General Discussion

As I and the internets have grown older I have seen the meaning of the word "troll" evolve to become almost meaningless. For the most part, anyone who is perceived as being "negative" in any sense is called a troll. This oversimplification of things is unfortunate.

The original meaning of "troll" was far different than it is today when we old farts were typing away with our real names or account numbers on BBs at 2400 baud. That's right, kids, there were bulletin boards and newsgroups and such long before the world wide web launched. I was first on the Prodigy service in '90 or '91... I forget. But I digress.

Back in ye olden time of pre-internets (and even in the early years of the www) a "troll" was considered to be someone who was arguing *disingenuously* in their posting - someone who didn't really believe what they were saying, and who wanted simply to push buttons and derail the general order of things.

This is an important distinction.

The Troll was someone who was attempting to evoke emotional responses and/or drive threads or entire forums off-topic and into moderation hell. The best trolls made a point of pride to do this as subtly as possible. The best trolls were like the best thieves - nobody knows their names because nobody ever even realized they were trolls.

In other words, it's not simply failing to praise something that makes one a "troll," at least not in the sense I think is best. What matters is whether someone is making a legitimate attempt to make ANY point, even if that is a highly-emotional, name-calling, immature rant full of errors, bad english, and general stupidity.

Over the last 5-10 years, I've seen the change to the insta-label of "troll" thrown around at anyone who isn't cheers and sunshine. This leads to the loss of accountability in one's arguments. People who fling the "troll" label at anyone who disagrees with them - or flames them - do themselves and their argument a disservice. They disregard the claims (and emotion) and simply lower themselves to using an ad hominem... "troll."

I urge you to reconsider your definition of what "trolling" is. Don't be so fast to disregard all "negative" posts and posters, and don't think that attacking your attacker proves you ever had a supportable point. Always try to take a post in the spirit in which it was intended, even if the poster botches the delivery.

At this point the world troll has joined noob and fanboy.  Its so deluded and over used it has no real meaning anymore.  It's fallen into the category of one of those terms people use to try to sound good at the internet.

And Wow!  I thought I was the only one on these boards who is actually old enough to remember "BBS" ? LOL

I am really glad you brought this up as I also have seen the "troll" word connected with so many different things that it's original definition is no longer understood or used properly.  Thanks for making me remember both the BBS and the "originality" of the word "Troll".

Great Post my friend.

Originally posted by Radiick

 

And Wow!  I thought I was the only one on these boards who is actually old enough to remember "BBS" ? LOL

I am really glad you brought this up as I also have seen the "troll" word connected with so many different things that it's original definition is no longer understood or used properly.  Thanks for making me remember both the BBS and the "originality" of the word "Troll".

 

Great Post my friend.

 

Ever play Trade Wars?

I must of been in the Eden of BBSs cause we never had trolls when i was BBS jumping. But i guess if your using local servers people are more respectful?

I don't remember hearing the word troll until i started using VN Boards.

I'm a troll in the oldfashioned sense of the word :) Although I usually get caught, because I lose my subtlety in the fire of things :P I never curse though, that's so..whatever :)

This is  an actual Forum Troll.  They are hard to track  down and  photograph, kinda like Bigfoot.

I started also back in 1991 or 92, and i  also can not remember exact date but, i mainly played chess online it was one of first games you could play alot and many sites back then offered chess.

You had offcorse no forums for chess but you could limited chat in very small window next to chess board, and looked like troll's how we see them today, but chess players mainly communicate through game.

But already back in those days you had players who just act like trolls, like we see them today, when you maked a move and they where losing they started ranting like crazy, and dc from game hehe.

But im not realy sure when i first realise when someone was a troll becouse i played first years on internet from early 90's up to 99 chess.

My first game online was AC 99 and i think around 2002 i discover forums like mmorpg.com.

HAHAHA Gillvane!

I love your troll picture!!!!

On the BBSs i visited, i played the text based adventure games, or food fight. Sometimes dabble in the weird adult themed games. (You have been arrested! The street walker you tried to pick up was actually a cop!)

Honestly though, the people i met on those servers were all friendly, knowledgeable, geeks who liked coding.

They were almost a little too friendly now that i think of it.... Eeeeewwww!

Troll as in trolling for fish.

I cast with the bait, 'abortion should be made illegal and mothers to be imprisoned' and then I sit back and see how many fish I catch.

I have no emotional or intellectual stock in the statement whatsoever. My soul intent is to see how big a @$*^ storm I can cuase.

Fish is also a term used by con men to describ