# what is a troll?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-troll/117751
**Category:** About This Message Board
**Created:** [July 7, 2002, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-troll/117751 "2002-07-07T05:48:20Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@MissGypsy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissGypsy)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2002, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-troll/117751/1 "2002-07-07T05:48:20Z")
I know this may be a stupid question… but what, exactly, is a troll, and what is trolling? I see references to it, but I am unclear on what it is. (I know what socks are, BTW, from various threads and related posts from mods, but some newbies might appreciate a clear definition of those also.)
Thanks for any clarification…
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### Author:  [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2002, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-troll/117751/2 "2002-07-07T06:48:50Z")
An intro:
[http://www.altairiv.demon.co.uk/troll/trollfaq.html](http://www.altairiv.demon.co.uk/troll/trollfaq.html)
Being intentionally obtuse may constitute trolling.
More than you want to know:
[http://ddi.digital.net/~gandalf/trollfaq.html](http://ddi.digital.net/~gandalf/trollfaq.html)
Google is helpful.
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### Author:  [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2002, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-troll/117751/3 "2002-07-07T07:02:08Z")
Better:
[http://www.hyphenologist.co.uk/killfile/anti\_troll\_faq.htm](http://www.hyphenologist.co.uk/killfile/anti_troll_faq.htm)
Upon inspection, the “intro” in the preceding post links to a jerk. Moderators have my permission and encouragement to remove it.
Sorry.
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### Author:  [@femtosecond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/femtosecond)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2002, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-troll/117751/4 "2002-07-07T11:06:53Z")
Even better:
[Straight Dope Staff Report: What is a troll?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mtroll.html)
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### Author:  [@Mr.Bix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Bix)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2002, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-troll/117751/5 "2002-07-07T20:56:53Z")
If you’re interested in finding out about trolls, here’s a thread you might like to read through.
om/sdmb/showthread
[http://boards.straightdope.c.php?s=&threadid=60497&highlight=nascar](http://boards.straightdope.c.php?s=&threadid=60497&highlight=nascar)
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### Author:  [@Mr.Bix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Bix)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2002, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-troll/117751/6 "2002-07-07T20:59:37Z")
Sorry, I screwed up the link.
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=60497&highlight=origato](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=60497&highlight=origato)
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### Author:  [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2002, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-troll/117751/7 "2002-07-08T01:53:56Z")
Another one on the pile:
[http://thebruces.stormbirds.org/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9511](http://thebruces.stormbirds.org/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9511)
-David
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### Author:  [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2002, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-troll/117751/8 "2002-07-08T01:56:48Z")
Ah, the Origato roast, I remember it well.
Trolling at it finest/worst.
**Mr Bix** , didn’t you also resurrect one of **concrete** ’s old threads?
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### Author:  [@Mr.Bix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Bix)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2002, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-troll/117751/9 "2002-07-08T23:57:03Z")
[I}Ixnay on the oncretecay. \* 😃
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### Author:  [@Mr.Bix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Bix)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2002, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-troll/117751/10 "2002-07-08T23:58:54Z")
Damn my poor coding. :rolleyes: