What is Trolling?

[Anonymous]

A whole bunsh of people have been telling me I'm star chasing. I know what that is and I'm not doing it. My posts aren't that bad are they. But also some one told me I'm trolling. What does that mean. Also, if you think I'm star chasing, tell me, so I can ignore you for the rest of my life.

[Paul Milenkovic]

One persons troll is another person's incisive commentary.

The Internet and message boards have brought on their own jargon, and I believe that trolling means to be fishing for comments and responses, although a troll also means a disagreable person after the mythical beings called trolls from Scandenavian mythology.

Ever know anybody who likes to "get a rise out you?" Some people say certain things because they are entertained by the reaction they get for saying things that are perhaps controversial, emotional, or maybe even hurtful. "Teasing" is meant to get a reaction out of a person or perhaps test their ability to not react, and I suppose teasing is socially acceptable to a point, but there are some people who live for teasing or needling other people. Well, trolling is the Internet version of that.

For example, if you were to say "Amtrak is a total waste of money and Secretary Mineta is right about everything he says", I think you would provoke a lot of people on this forum. The gray-area issue is that not everybody, not even every railfan, is not 100 percent supportive of Amtrak or perhaps passenger rail. So if you criticize Amtrak on this forum, you could be trolling or you could genuinely believe based on what you know about rail operations that Amtrak is not the way to go.

The other thing about controversial viewpoints is that if you post an unpopular opinion but back it up with something original or perhaps something based on your unique personal experience, it may be better accepted than posting something emotional, laden with emotional words, or rehashing the talking points of people with an axe to grind.

On the other hand, people are ever so quick to judge "troll!" as a way to dismiss, ignore, or silence views that they don't want to deal with. Labeling someone on a forum as a troll can be a form of group think an a way to shut out people who don't conform to our preconceived views. I would like to see greater tolerance and less use of the word troll.

[tree68]

Aside from asking questions that either have no answer, have been answered previously (often ad nauseum), or tend to rile people up, the troller also tends to dismiss rational explanations.

One thing that nearly always marks a post as a troll is TYPING THE WHOLE QUESTION IN THE SUBJECT AND PUTTING IT ALL IN CAPS!

The troller also often qualifies the question, as in WOULD SUCH AND SUCH HAVE HAPPENED IF SO AND SO HADN'T DONE WHATEVER?

The end result is that people who try to answer what they initially believe is a valid question end up frustrated and angry, which is exactly what the troller wants. We've begun to learn to recognize this type of poster, and no, they don't get any respect.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Paul Milenkovic
On the other hand, people are ever so quick to judge "troll!" as a way to dismiss, ignore, or silence views that they don't want to deal with. Labeling someone on a forum as a troll can be a form of group think an a way to shut out people who don't conform to our preconceived views. I would like to see greater tolerance and less use of the word troll.

While I can agree somewhat with Paul on this, we have seen several people who have fit the troll label to a "T". Sometimes those preconceived views held by forum participants are not merely opinion, but are based on substantial experience. The diehard troller usually chooses to dismiss this experience as irrelevant to their way of thinking. (ie, If the facts don't fit my argument, that's too bad. I'll ignore the facts.)

Another characteristic frequently seen with trollers is a very low post count and recent join date. Most view those posters as previous "troublemakers" posting under a new name, especially if characteristics are similar.

As a rule we welcome everyone here on the forum. We have a wide range of knowledge and experience, and forum members are willing to share that information.

Play nice, and we'll play nice with you.

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tree68



Play nice, and we'll play nice with you.

That sums it up pretty well Larry.[;)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by breakingbenjamin4444

A whole bunsh of people have been telling me I'm star chasing. I know what that is and I'm not doing it. My posts aren't that bad are they. But also some one told me I'm trolling. What does that mean. Also, if you think I'm star chasing, tell me, so I can ignore you for the rest of my life.

"trolling".. as it pertains to net forum nomenclature, has two applications:

A) just like when fishing, you put a big, juicy controversial subject on a hook, and drag it around in the water looking to see what "will bite" on your baited line.

B) Just like a mythical troll who hides out under a bridge to prey upon unsuspecting passers by trying to cross the bridge, the forum troll puts out emotionally charged subjects for the other forum members to "run into" then leaps out to incite heated debate on the sensitive subject once somone has responded.

Just as in mythology, the best way to unseat such a troll from either a forum or from beneath a bridge, is with a good flaming,..burn the ugly little rudder out.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tree68
.

As a rule we welcome everyone here on the forum. We have a wide range of knowledge and experience, and forum members are willing to share that information.

Play nice, and we'll play nice with you.

Well said tree, as always. - PL

[doghouse]

OK. I am new to this Internet Forum thing. Reading the definition of "Trolling," I am stuck with somwhat of a conundrum. Isn't "Trolling" part of what Internet Forums are set up to do. Illicit responses from persons who read and post items on Internet Forums? So, is it bad to "troll," or is that kinda the idea?

