# 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:** 9\ **Page:** 14
**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 31, 2010, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/261 "2010-07-31T01:15:49Z")
Gosh, Colibri, there sure seems to be something in common with posters that you believe have a “certain manner” of expressing themselves. Could it be that you are . . . oh no, I dare not speak it’s name . . . it can’t be true! After all, you couldn’t be . . . that thing I dare not name. In fact, you have presented us with an example in this very thread of your ability to evaluate arguments and posters without bringing . . . the bad thing . . . to bear. Let’s have a look-see, shall we? > [@Colibri](#): > > And then there’s the whole “Regards, Shodan” thing, which you have admitted you do to be annoying. [QUOTE=Shodan] The sign off is part of it. Sometimes it means exactly what it says, Sometimes it means “Fuck you”. [/QUOTE] > [@Colibri](#): > > So you may not mean “Fuck you” all the time, but it was you yourself that said that it sometimes does mean that. So no one was “making it up.” Yep, no . . . badness . . . there. You didn’t interpret Shodan’s intent based on your own beliefs at all. You took the facts as they were. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/262 "2010-07-31T04:22:24Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Gosh, Colibri, there sure seems to be something in common with posters that you believe have a “certain manner” of expressing themselves. Could it be that you are . . . oh no, I dare not speak it’s name . . . it can’t be true! > > After all, you couldn’t be . . . that thing I dare not name. In fact, you have presented us with an example in this very thread of your ability to evaluate arguments and posters without bringing . . . the bad thing . . . to bear. Let’s have a look-see, shall we? > > … > > Yep, no . . . badness . . . there. You didn’t interpret Shodan’s intent based on your own beliefs at all. You took the facts as they were. :rolleyes: Sorry, **Rand,** you’re not making any sense at all here. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/263 "2010-07-31T11:43:44Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > > [@Irishman](#): > > > > Not all misrepresentations are intentional misrepresentations. Many are because you were unclear in what you said. If you find many people “resorting to misrepresenting you”, that suggests that you need to consider your own statements. > > Much of it is because many people don’t actually read what is in front of them. See [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12745530&postcount=203), or [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12731485&postcount=22), for a couple of recent examples. > > > [@](#): > > > > It is not trolling to enjoy calling people out for posting fallaciously. It is not trolling to enjoy pointing out your opponents’ hypocrisy, or the errors of the leaders of their ideologies. However, it may be trolling in how you go about any of the above. > > As long as you have a consistent standard, sure. But if you pass over examples of liberals mocking conservatives in order to upset them but scream “trolling!” when it goes the other way, not so much. > > > [@Colibri](#): > > > > You need to keep in mind the distinction between posting an unpopular opinion even when you know it is unpopular, and posting that opinion in such a way as trying to deliberately irritate and aggravate other posters. > > There is hardly any distinction to be made. It is not possible to express some opinions in such a way that some Dopers will not go ballistic. If someone posts something even vaguely positive about Sarah Palin, for example, you are going to get the same kind of response no matter how it is phrased. And, as seen in the couple of examples above, the effort to be as clear and precise in expressing an idea is largely wasted on a substantial portion of the Dope. They aren’t listening anyway, and their biggest gripe is that not that you weren’t clear and non-confrontational, but that you were. > > It is not possible to dissent even slightly from the group think hereabouts without triggering the usual assholery from some clown. The fact that I find a certain malicious amusement in it rather than (usually)blowing up and flaming back (so I can be banned) or finding it intimidating and leave is, I suspect, a good deal of the problem. > > Like I said, none of this matters. > > Regards, > Shodan > > PS - > > > [@Colibri](#): > > > > And then there’s the whole “Regards, Shodan” thing, which you have admitted you do to be annoying. > > Bullshit. I started a thread asking, in general, if people found it irritating, and the consensus was that most didn’t care one way or the other. At one point, there was a ruling that it should be only done in a sig file, which I compiled with. Then there was an official ruling that signing your posts was OK. Yes, I know **pseudo whatever the fuck it is** kept claiming for a while that it was done to say “Fuck you” but he was making that up too. > > So the notion that it is evidence of trolling is, as mentioned, bullshit. > > So save it. I find it somewhat amusing that, according to his own silly definition, \*\*Shodan \*\*is “losing the argument”, and quite badly. I hope I am not accused of trolling by pointing this out. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Deal_Democrat)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/264 "2010-07-31T15:20:33Z")
An “internet troll” can broadly be defined as someone who angers others. Some people become angry when their opinions are challenged, and especially when they are challenged by someone who is more knowledgeable. Nearly every poster on The Straight Dope will probably agree with me that no one’s opinions should be considered as unchallengeable. I would argue that if a comment could appear as a letter to the editor of a newspaper or opinion journal, it is not trolling. If a comment expresses contempt for individuals, groups, or religions, I would say it is trolling. One should feel free to express controversial opinions, but one should show respect for those who disagree. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/265 "2010-07-31T15:31:50Z")
> [@leander](#): > > I hope I am not accused of trolling by pointing this out. 😛 Reported. For sassing teh mods, and being an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/266 "2010-07-31T15:51:23Z")
“Trolling” is not easy to define or identify. It is NOT simply an opinion that makes others mad; mere disagreement or anger is not the key to trolling. To the contrary, it is possible to be trolling without invoking anger at all (for example, someone asking for an explanation of something and pretending not to understand repeated clarifications.) The origin of the term “trolling” (see: [What is a troll? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1764/what-is-a-troll) ) has to do with “hooking” unsuspecting fish. The essence of trolling is not the anger, but the fact that the person’s sole purpose is to entrap. This is not easy to judge from the outside. The “hooking” can be getting people to argue, to correct mistakes, to explain. But just because you’ve been whoooshed doesn’t mean the other person was deliberately trolling. So, as with most things here, there’s no clear cut definitional line, nor could there be. It’s about intentionality. Mods can (and do) call certain posts/threads/OPs for “trolling.” We can expel persons who are only here to troll, judged based on repeated performance. But we’re never going to define it: a 17 page definition would still leave ambiguity, and none of us wants to waste time writing irrelevant definitions. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/267 "2010-07-31T18:23:25Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > For sassing teh mods, and being an asshole. [Moderator Warning] **ivan astikov** , insults are not permitted in ATMB, even if you post them in small type. Do not do this again. ---
**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 31, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/268 "2010-07-31T22:04:13Z")
> [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](#): > > Nearly every poster on The Straight Dope will probably agree with me that no one’s opinions should be considered as unchallengeable. > > I would argue that if a comment could appear as a letter to the editor of a newspaper or opinion journal, it is not trolling. If a comment expresses contempt for individuals, groups, or religions, I would say it is trolling. You will find that the board tolerates pretty aggressive behavior: those called out for being a troll or a jerk behave in such a way that is far outside your standards. However. You may also find that if you keep your cool and apply the criteria you outlined (nice job, btw) that you will earn the respect and even admiration of your fellow posters. We have a variety of members here: some seek to lower the bar, others raise it. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298/269 "2010-08-02T15:35:51Z")
Shodan > [@](#): > > Much of it is because many people don’t actually read what is in front of them. See [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12745530&postcount=203), or [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12731485&postcount=22), for a couple of recent examples. I read both examples, and visited the threads to try to get context. In both cases the same could be said for you. In your first example regarding black women vs white women, you spend 4 paragraphs exploring reasons black men might date white women instead of black women, yet only one point is even close to on target response to what **MsWhatsit** said about attractiveness. Yet she’s the one not listening to you. :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-trolling/544298.md?page=13)