Ineffable on the concept of trolling. · 11:37am Apr 23rd, 2014

I find there's some severe misunderstandings on what trolling refers to, people seem to be under the impression 'u mad bro?' and pretending to be a moron to make people angry is the complete act of trolling. It's not. It also has nothing to do with references to bridge dwelling mythical beasts. It's shorthand for the phrase 'Trawling for responses', as in, fishing. It's a pastime that very specifically arose when the internet became mainstream. Or rather, when it was in the process of becoming mainstream. 'Trolling' was a method of entertainment and initiation.

Now this is of course, the distinction between legitimate trolling and the misunderstood concept. Veterans of the internet would write in depth articles, analysis, and arguments about their chosen topic. To the average viewer, the poster would appear to be an intelligent individual with a well structured argument, and a deep thought process. To the educated of the specific field, subtle flaws in reasoning will be evident, which of course, would be intentional. This is very specifically what the troll would craft, a dual pronged essay that misleads the uneducated and manipulates the educated through intelligent, subtle nuances in their own argument. The amount of general education, charisma and knowledge of applied Psychology makes it a somewhat difficult feat to pull off. But inherit to the idea of trolling that it was intelligent, that it was subtle. That it would mislead the masses, while drawing in the rest into an unattainable victory in the form of an endless argument where the troll dances around their partner, careful to just slightly press enough buttons that they don't catch on.

Trawling, of course, is the act of setting out a large net with the intention of catching a large amount of fish or having something the individual is searching for hop into the next. A proper troll does not harass, force confrontation, cry for attention, or 'spam'. They lay a net, in the form of a topic, one that would intrigue the masses, and their target 'victims', and the troll waits for them to throw themselves into the predator's net.

In more modern times, good trolls generally learn to make do with less, as essentially, the traditional format would be hit by 'tl;dr' by half of their intended prey, or audience, depending on how you want to look at it. But of course, everything else is retained, trolls are still trolls. There's no such thing as an obvious troll, as it's an exact opposite of the concept of trolling.

I often am accused of being a troll, and with good reason, I am one. Of course, I'm by no means a master of the art. But again. There's little reason to be one, it's a pastime after all. However, the accusation is never made at the act. As the act is subtle, and quite honestly, the only times people noticed it, they are quite content to notice it privately--generally over Skype PM's--and quietly, which is the polite response. People get the impression any blatant attempt of manipulation, any display of sarcasm--of which I'm incredibly guilty--, any attempt at feigning stupidity, or any attempt at aggression is trolling. No, it's not, it has nothing to do with the concept, in the slightest--except the sarcasm.

The issue with this, is the same as the issue of newb and noob, two slang terms with very different meanings, that end up being used interchangeably. Is that the concept of trolling didn't arise until the internet went mainstream, which is to say, an exponential increase in the population. The notion of initiation lost its meaning when the amount of newcomers vastly dwarfed the amount of veteran users. People use the term based on the context they see it used in, without knowledge of the context in which it was intended for, or applied to.

There's a name for people who spam, harass with memes, and toxic attitudes. It's far more unpleasant name than troll, and I imagine you know what it is. Here's the difference: Trolling is capable of being constructive and not in some vague round about way, the skillset itself can be used constructively. Being toxic is to the community, on the other hand, is not in any way constructive and has no ability to be so.

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Comments ( 31 )

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Happy

Happy #1 · Apr 23rd, 2014 · 2 · ·

There's a name for people who spam, harass with memes, and toxic attitudes.

Dickwaffles?

Inedible Boobidity

Inedible Boobidity #2 · Apr 23rd, 2014 · 1 · ·

2038095

Yes, Dickwaffles.

Tentacle Slaphappy

Tentacle Slaphappy #3 · Apr 23rd, 2014 · · ·

There's a name for people who spam, harass with memes, and toxic attitudes.

Disposable thought byproducts?

Big Baby

Big Baby #4 · Apr 23rd, 2014 · · ·

I got this feeling in my bones you've trolled me sometime. I just know it.

CosmicAfro

CosmicAfro #5 · Apr 23rd, 2014 · · ·

Huh. And as I said in Skype earlier, to linking this to people who think they're trolls I shall go.

The Sexy Assistant

The Sexy Assistant #6 · Apr 23rd, 2014 · · ·

... I feel abused...

HeartTortoisePigeonDog

HeartTortoisePigeonDog #7 · Apr 23rd, 2014 · · ·

2038095 No.... it's you

Trixie:
1) what are you doing not being the silly horny bunny you are
2) trolling = internet pranking like thingies (at least that's how I always saw it)

Inedible Boobidity

Inedible Boobidity #8 · Apr 23rd, 2014 · · ·

2038800
The term was created with a definition and context in which to be used. I generally frown on the idea of just avoiding having a decent vocabulary by reusing words regardless of the context or definition. Such as for example, 'Fuck'. It is used in to many ways to be effectively meaningless, with no actual application of the word covering something that there isn't already an English word for.

I'm not silly.

2038631

Ssshh, I never trolled you, silly.

We can still have our kinky friendship love?