[Randy Stahl]

Walking through a womens prison with your fly open!

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by doghouse

OK. I am new to this Internet Forum thing. Reading the definition of "Trolling," I am stuck with somwhat of a conundrum. Isn't "Trolling" part of what Internet Forums are set up to do. Illicit responses from persons who read and post items on Internet Forums? So, is it bad to "troll," or is that kinda the idea?

There is a difference between asking "What does anyone know about 251 engines still in use?" and "WOULD THE 251 STILL BE IN USE IF [name your villain] HADN'T DONE [some dispicable deed]?"

In the first example, locations of existing engines and other applications would be provided and features and failures of the engine would be discussed. In the second example, efforts by forum participants to explain the how and why would be met by dismissal of their contributions as irrelevant or worse, followed by further insinuations about the villain, and maybe even about the forum members themselves, mostly by taking their comments out of context.

There lies the rub.

[TrainFreak409]

QUOTE: Originally posted by doghouse

OK. I am new to this Internet Forum thing. Reading the definition of "Trolling," I am stuck with somwhat of a conundrum. Isn't "Trolling" part of what Internet Forums are set up to do. Illicit responses from persons who read and post items on Internet Forums? So, is it bad to "troll," or is that kinda the idea?

Well, I would say it is bad to "troll," as you are trying to get people annoyed and/or frustrated and/or angry in some way.

[csmith9474]

I heard that trolls live under network bridges.[:o)][:D]

[Junctionfan]

Trolling is when you cause fights because you are too dumb to know better. Plus, it gives you pleasure doing it.

It is a psychological illness that requires mental help or a member of society to ram their foot up your a$$.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Randy Stahl

Walking through a womens prison with your fly open!

FOFLMAO...

Good one Randy!!

How are the black flies this yee-ah?

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by doghouse

OK. I am new to this Internet Forum thing. Reading the definition of "Trolling," I am stuck with somwhat of a conundrum. Isn't "Trolling" part of what Internet Forums are set up to do. Illicit responses from persons who read and post items on Internet Forums? So, is it bad to "troll," or is that kinda the idea?

Yes, No, and Perhaps.

A lot of times it depends upon whether or not a 'good ol boys' network has evolved in the forum membership.

Often a new comer or rookie might say someting that immediately get him branded as a troll, while a full fledged member of the good ol boy network could make the very same comment, and be congratuated with backslapping approval by the lackey squad.

The primary difference being that as a well known entity, the good ol boy is not perceived as a hostile threat, even when it's obvious he is just trying to get a rouse out of his peers. Where as a newbie is an undefined entity, possibly with hostile motive, threatening to upset the natural order....

Chances are if one has less than a couple hundred posts, and is worried about being perceived as a troll, then they probably are..

[dwRavenstar]

Question posted, response follows.
Rebuttal falls into line and second response is offered.

Sounds like conversation up to that point. The troll will then often turn to a personal attack or change the subject to include a version of personal attack. When the patties start to fly the true troll will scream victim in the hopes of either dividing the mob with part on his side or of stirring the pot and creating chaos.

It becomes really crazy when one person uses multiple screen names and carries on the fight with himself in an effort to get things rolling.

[Anonymous]

star

[Anonymous]

chasing

[Anonymous]

is
what
im
doing
right
now [:I]

[trainfan1221]

You want an example of being accused of star chasing? On the classic trains forums there seems to be a slight accusation between a couple of members. One guy just used a post out of nowhere to accuse someone else of doing it. Ironically, its the only time I've checked that forum out.

[coborn35]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Randy Stahl

Walking through a womens prison with your fly open!

LMAO!!![(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]

[Junctionfan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Randy Stahl

Walking through a womens prison with your fly open!

What? That's not acceptable?[:I][:D][:I] There goes my day..............

[adrianspeeder]

Basicly they are internet attention whores. Fun to play with if you don't let them get to ya.

Sometimes I would like it better back a few years to the old style setup of the forums. Remember when we had to click on each post to read it? And none of this star crap. Somehwere I have a screenshot saved...

Adrianspeeder

[Anonymous]

I guess I am the definition of a troll, now. I am probably the 'T' in trees post and I'm OK with that.
When I joined the forums I had questions that were answered and this forum has been a GREAT place to learn.
My sense of humor has not been appreciated by all and I understand that. Most of my recent posts were pics that were my attempt at adding humor to the threads but I offended some-humored some.
Troll?- so be it. I tend to think it was humor misplaced. I may have used pics to egg-on a topic but come-on... most of them were ridiculous topics to begin with!
I got spanked and I'm just saying sorry I offended any of you.So here's to you all...