Talk:Troll (slang)

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 10 January 2022 and 4 May 2022. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Goldie18 (article contribs).

Another use of T.R.O.L.L.

Does the information in another Wikipedia article fit anywhere in this article?

• Snopes.com#Lost_Legends

"In an attempt to demonstrate the perils of over-reliance on the internet as authority, the Mikkelsons assembled a series of fabricated urban folklore tales that they term "The Repository of Lost Legends". The name was chosen for its acronym, T.R.O.L.L., a reference to the early 1990s definition of the word troll, meaning an Internet prank, of which David Mikkelson was a prominent practitioner." -- ~~

References

Communication Behaviors

The definition of Internet trolling has been examined within the context of communication research; however, there is no exact definition. This is due to the fact that trolling means different things to different people and online communities. Kiesler et al. and Siegel et al. have conducted early research that indicates and examines the “deindividualization in computer-mediated communication” (pp.549). The sense of anonymity that the Internet provided for its users allows low self-awareness and the likelihood that individuals will act on the inhibited impulses. Suler defines two types of disinhibition - toxic and benign disinhibition - that individuals reveal in online discussions. Toxic disinhibition refers to characteristics of rude language, anger, and harsh criticism. According to Hardaker, the common characteristic of the various definitions of trolling is “the posting of incendiary comments with the intent of provoking others into conflict” (pp. 9). Brott provides a list of behaviors that he deems positive in relation to communication behaviors and styles. Some of these include: “Affirming the feelings and needs of others, compromising, negotiating, helping others succeed, expressing respect for values and opinions of others, and talking positively and constructively” (pp. 1). Following these characteristics of positive communication styles, trolling goes against all of them. Trolling is centered on the toller’s enjoyment of negative communication behaviors. Klempkaand & Stimson sought to understand “what behaviors are commonly identified as trolling?” (pp.12). These communication characteristics included the use of sexist or homophobic language, mention of physical violence, poor grammar or profanity, and nonsensical and rude to individuals reading the comments. All of these characteristics are consistent with what Brott would deem poor communication behavior.

References

I would like to add to this comment and clarify what I think it has to do with the encyclopedia. There has been an evolution of the usage of the word. Originally, the meaning of the word "troll" was someone who was doing the "posting inflammatory content to provoke a reaction" as the specific goal without other primary motives, i. e., the person trolling generaly didnt genuinely believe what they were writing or wrote in a hyperbolic way to provoke outrage (doin' it for the lulz). There was an internet subculture that evolved with this that was associated with 4chan users and Encyclopedia Dramatica.

However, as the word entered broader public usage, the "means many things to different people" definition became more appropriate. For example, the term "concern troll" doesnt have much relation to the original meaning, as a "concern troll" is someone who hides their true intention with a different argument. That definition does not require the "concern troll" for intended to provoke a reaction. The similarity is that what the person is posting is not their actual concern, but that only relates to the original definition in the sense of "people saying something on the internet that has a motive other then the surface motive". That would of course expand the meaning of troll far beyond the scope of the original usage. Another example of this evolution in usage is members of a partisan political view calling comments expressing an opposite view "(disliked group) troll". The word "Troll" has then a negative connotation and is perhaps suggesting that such people post to aggravate others of the different view, but it is not mean in that context that the beliefs the "troll" has stated are insincere. Personally I have seen this from "Left" US commenters to refer to other commentors as "Trump Trools" or "right wing trolls" This often occurs in comment sections of articles or forums that are percieved as "left", thus suggesting the motivation of the commenters is to come into an "enemy space" to provoke and irritate. But it is a very different from the original sense (i.e., going into a Jewish group and claiming the Holocaust never happeened when one doesnt believe that or doesnt care just to generate aggravted responses). For whatever reason I have not seen this phenomenon on right wing online spaces, but its possible that is because I see such comment sections less. Another example of a use of the word is to label commentators as not random civlian commentators but payed propaganda agents. For example, I have seen people referred to as "Putin trolls" who are suspected of being paid agents of the state of Russia to post propaganda comments. In this case, the motivation/presentation of the comment is fake, but the reason is often not simply to provoke a reaction. As far as what this all has to do with the article, I think the article should clarify the original meaning and use of the term and its evolution. I understand this woulf be a difficult thing to researcg and document, and given my limited expereince as an editor I would not know how to do it, but it would be possible and I think in terms of explaining the actual etymology and evolution of the term, such a sourced explanation would be helpful. I believe that is somewhat to the point the previous commenter was trying to make, and I am responding partially to the question below of what that person's statements have to do with the article. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.185.109.34 (talk) 06:43, 20 October 2022 (UTC)

Who are you and what do you propose to do in benefit of the encyclopedia? Julietdeltalima (talk) 22:09, 3 August 2022 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Media Innovations

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 23 August 2022 and 9 December 2022. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Allison Wallace (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by Lvmcintire (talk) 18:04, 11 October 2022 (UTC)

Trawling

Internet Troll actually refers to TRAWLING. As in: trawling for an argument. 2607:FEA8:7CE1:DA00:104A:4F5E:6D50:1E86 (talk) 02:42, 16 December 2022 (UTC)

article title

The qualifier "(slang") seems awkwardly antiquated given that this is the main usage of this word in modern times. If some disambiguation is needed, then wouldn't something like "Troll (rhetoric)" or "Troll (behavior)" be more informative as a title? DKEdwards (talk) 20:21, 4 March 2023 (UTC)