What Happens When You Feed The Trolls

[Coyotl]

[inch4progress]

1. Do you have a link to tyt page? I'm hoping there may be a study link.

The inconsistent perceptual filters involved are extremely diverse and complex. The effects of a certain stimuli at one time may be completely different another time contingent on an infinite number of factors. Confirmation bias is a wacky thing, but fun to read about
I'm sure it will be a great read.

[canuckledragger]

2. trust me...

trolls like myself (Not on DU though, I LOVE this place!) are under no illusions that we're going to change anyone's minds...but it's funny to watch the liars and such double-down on the crazy.

If their argument was shaky to begin with, watch it crack wide open with a wee bit of...provocation...

[defacto7]

3. The definition of troll is probably the most ambiguous "idea" on the Internet.

Trolling is in the eye of the beholder. Either there are very few trolls or we are all trolls. It depends on the site, the subject, and the writing style. What is trolling to one person or one TOS, is welcome initiation of commenting on another. If a person conforms to a sites standard of social behavior, writing style and message, they would not be considered a troll. Put that person on another site with a different standard and all of a sudden they are a troll.

I have my definition of troll... it is simply commenting for the sake of disturbance or promotion of misinformation. But who is to decide what is simply for disturbance or what is misinformation? Many are labeled as trolls on a given site just because people don't like their writing style, philosophy or personality, and the majority of that site band together in a clique to out said commenter even outside the site's administrative control mechanism. Are they actually a troll or are they just socially unacceptable to the group? There are times a sites control mechanism becomes "infiltrated" by its own disruptors. This application of "troll" sounds more like forum grooming to me.

The definition needs to be defined more simply; I suppose disturbance would be the only criteria. Outside of that, the definition can becomes a device of the social "IN's" on a particular site for no progressive or reasonable outcome.

[Coyotl]

4. Check out the academic studies on trolls.

Plus, there is some good, scientific taxonomy of web trolls in the DU archive

[defacto7]

6. Here's an interesting article...

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2012/11/the-gentlemans-guide-to-forum-disruption/

It's an interesting way to categorize behavior and does have some good points. Some of these points can also be recategorized into human behaviors that off the Internet would not be considered trolling necessarily, just bad manners.

[BillyRibs]

5. I define troll:

The moment it becomes a personal attack with out fact or debate. IE... "your a (insert name calling here)" , "your Mom Blows (insert animal or derogatory racial slang Here)", "your a stupid (/ idiot / asshole /or it just gets worse here.)", " If you had any Brains at all...",
Insensitivity and ignorance are always good trollish behavior. Things Like "That's all it's going to cost you WHY CRY ME A RIVER!" not knowing or caring how or what the posters situation is. Is a good way to troll for a reaction. (I rate this type with the people who complain about a diabetic who has to replace the candy in their purse with food stamps.) If you can't offer an civilized argument or are just insulting or unknowing about a subject and just wish to strike out at some one.
Some observations here; 1)I'm not the target you are looking for. 2)This has gotten me in trouble on more than one occasion here. 3)I have learned to not call out trolls at DU as they don't play fair either. WAH WAH WAH HE CALLED ME A TROLL! (after I said his mom sucks moose .......) But that's not the Issue here He called me a troll and he should be banned!!!!!!!!) 4)The troll like insults are also more cleverly disguised here as well. But most importantly is the question do we have them here? Yeah, and Boy do we have em in droves.

[defacto7]

7. Here's a question Mr. Ribs....

Should all bad behavior on the Internet be considered trolling? or just bad behavior for the sake of bad behavior? I read a lot of posts on DU that become heated and commenters make statement like you mention except it's in a heated argument where there's a lot of disagreement. I wouldn't call that trolling although it may be worth a jury hide or Mer-t consideration because it's not this site's standard. If the nastiness comes out of nowhere or there is a way to track it down to an unnecessary attack just for the hell of it, then I would probably consider it trolling behavior. But then someone has to be the judge. ???

[BillyRibs]

8. Good Question!

Better observation. Community standards will prevail.

"People will often go too far in finding out how far they can go"- Sam Vimes In the Terry Pratchett Novel 'Thud'.