker, on a power trip, or are unusually cruel,
get some therapy or a house pet. Trolling is not for you.
1e) Who are the trolls in real life?
Doctors, lawyers, clergymen, truck drivers, real estate agents,
college students, university, professors, mechanics, politicians,
circus clowns, professional mercenaries, cowboys, eccentric
billionaire software tycoons, warehousemen, movie stars, hit men,
landscapers, authors, policemen, tax collectors, TV news anchors,
sports figures, farmers...er, well, some of them have jobs doing
something.
1f) Trolls suck! Get a life you loser. Stop posting your smelly crap
all over my Usenet!
I'm sorry, this is a FAQ. You'll have to rephrase that in the form of
a question.
1g) Are trolls immortal or do they die like the rest of us?
Because trolls are generally intellectually superior to their targets,
they will eventually become bored and move on to more challenging
activities. But don't worry, as long as there are affordable computer
systems available to the masses, there will always be new creative
users with a twisted minds willing and able to entertain you. |
