― Stuart Arcasm, Monday, 16 December 2002 12:48 (twenty-three years ago)
― women (blueski), Monday, 16 December 2002 13:53 (twenty-three years ago)
― j.lu (j.lu), Monday, 16 December 2002 15:46 (twenty-three years ago)
― Archel (Archel), Monday, 16 December 2002 15:57 (twenty-three years ago)
― Anna (Anna), Monday, 16 December 2002 15:59 (twenty-three years ago)
― Graham (graham), Monday, 16 December 2002 16:08 (twenty-three years ago)
― Anna (Anna), Monday, 16 December 2002 16:15 (twenty-three years ago)
1. v.,n. [From the Usenet group alt.folklore.urban] To utter a posting on Usenet designed to attract predictable responses or flames; or, the post itself. Derives from the phrase "trolling for newbies" which in turn comes from mainstream "trolling", a style of fishing in which one trails bait through a likely spot hoping for a bite. The well-constructed troll is a post that induces lots of newbies and flamers to make themselves look even more clueless than they already do, while subtly conveying to the more savvy and experienced that it is in fact a deliberate troll. If you don't fall for the joke, you get to be in on it. See also YHBT. 2. n. An individual who chronically trolls in sense 1; regularly posts specious arguments, flames or personal attacks to a newsgroup, discussion list, or in email for no other purpose than to annoy someone or disrupt a discussion. Trolls are recognizable by the fact that they have no real interest in learning about the topic at hand - they simply want to utter flame bait. Like the ugly creatures they are named after, they exhibit no redeeming characteristics, and as such, they are recognized as a lower form of life on the net, as in, "Oh, ignore him, he's just a troll." Compare kook. 3. n. [Berkeley] Computer lab monitor. A popular campus job for CS students. Duties include helping newbies and ensuring that lab policies are followed. Probably so-called because it involves lurking in dark cavelike corners.
Some people claim that the troll (sense 1) is properly a narrower category than flame bait, that a troll is categorized by containing some assertion that is wrong but not overtly controversial. See also Troll-O-Meter.
The use of `troll' in either sense is a live metaphor that readily produces elaborations and combining forms. For example, one not infrequently sees the warning "Do not feed the troll" as part of a followup to troll postings.
-- The Jargon File
― Jonathan Williams (ex machina), Monday, 16 December 2002 16:51 (twenty-three years ago)
― , Monday, 16 December 2002 17:20 (twenty-three years ago)
― Gordon (Gordon), Monday, 16 December 2002 18:12 (twenty-three years ago)
― suzy (suzy), Monday, 16 December 2002 18:24 (twenty-three years ago)
― Chris V. (Chris V), Monday, 16 December 2002 18:28 (twenty-three years ago)
― suzy (suzy), Monday, 16 December 2002 18:32 (twenty-three years ago)
― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 16 December 2002 18:39 (twenty-three years ago)
― Gordon (Gordon), Monday, 16 December 2002 19:09 (twenty-three years ago)
― daria g, Monday, 16 December 2002 19:14 (twenty-three years ago)
― nabisco (nabisco), Monday, 16 December 2002 19:20 (twenty-three years ago)
― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 16 December 2002 19:27 (twenty-three years ago)
― nabisco (nabisco), Monday, 16 December 2002 23:25 (twenty-three years ago)
― Mr. Pot (OH THE IRONY) (Dan Perry), Monday, 16 December 2002 23:27 (twenty-three years ago)
― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 01:46 (twenty-three years ago)
― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 09:55 (twenty-three years ago)
― michael wells (michael w.), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 09:59 (twenty-three years ago)
― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 10:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― smee (smee), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 10:03 (twenty-three years ago)
― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 10:08 (twenty-three years ago)
― toraneko (toraneko), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 10:38 (twenty-three years ago)
― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 10:41 (twenty-three years ago)
― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 10:42 (twenty-three years ago)
― smee (smee), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 10:46 (twenty-three years ago)
― C J (C J), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 11:20 (twenty-three years ago)
― nathalie (nathalie), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 11:23 (twenty-three years ago)
― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 11:26 (twenty-three years ago)
― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 14:04 (twenty-three years ago)
― maryann (maryann), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 08:26 (twenty-three years ago)
Me = in laziness to Maryann. I mostly just drop rubbish on the floor. I am short-sighted and tall so I can't see it once it's down there and I can pretend it doesn't exist - until visitors are coming over and then I am annoyed at my previous laziness.
― toraneko (toraneko), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 12:55 (twenty-three years ago)
― mark s (mark s), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 12:58 (twenty-three years ago)
― toraneko (toraneko), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 13:10 (twenty-three years ago)
― Kim (Kim), Thursday, 19 December 2002 01:03 (twenty-three years ago)
http://mountainrainstables.homestead.com/files/undeniable.JPG
― bobby bedelia, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 18:23 (eighteen years ago)
lol This thread is so politically incorrect! Robblerobble etc
― kenan, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 18:28 (eighteen years ago)
I remember Jon's old troll response
― Curt1s Stephens, Thursday, 12 July 2007 01:25 (eighteen years ago)
You giggle like fat wee devils.
― marmotwolof, Thursday, 12 July 2007 01:53 (eighteen years ago)
You giggle like fat twee devils.
You giggle like fatwah devils.
― marmotwolof, Thursday, 12 July 2007 01:54 (eighteen years ago)
STUART ARCASM, I just got a friendly spam from him.
― Abbott, Thursday, 12 July 2007 01:55 (eighteen years ago)
I issue a fatwa against robblerobble
― humansuit, Thursday, 12 July 2007 01:56 (eighteen years ago)
Actually, 'trolling' is from Palare, London gay slang...and to troll is to cruise for sex. D'oh.
y duz suzy kno palare
― marmotwolof, Thursday, 12 July 2007 02:03 (eighteen years ago)
an album by Tori Amos
― marmotwolof, Thursday, 12 July 2007 02:04 (eighteen years ago)
quit charming the pants off us
-- women (blueski), Monday, December 16, 2002 8:53 AM (Monday, December 16, 2002 8:53 AM) Bookmark Link
roffle
― HI DERE, Thursday, 12 July 2007 02:10 (eighteen years ago)