# Troll... splanation please? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 10, 2001, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715 "2001-09-10T18:16:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/1 "2001-09-10T18:16:23Z")
I’ve seen some terminology here that I’ve got to plead ignorance on. Can someone please enlighten us newbies as to what a troll and the other unusual terms found here are, or point us toward an explaining thread? Many thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/2 "2001-09-10T18:20:14Z")
A “troll” is someone who posts solely to yank someone’s chain or otherwise cause trouble – in other words, someone “trolling” for responses. I bet you’d find lots of threads on it if you did a search on “troll” in “About This Message Board.” Therein all the Great Mysteries of Cecilism are revealed. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/3 "2001-09-10T18:21:27Z")
From Cecil’s Mailbag: [What is a troll?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mtroll.html) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/4 "2001-09-10T18:39:14Z")
Bah. Five minutes to reply, _and_ Jodi beat me to it. I’m getting slow in my old age. A few other notes for ya, lieu. First: another term that gets used quite a bit around here is “sock puppet” or “sock”. That refers to having a second screen name that you occasionally use. The etymology comes from the general usage of it on the internet- most of the original ‘socks’ were used to help bolster arguments. Poster A would make some argument. Poster B would rip said argument to shreads with wit and logic. Poster A, feeling lonely and defensive, would create another persona- Poster C- and Poster C would come in to join the argument and talk about how right Poster A was. To the people watching, Poster A seemed to be gaining supporters and friends, and therefore was “winning” the debate. The term has broadened in meaning, such that it now covers all second (or more) screen names, even if it’s just using one for work and one for home, or having an amusing puppet to bring out (Zette would occasionally post as “Santa” during the winter, and _someone_ would bring out “Dead Equine” to shout “Stop beating me!” when a topic had been debated for far too long). Socks are not allowed on this board; you get one screen name, and that’s it. Second: Any thread in which “what is a troll?” or “what is a sock puppet?” is asked usually ends up flooded by trolls and sock puppets, all looking for validation and wishing to explain how, even though _they_ break the rules by having an extra screen name, it doesn’t mean they’re _bad_ people, or even _wrong_ in _any_ way, shape, or form. But then, I’m pretty jaded and cynical on the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![Kricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Kricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kricket)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/5 "2001-09-10T18:53:16Z")
Well, since somebody started this thread, I kind of have a troll question. I know we have had sock puppets come in to support their trolls, but have we ever had a troll use their sock puppet to start shit with themselves? ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/6 "2001-09-10T19:01:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Bah. Five minutes to reply, _and_ Jodi beat me to it. I’m getting slow in my old age. Woohoo! _:: Jodi high steps it around John in a victory dance ::_ Better luck next time, Gramps. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/7 "2001-09-10T19:05:39Z")
Eh, you young whippersnappers. Back when _I_ was a kid… As for Kricket’s question- hard to say. I’ve no _specific_ knowledge of such a case, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/8 "2001-09-10T19:10:50Z")
Thank you, John and all. I’ll try and steer clear of both. I’d seen a sock puppet as y’all call them on another site (yes, I think they still exist although I’ve not been there as of late) and another poster said there was a way to determine the address someone was posting from and, therefore, if they just had multiple names. I’d usually found that most people write with a pretty distinctive style or display a pretty distinctive brilliance or stupidity that is fairly recognizable, ie. the Ramsey ransom note. Hopefully, one sock will in that manner match the other. Anyway, thanks for the 'splanations. I’ll try and avoid them and applause like the clap. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/9 "2001-09-10T19:11:13Z")
