http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/sep/14/troll-sean-duffy-internet
I found this link fascinating.
My early morning swim in the International Media.
A refuge from my inability to sleep all night it hit me.
I never understood what drives us, yes me too, to use the net.
Fear genuinely the real damage the unwise/unaware inflict on them selves.
But also see and like the Social inclusion we all gain from our romp here.
Only rare that we get a troll that survives very long but we must surely ask our selves now and again what drives some.
Lets not get in to personality's.
To do so would make us trolls.
But in a general way , we can ask what is a troll.
We are human, not perfect, each of us is sometimes right and sometimes wrong.
But can we other than say on line activity is no different than real life.
Except trolling is such that its users can remain convinced we are seeing their message, and that they are not seen.

a troll surely is someone who rises to the bait
much like trolling for fish

sadly the lable is attatched cleverly..
to those...*who respond to the troller

but there is another name for them
that escapes me at the moment

[as usual..im with you mate]
but..i dont click on links..
[it stuffs up my service provider]dodo

the only links i trust are in house

so what was the link saying
on olo

I think it's a generational thing. People brought up with the net accept it as part of the landscape. I feel it's only the oldies that take it all so seriously.

Don't feed the trolls is a very old saying.

I would say the definition is someone who is not genuine about what they write, and they write it provocatively.

If someone writes in a provocative manner but they really believe what they are saying I would argue that isn't trolling.

As with Batman and The Joker, one needs the other. Trolls provide a community service for those who love to be outraged, and those who love to look down on others. I see no problems with this arangement. People have often said to me all my entertainment is at others expense, but I always retort that it cant possibly be too expensive as people know my MO and always come back for more. In short, they must enjoy this relationship.

I believe on most news sites trolls are paid by the site to generate discussion and hence advertising revenue.

Though I have never been on Graham's payroll.

In fact, one could argue the whole news site is trolling. Most articles are there to provoke attention, and aren't genuine about the story or the facts.

Journalists are the original trolls.

Hi Belly,

According to various links on the web -
internet trolls are apparently very common.
They frequent sites where people interact with
each other. Discussion forums such as OLO are
popular. According to one site:

"An internet "troll" is an abusive anti-social user
who delights in causing disharmony and conflict
online."

"They're someone who abuse their online anonymity
by purposely sowing hatred, bigotry, racism,
mysogyny or simply bickering between others and they
thrive in an environment where they're allowed to
make public comments."

The only way to deal with a troll is to ignore them
and take away their ability to post online. That's why the
saying, "Don't feed the troll!"

I think people make too many assumptions about the affect of anonymity. In regards to OLO, it's totally irrelevant. It can easily be argued that one is not anonymous if for 5 years they have posted under the same moniker and conversed with the same people. Patterns of behavior, group dynamics etc have all been formed under the same identity.

It's almost as if the belief is that the threat of violence should be +ever present to authenticate an identity.

I wind people up all the time in my daily life, and rarely get punched in the head. I think people over-estimate how prone people are to use violence.

Dear Belly,

We're not talking about regular posters here
- but trolls.
And that's an entirely different kettle of fish.

Again, according to various sites:

1) Trolls enjoy using shock-value statements to get
angry responses from others.

2) They gain energy by you insulting them.

3) They gain energy when you get angry.

4) They are immune to criticism and logical arguments.

5) They cannot be reasoned with.

6)They do not feel remorse.

7) They have sociopathic tendencies and delight
in other people having hurt feelings.

8) They consider themsleves separate from the social
order.

9) They do not abide by the rules of common courtesy.

10) They consider themselves above social responsibility.

11) The only way to deal with a troll is to ignore them.

As I stated in my earlier post - an internet "troll"
is an abusive anti-social user who delights in causing
disharmony and conflict online. Luckily our regular posters
don't fit into that category.