# Troll?  Out of all the insults...

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-out-of-all-the-insults/407>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [July 1, 1999, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-out-of-all-the-insults/407 "1999-07-01T07:49:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 1999, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-out-of-all-the-insults/407/1 "1999-07-01T07:49:00Z")

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What does the term “Troll” mean in the message boards? Is this some sort of kiddy insult?

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 1999, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-out-of-all-the-insults/407/2 "1999-07-01T13:14:00Z")

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## Troll - noun form of “trolling”. Same term used by fishermen who troll for fish. A BBS troll is one who posts a message (usually inflammitory, often guised as a question) for the sole purpose of irritating board members into responding. It’s not really answers that the troll is seeking, it’s the attention gained by goading people into responding to his/her post. The word has the added benefit of evoking images of a small, ugly, antisocial creature who lives under a bridge and whose sole purpose in life is to make others miserable. The most effective way to get rid of a troll is to ignore their every post, but where’s the fun in that?

The overwhelming majority of people have more than the average (mean) number of legs. – E. Grebenik

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 1999, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-out-of-all-the-insults/407/3 "1999-07-01T16:56:00Z")

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Ooooooops!!!

I thought “Troll” was C#3’s nickname! Sorry…