Well, there WAS that time I got into with…OOOPS!!! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/10 "2001-09-10T20:36:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Corrado \* > \*\*Second: Any thread in which “what is a troll?” or “what is a sock puppet?” is asked usually ends up flooded by trolls and sock puppets, all looking for validation and wishing to explain how, even though _they_ break the rules by having an extra screen name, it doesn’t mean they’re _bad_ people, or even _wrong_ in _any_ way, shape, or form. > \*\* An addition: It also inevitably brings out the anti-mod whiners (I shan’t mention names, but, in the interests of enlightenment, I shall give two anagrams: Map Arrot, and M umu. I never said they were _hard_ anagrams!) who have nothing better to do then snivel about how [ul] [li]The mods are EEEEeeeEEee-vil ('specially **Uncle Beer and Coldie** , for some reason)[/li][li] **Ed Zotti** is Satan[/li][li] **Lynn and Tuba** are also Satan![/li][li]Despite **Ed, Lynn and Tuba** ’s vast SATANIC powers, there are THOUSANDS (thousands!!!) of posters who are really returned sock-puppets. Revanents, some call 'em. But not me. I call 'em: fictional.[/li][/ul] These individuals aren’t trolls, exactly, but they are like worms that come out from under rocks following a rainstorm. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/11 "2001-09-10T21:10:46Z")
> [@](#): > > I know we have had sock puppets come in to support their trolls, but have we ever had a troll use their sock puppet to start shit with themselves? Do a search in the Pit for the poster name The Finder. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/12 "2001-09-10T22:19:13Z")
FORMERAGENT was a hoot too. Came on pretending to be in the CIA (or the Rangers, or something else vaguely covert-ish). Then came on as his own boss to warn himself for national security violations. Laugh, I nearly did. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/13 "2001-09-10T22:51:54Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **Crusoe** _ > > … (or the Rangers…) “Hey, Boo-Boo - let’s go steal us some pick-i-nick baskets!” “But Yogi, won’t the Ranger be mad?” “Fuck the Ranger, Boo-Boo! We’re bears - we’ll eat 'im!” [sub](Although I do appreciate the _Babylon 5_ reference…)[/sub] Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/14 "2001-09-11T05:36:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kricket \* > \*\*I know we have had sock puppets come in to support their trolls, but have we ever had a troll use their sock puppet to start shit with themselves? \*\* I once had an argument with myself on the Excite message boards. I started a thread, and people stayed away in droves. Disappointed, I switched screen names (multiple screen names are actually encouraged there) and posted a contradictory reply. I then continued to argue with myself for about 30 total posts before a third party finally decided to join the thread. She apparently thought one of me was being unfair to the other me. We ganged up on me, and I got more and more hostile as we proceeded to rip all my arguments to shreds. It was fun that one time, but I never felt like doing it again. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/15 "2001-09-11T12:32:56Z")
Hmmm… this has made me think of a few questions for the **Mods** and **Admins** : Hypothetical situation coming… **Astrogirl** does not have a computer at her house, so she uses mine to check her e-mail, surf, etc. when she’s here… suppose she decided to register on the SDMB (not going to happen probably, because she gets tired of asking me “What does it mean ‘Pig-fucking piece of shit marmot-felcher’?”)… now, she has a username that corresponds to MY IP address. Suppose she starts trolling… do we BOTH get banned? Does only SHE get banned? Will someone come to my dorm-room and intercept the whining (Please??)? I know this happens (two usernames posting from the same IP address), so how is it handled? Just curious… ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/16 "2001-09-11T12:58:18Z")
I wish one of the mods would change Cecil’s “Perfect Master” to “Banned”. Just for a day. Even just for five minutes. Then change it back again. Just so I could say I’d _seen_ it. ---
**Author:** ![Kricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Kricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kricket)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/17 "2001-09-11T13:07:52Z")
Many thanks Uncle Beer. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troll-splanation-please/80715/18 "2001-09-11T13:09:24Z")
Astroboy- BANNING occurs at a log-in level; therefore, should Astrogirl become banned, your account would still work fine, even if you’re connecting to us from the same IP. Now, should Astrogirl decide that after being banned she needs to keep hitting us with trolls, at some point we may decide to block said IP, with you as an unfortunate casualty. So keep her in line, okay? 😉