Quote Originally Posted by Niya View Post
Tech and Funky pretty much nailed it. People sometimes need to be brought down a few notches. No one says it has to be all serious and formal. And if someone can't take a hit and roll with and maybe have some fun with it, then that's their own fault. They choose to take offense.

Nevertheless, I want to address a couple things here:-



You're making the same mistake troll victims make, taking things way too seriously. First of all, I'm not on any mission except for increasing dopamine levels in my brain. Don't think that just because I think Christians are loony that I won't troll Atheists if given the chance, even though I agree with them. Its not about championing any particular ideology. Its about the entertainment derived from the hilarity that ensues when you remind overly self-important people that...well...they're not really that important. If people stopped taking themselves so seriously online....Trolling would not be so entertaining and would thus lose its appeal.

The most perfect example of how to handle trolling I can think of is that whole Donald Trump/Barack Obama birther fiasco. Donald started trolling Barry hard about his birth certificate. Now Barry could have gotten all butt hurt and emotional, but he didn't. What did he do ? He waited for old Donald and utterly humiliated him at that dinner thing by showing him how petty he was through his own form of trolling. Barack Obama doesn't take himself too seriously. He knows he is only human and has limits. He knows that even though he is the most powerful man in the world that he is not above being a target for criticism and doubt.. He has the right frame of mind. That's why he is such an electric and charming public figure. Humility is the medicine for trolling.



"Oh yea, I'm weird as hell. I count all my rice grains before I consume it and I like to eat dirt too. And I'm not a pox....I'm a SUPER-POX!!! This techie is the most incurable pox there is. And I come in different flavors too...oh my I think I'm a lil crazy too "

Now tell me just how is a troll going to derive entertainment from someone who not only agrees with him but amplifies his views as well. And on a good day, I might even sing him praises for being able to assess my character so well. Ain;t nothing more annoying to a troll than victims that don't bite his trollbait....at least not in the way he expects. If people wanna come here and troll, lol I say let em. Won't bother me one bit....It'll be fun.
I guess part of this is about how you define trolling. To me it always has a negative connotation. You seem to consider it, to some extent, lighthearted jesting or trying to lighten people up. I consider them people who are deliberately trying to disrupt conversations with inane or insulting posts. I think the way I see it is the generally accepted definition.

Bottom line: Please don’t feed the trolls!



I'll post this but it might be too big: It is from here: http://netforbeginners.about.com/od/...rnet-troll.htm

Question: What Is an Internet 'Troll'? How Should I Deal With Trolls?
Answer: An internet 'troll' is an abusive or obnoxious user who uses shock value to promote arguments and disharmony in online communities. Named after the wicked troll creatures of children's tales, an internet troll is someone who stirs up drama and abuses their online anonymity by purposely sowing hatred, bigotry, racism, mysogyny, or just simple bickering between others. Trolls like a big audience, so they frequent blog sites, news sites, discussion forums, and game chat. Trolls thrive in any environment where they are allowed to make public comments.

At the lighter end of the troll spectrum, trolls can be personal friends who like to goad and joke with their buddies online. In this case, 'trolling' will mean 'stop hassling me, or I won't invite you to my birthday party'.

At the harsher end of the troll spectrum, trolls are cruel and malicious users who want to set an online community on fire with hate and discord.

The Sad Truths of Internet Trolls:


1.Trolls are immune to criticism and logical arguments. True trolls cannot be reasoned with, regardless of how sound your logical argument is.
2.Trolls do not feel remorse like you and me. They have sociopathic tendencies, and accordingly, they delight in other people having hurt feelings.
3.Trolls consider themselves separate from the social order.
4.Trolls do not abide by etiquette or the rules of common courtesy.
5.Trolls consider themselves above social responsibility.
6.Trolls gain energy by you insulting them.
7.Trolls gain energy when you get angry.
8.The only way to deal with a troll is to ignore him, or take away his ability to post online.


How Should I Deal With Internet Trolls?

You cannot win with a troll. Publicly retaliating against them just fuels their childish need for attention. There are only 3 reliable ways to deal with trolls, all of which focus on removing their audience, removing their power, and depriving them of the attention they seek.


1.For a casual or emergent troll: completely ignore the person's postings. While it is difficult for most users to to let a troll have the last word, this tactic successfully takes the wind out of a casual troll's sails.
2.For repeating troll offenders: report them to the moderators of the system. If enough people report the toll, this will often prompt the moderators to take action (see number 3 below)
3.Have the moderators take away the troll's ability to post online. This will commonly mean that the troll is kicked from the system, or blocked by IP address. Even better is when the troll is allowed to continue posting, but unbeknownst to him: all of his postings are deleted from everyone else's view. This will lure the troll into wasting his efforts while still feeling proud of his childish antics. This moderator move is sometimes called 'muting' or 'bonzo-ing' the offender.


What Are Some Examples of Internet Trolling?

Ans: here are two examples of trolls abusing other people and their online communities:
•Example: a troll named 'Nimrod Severn' trolls Facebook and spreads hateful messages on memorium pages.
•Example: a troll named 'C. Fang' incites forum arguments over anti-diversity and anti-multiculturalism


Where Do You Find Internet Trolls?

Ans: internet trolls are sadly common. They can be found wherever online users interact with each other. Trolls will abuse others in news blogs, political discussion forums, hobbyist communities online, Facebook pages, torrent search engine conversations, and in online game chat. Trolls have become very common in news sites. Many online news sources now avoid using open comment features because so many internet trolls will use this venue to post abusive comments as responses to news articles.

How Exactly Do Internet Trolls Abuse Others?

Ans: internet trolls seek to be disruptive and hurtful by using any of the following techniques:
1.Trolls will post abusive and hurtful comments directed at a specific person (aka "flaming" another person)
2.Trolls will incite broad arguments and provoke angry responses by making controversial statements. (e.g. racism, religious intolerance, bigoted or elitist views, mysogyny, extreme political views)
3.Trolls will narcissistically dominate conversations, trying to make themselves the center of attention. (e.g. nonstop comments about themselves and their accomplishments; repeated self-centered statements and bragging)
4.Trolls will start many off-topic threads, seeking to derail users from the focus of an online community.


Why Do People Enjoy Being Internet Trolls?

Ans: it is a kind of power rush or ego trip to be a troll. Being online is a place that is largely free of perceived consequences... an insecure person can get a sense of power online, without ever having to face someone directly. With the Internet being a world of imagination and fantasy for some, cowardly users can forge an alter ego for themselves, and act out their feelings of anger and inadequacy. It's sad and unfortunate that our advanced communications also brings out the darker side of many people.