What the heck are...

Trolls and 1920’s Style death rays?
As you all can tell, I’m pretty new here and these are two things I’ve seen in multiple threads and I still have no clue what they are. Please don’t be smartasses about the trolls. I’ve read Tolkein. I know what Trolls are. Actully, scratch that. Feel free to be smartasses.:smiley: But, what I really mean is what are message board trolls?
I’m also apologizing in advance for those of you who seem to be annoyed by Death Ray references. I just can’t help thinking I’m missing some joke here.
Thanks guys.

What is a troll?

As for the death rays… no.

Thanks! I am now at least partially educated.

1920’s style death rays were referenced in an obtuse thread with an OP (that’s “original – or originating – post”) which made absolutely no sense. Because the phrase was funny – for about five minutes – people started dropping it here and there as a gag.

It’s now fairly old, worn and tired, and the joke is just all used up. But you didn’t miss anything crucial in the board history by not being in on that particular joke, it was what it was and that’s about that.

Again, Thanks!

Which was about 299 seconds longer than it should have been.

I must admit that I was befuddled the first couple of times I saw it but after that, without even knowing what it meant, I also started to get really annoyed whenever it popped up.

Ah, they’re 1920’s style “Death Rays.”

Ah, they’re 1920’s style “Death Rays”.

TeaElle
Good work in your explanation of 1920’s style deathrays.
By all means let congodwarf think it is just one big joke that went on far too long. (nudge … nudge)
Perhaps when he has been here awhile and proven that he is worthy, we will make him one of the cognoscenti.
Until then, carry on TeaElle.

wolf@Area51

The thread in question.

F_X

Ah, they’re 1920’s style “Death Rays.”

  1. Trolls are posters who purposely try to get people angry, and are there to to cause a mess for their own amusement.
  2. 1920’s “Death Rays” originated in this thread due to a humorous multi-post that went critical.
  3. Hi Opal!!!

What DreadChtulu said.
[sub]Did I get it right? Am I part of the in-crowd now? …no?..dammit[/sub]

Now that we are at it… what the heck is “Hi Opal!” all about? :confused:

  1. ** mnemosyne ** no you didn’t get it right. You mispelled my name. :mad:

  2. The “Hi Opal!” gag came about due to the poster ** OpalCat ** who insisted that a list should have at least three items. Eventually this mutated to people using “Hi Opal!” for a third item on list.

  3. Hi Opal!!!:smack:

Oops, didn’t mean to place that :smack: there - accidently hit it while in the preview screen.

while we newbies are asking questions, what the heck is a WAG? as in, “My WAG is…” Huh???

Wild-Ass-Guess.

For instance…

“This is just my WAG, but I think that your real name is Susan.”

Thanks, now I feel a little less ignorant.