# What is trolling? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 24, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298 "2010-06-24T01:25:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/201 "2010-06-29T23:38:55Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Nice try, but no cigar. You see, I’ve not been warned for trolling, but I have had a few self-proclaimed troll-detectors accuse me of being one, and as it is a banning offense to be found to be a troll in these parts, I’d like to be sure exactly what it is you are trying to get me banned for. Please show where anyone here is trying to get you banned. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/202 "2010-06-29T23:57:00Z")
As far as you are aware, can you be banned from the forum if you are deemed by the mod’s to be a troll? If your answer is “Yes.”, what would you then call accusing a poster of being a troll, if it’s not an attempt to influence their banning? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/203 "2010-06-30T00:14:33Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > As far as you are aware, can you be banned from the forum if you are deemed by the mod’s to be a troll? If your answer is “Yes.”, what would you then call accusing a poster of being a troll, if it’s not an attempt to influence their banning? Consider that 99% of people never get accused of trollery. Years and years pass and never a single accusation. Some of them are Republicans, some Democrats, some racists, others conspiracists, and yet they never get accused of trolling. Knowing that, and seeing yourself accused of trolling regularly from an array of posters; doesn’t blaming others seem a bit disingenuous? Everyone just happened to pick you, out of the blue? We don’t even know if you have red hair. You can bark and howl all you want that people, moderators, or life is being unfair to you, but ultimately if you’re being singled out and accused of something the wise bet is that reason lies in you and how you present yourself. If you can’t figure out what it is about your personality or presentation it is that causes that, like I said to Rand Rover, the easy solution is to _read more and post less_. Someone will likely happen along and make whatever points it was you wanted to make, but in a non-inflammatory manner – so it’s not like you lose out. You still get all the same information, get all your questions answered, and are able to do so in a way that doesn’t have you risk getting suspended or banned. ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/204 "2010-06-30T00:25:58Z")
I would point out that some, perhaps many, people don’t know _what_ trolling is. Often, they regard unpopular opinions or petty bickering as trollwork. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/205 "2010-06-30T00:31:03Z")
If you can’t point out exactly, or better than vaguely, what it is that I’m doing wrong - and I don’t just mean YOU, I mean ANY of you - isn’t it a little disingenuous of you and your ilk to try and blame me entirely because I get under the skin of some of you? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/206 "2010-06-30T02:18:40Z")
> [@SoulFrost](#): > > I would point out that some, perhaps many, people don’t know _what_ trolling is. Often, they regard unpopular opinions or petty bickering as trollwork. And hence the reason for this thread. I think some of the posts above were enlightening (as I said), but I still don’t see how intimating that I am a troll could possibly be trolling. That post doesn’t meet the criteria for a trolling post laid out above. It seems to me that there is a separate offense of “claiming that oneself is a troll.” ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/207 "2010-06-30T03:22:30Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > And hence the reason for this thread. > > I think some of the posts above were enlightening (as I said), but I still don’t see how intimating that I am a troll could possibly be trolling. That post doesn’t meet the criteria for a trolling post laid out above. It seems to me that there is a separate offense of “claiming that oneself is a troll.” I would assume that your claim of trolling merely struck people as you admitting to it. They already had you pegged as one, so to have you say as much was simply proof. There are many cases of trolls admitting to being trolls, despite what you may think. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/208 "2010-06-30T14:32:53Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > As far as you are aware, can you be banned from the forum if you are deemed by the mod’s to be a troll? If your answer is “Yes.”, what would you then call accusing a poster of being a troll, if it’s not an attempt to influence their banning? Please show where anyone here (in this thread) has accused you of being a troll. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/209 "2010-06-30T14:44:21Z")
Who’s talking about this thread specifically, apart from you? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/210 "2010-06-30T15:00:09Z")
Please show where anyone who posted a reply to you in this thread has called you a troll in this thread or any other thread. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/211 "2010-06-30T15:06:43Z")
