Trolling

[76woodenspooners]

The topic of trolling is something that we here are all too familiar with, and yet the term has only recently reached public awareness through the mainstream media.

What do you think about trolling? Is it a fact of life that we all need to be able to defend ourselves against? If so, how so? Or does there need to be some form of regulation, just as we have here on Bigfooty with your friendly team of moderators? . If so, how would that be possible or practical to larger forums like twitter or Facebook?

 

[Cory]

I don't understand why some people can't block a user,they just try and argue with them which is giving them what they want.

 

[DThomas]

I'm just about to go bed, so I won't go into detail, but I think the media associate the word trolling with online bullying. They're two different things. One is just shit stirring to get a reaction and the other one is harassment.

A lot of trolling is quite harmless, but I've seen some really seriously messed up stuff on Facebook that needs a stronger word than just "trolling". Those people think that it's some sort of badge of honour to be as offensive and insensitive as possible after some sort of disaster or tragedy, which is really disgusting. As I said, that type of stuff needs a stronger word than just "trolling".

 

[TradeDraft]

Can't stand People Posting Crap on the Internet and We all use the World Trolling.

If it's not Harmless then is Bullying

 

[jathanas]

Good question for which there is no easy answer.

There's enough internet wisdom and basic techniques to help people deal with trolling. It has been happening for a while and it does get nasty. The media is bringing it to the fore and as always they dramatise.

The old adage that you don't feed trolls is valid, and sites and forums give you the ability to block/ignore. Moderating is not feasible on mega social networks.

There's a psychological profile to trolls, and it's useful to understand it. They thrive on the anonymity of the computer, and sadly find satisfaction by releasing their vitriol through this avenue. Interestingly, there's also a profile od person that attracts trolls, think Kyle Sandilands, or Yumi Stynes.

This type of anonymous hate is now part of our reality. Everything has good and bad. Trolling is part of the price we pay for the freedom of the internet.

Mostly, it's harmless...

 

[TradeDraft]

I'm just about to go bed, so I won't go into detail, but I think the media associate the word trolling with online bullying. They're two different things. One is just shit stirring to get a reaction and the other one is harassment.

A lot of trolling is quite harmless, but I've seen some really seriously messed up stuff on Facebook that needs a stronger word than just "trolling". Those people think that it's some sort of badge of honour to be as offensive and insensitive as possible after some sort of disaster or tragedy, which is really disgusting. As I said, that type of stuff needs a stronger word than just "trolling".

Also it can get Shocking on Twitter as well

 

[TradeDraft]

There's enough internet wisdom and basic techniques to help people deal with trolling. It has been happening for a while and it does get nasty. The media is bringing it to the fore and as always they dramatise.

They got for the Worse Case Stories

 

[Quicky]

Interesting article that I recently read on the topic:
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/bl...f-this-blog-20120808-23u7p.html#ixzz2315g6beD

Here's an uncomfortable coincidence. In a week when I'd normally be piling onto Tony Abbott for wanting to let racists and bigots run off at the mouth again, or putting the old boot leather to Facebook for their disgusting 'Aboriginal memes' page, instead I'm going to step back and clean up my own house.

We've spoken recently about the increasingly unpleasant tone of internet speech, of how comment threads in particular are becoming open sewers for no good reason beyond a few misanthropes deciding they quite enjoy dropping pants and taking a crap out in the open.

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/bl...f-this-blog-20120808-23u7p.html#ixzz2315g6beD

 

[76woodenspooners]

The story of Troy the troll

Once upon a time there was a naughty little troll named Troy.

Troy was a particularly mischievous troll and was always on the lookout for trouble. One day Troy was wandering through a farm and he was feeling particularly bored. It had been a quiet day and it'd been a while since his last dose of mischief. Troy passed under a grand old oak tree and saw in the meadow a flock of magpies that were playing in the grass. The magpies were having a merry old time, warbling and pecking the grass. Troy looked at this scene of Magpies and a bright grin spread across his gnarled and wrinkled face. He had an idea!

Troy quietly moved out from under the oak tree and into the meadow. He carefully tiptoed in amongst the middle of the flock of magpies. He squatted down, and with an expression of great effort consuming his ugly little face he laid a small, smelly, wet turd in the grass. Troy then stood up and quickly raced back under the shelter of the big oak tree. The magpies looked up and were overwhelmed by the turd's stench. The magpies squawked and made a big commotion. Feathers flew and they got very angry. They flew up and shat big white magpie droppings on top of Troy's turd. Very soon the magpies had created a turd hill that was ten times bigger than Troy's original contribution!

Troy was watching this from underneath the grand old oak tree and pissing himself laughing at the magpies. His big round belly was flopping around. He was snorting and guffawing and he lost total control of his laughter. Watching the magpies make that turd mound higher and higher was the funniest thing Troy had seen since, well, since the last time he pulled this prank.

