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What is a troll?

3K views 38 replies 14 participants last post by  distrbd 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory,[1] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response2 or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.[3]

Most folks think of trolls as the above definition. However, I feel there can be other definitions. Let me give you one of mine.

There are numerous ways to inflame and disrupt an online community. A person that attempts to strictly control discourse and invade the privacy of others is a form of troll. Taking away our right to convey our thoughts and restrict those thoughts to only "accepted" thoughts is trolling. A troll attempts to build the community in their image of what it should be. To me that is very disrupting and not acceptable to the community as a whole.

Recently, an individual, with almost religious fervor has attempted to change and set rules we should all follow. Response to his flaming troll post and his posts attempting to gain "insider knowledge" to site information would suggest he was unsuccessful.

I don't expect total acceptance from the community on my thoughts. However, I am thankful for the ability to put those thoughts out there. I also wholeheartedly accept rebuttals and negative comments. It's all part of participating in the world of Internet forums.

The self-important individual of whom I speak did get one thing right in his troll post. This is a good forum. As long as we stay vigilant the forum will remain a place woodworkers can gather for free information sharing and fun.
 
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#7 ·
Then there are those who think their posts are so important that if anyone dares respond in a way that the poster deems insufficiently respectful, that "anyone" is immediately blocked.
 
#8 ·
Then there are those who think their posts are so important that if anyone dares respond in a way that the poster deems insufficiently respectful, that "anyone" is immediately blocked.

- Clint Searl
You must be referring to "Dan'um Style" and a few other. But, I'd be surprised if DKV has a block list.
 
#18 ·
Just got back from Santa Cruz. How's the battle of the trolls progressing? Have we caught any while I was gone? How are Jeffp's efforts going? Between the two of us we should be able to make this site troll free.
 
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