Tell me the relevance and I’ll consider it. ps. Protip — this thread is about the definition of trolling applying across the forums, and not just related to my involvement. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/212 "2010-06-30T15:36:35Z")
So you admit your cries of “[Don’t](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12632749#post12632749) [ban](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12633017#post12633017) [me](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12633216#post12633216), bro” are nothing but bales of straw? ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/213 "2010-06-30T15:47:00Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > [Life is not fair, get used to it, ---Bill Gates Coffee Mug | Zazzle](http://www.zazzle.com/life_is_not_fair_get_used_to_it_bill_gates_mug-168379023135260331) > > $13.95 Nearly missed this little gem. It’s a pity we are not talking about “Life”, but still, not a bad try. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/214 "2010-06-30T15:54:18Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > So you admit your cries of “[Don’t](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12632749#post12632749) [ban](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12633017#post12633017) [me](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12633216#post12633216), bro” are nothing but bales of straw? If I was face-to-face with you, I’d ask you to watch my lips. As I am not, I’ll type a little slower. I am trying to get clarification on an ambiguous board issue - ie. the definition of “trolling” and how it is quantified by the board in relation to a person being banned - nothing more, nothing less. Now, what is your interest in this thread, other than nitpicking my posts? ---
**Author:** ![Lestrade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Lestrade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lestrade)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/215 "2010-06-30T18:16:05Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > And hence the reason for this thread. > > I think some of the posts above were enlightening (as I said), but I still don’t see how intimating that I am a troll could possibly be trolling. That post doesn’t meet the criteria for a trolling post laid out above. It seems to me that there is a separate offense of “claiming that oneself is a troll.” Trolling includes intent, something that is difficult to assess. Stating your intent would make it plain, as you did. No double secret **Rand Rover** -only rules necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/216 "2010-07-07T02:50:16Z")
> **[Hire the obese person or the other one?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=569546)** > > You are responsible for hiring one person for an office job (i.e., so physical aptitude has no bearing on job requirements), and you have to choose between two people that are absolutely identical (don’t fight the hypo!) with the following sole... So, Samclem, you ready to “make it right” or what? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/217 "2010-07-07T03:19:09Z")
I think he already did. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/218 "2010-07-07T04:04:27Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > [Hire the obese person or the other one? - In My Humble Opinion - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=569546) > > So, Samclem, you ready to “make it right” or what? I’m not going to reopen it. The moderator/admins were about 50-50 on whether you were trolling with that thread. I actually voted to not warn or suspend you. I think you are masterful at taking it right up to the edge, whether it be merely starting a hot-button topic or by making carefully worded responses to other poster’s reactions. But that thread was turning into a trainwreck with some of the poster’s reactions. **samclem** ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/219 "2010-07-07T05:20:14Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > As far as you are aware, can you be banned from the forum if you are deemed by the mod’s to be a troll? If your answer is “Yes.”, what would you then call accusing a poster of being a troll, if it’s not an attempt to influence their banning? Generally it is intended as a corrective action. If a poster is notified that the staff looks on a particular type of action as trolling, then the astute poster will refrain from further posting in that manner. If the poster no longer behaves in a trolling manner, then the staff will not continue to consider banning. If we just wanted to ban someone, we could keep all the discussions of trolling in e-mail and then simply ban them once we had reached accord. By publicly announcing that a poster appears to be trolling, that poster then has an opportunity to modify his or her behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/220 "2010-07-07T07:38:29Z")
Can shit-stirring be a good thing? Sure. Is it intrinsically good? Only to a small extent, if at all. Can it have harmful effects? Of course. Is it highly likely to do far more harm than good? Absolutely. Does it advance the fight against ignorance? Not as currently practiced. Being a wise-ass seldom does. Is being a nuisance a good thing, insofar as it creates more pointless work for the volunteer mods? Of course not. In fact, it’s rude. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298.md?page=12)