Meanwhile, there was one clever magpie who got fed up with all the shit raining down from his fellow magpies and flew up to the farmhouse.

The farmer was relaxing on the couch after a hard morning of working in the fields and he had an ice cold beer in hand and was watching a replay of the 2012 ANZAC day game on the telly. The farmer loved his football. He heard tapping and looked up and saw a magpie tapping on the window with its beak. The farmer loved magpies. If there was anything that could get the farmer off the couch it was the warbling sound of a magpie. The farmer put his beer down and went across to the window. He looked out and saw the commotion going on down in the meadow. He saw Troy the troll rolling around under the grand old oak tree, Troy's face contorted with unbridled glee. The farmer shook his head and went to the gun cabinet. He returned with a shotgun and walked out onto the veranda. He loaded a shell, cocked the gun, took aim and ... KAPOW!!!

You wouldn't believe it, but he blew Troy's head clean off! Great blobs of gelatinous green troll blood splattered all over the grand old oak tree. If you've ever seen what happens to a troll when it loses its head, you'll know that it runs around a bit like a chicken. Headless Troy was running around in circles and waving his arms around. The magpies stopped squawking and looked around quizzically at Troy the headless troll.

The farmer then came down to the meadow with a shovel and his wheelbarrow. He looked down at the big turd mound and shook his head. If only the magpies had ignored Troy then there wouldn't be anything like this mess. He cleaned up the big turd mound and took the stink away. The magpies went back to frolicking back in the meadow and warbling and picking at the grass and they lived happily ever after.

And that was the story of Troy the troll.

 

[TradeDraft]

Who is Troy?

 

[Cory]

Who is Troy?

Fictional character.

 

[Quicky]

The moral of the story is feed the trolls and you're shitting in your own house! And giving the troll what they want. Report the post and a nice old farmer might came along and claim the trolls head before the shit pile gets too high. Capiche?

 

[upnsmoke]

I'm just about to go bed, so I won't go into detail, but I think the media associate the word trolling with online bullying. They're two different things. One is just shit stirring to get a reaction and the other one is harassment.

A lot of trolling is quite harmless, but I've seen some really seriously messed up stuff on Facebook that needs a stronger word than just "trolling". Those people think that it's some sort of badge of honour to be as offensive and insensitive as possible after some sort of disaster or tragedy, which is really disgusting. As I said, that type of stuff needs a stronger word than just "trolling".

+1


Media = $hit stirrers.


By actually calling "Online Bullying" as "Trolling" is a troll to Internet Forum Users/Community.


Charlotte Dawson incident is beyond trolling, she actually "trolled" first from my understanding and hence she got trolled back and also got "bullied".... but the media combined both as "trolling".



Trolling is an art form in internet forums and communities... it really is, I find it entertaining, especially the less obvious trolls and actually have valid points but clearly using strong points to bait the forum users.



Media = trolls a lot of the time.
Posting articles, quotes out of context etc, its a form of trolling if you take a step back and see what reactions and the audience affected most by their work.

 

[Quicky]

+1


Media = $hit stirrers.


By actually calling "Online Bullying" as "Trolling" is a troll to Internet Forum Users/Community.


Charlotte Dawson incident is beyond trolling, she actually "trolled" first from my understanding and hence she got trolled back and also got "bullied".... but the media combined both as "trolling".



Trolling is an art form in internet forums and communities... it really is, I find it entertaining, especially the less obvious trolls and actually have valid points but clearly using strong points to bait the forum users.



Media = trolls a lot of the time.
Posting articles, quotes out of context etc, its a form of trolling if you take a step back and see what reactions and the audience affected most by their work.

So what is the difference between online trolling? And online bullying? How would you define and distinguish both?

 

[Pie eyed]

I'm just about to go bed, so I won't go into detail, but I think the media associate the word trolling with online bullying. They're two different things. One is just shit stirring to get a reaction and the other one is harassment.

A lot of trolling is quite harmless, but I've seen some really seriously messed up stuff on Facebook that needs a stronger word than just "trolling". Those people think that it's some sort of badge of honour to be as offensive and insensitive as possible after some sort of disaster or tragedy, which is really disgusting. As I said, that type of stuff needs a stronger word than just "trolling".

I agree totally.
AS usual the media and the people who would go to any length to prevent us from hurting ourselves have gotten the wrong end of the snake.
I heard a long winded and extremely ignorant precise of what "trolling" "actually" was from some supposed expert who obviously had never been on the internet, it being Satan's tool and all.

For mine the word "Trolling" is derived from the fishing practice of dragging around a lure looking for a bite.

Bullying never comes into it.

 

[Macca_]

Just follow a simple rule; don't feed the troll.