so what IS a troll?
By jb78000
@jb78000 (15163)
December 27, 2009 8:09am CST
nordic mythological figure, malicious internet user or someone you find vaguely annoying? i have noticed that people have some very different ideas of what a troll, in particular internet trolls are, among others i have come across these definitions.
the classic - user who appears on sites only to make nasty comments then goes after banning until they have a new identity the next weekend.
the occasional - user who spends most of their time behaving relatively normallly on social sites but occasional goes after people with vicious abuse.
the mylot neg troller - if you don't know what these are go into either religion or politics and say something. watch what happens to your star the following day. these are people that seem to think an excellent way to make a point is to follow around someone they disagree with and hit that negative button.
the stalker - for various reasons someone that adds a lot of reasonable comments to your discussions. becomes a troll if you'd rather they didn't.
the imaginary - someone you have had a diagreement with that you think is doing all kinds of bad things to you.
so what is your definition of a 'troll' and which of these have you encountered or think you have encountered.
6 people like this
7 responses
@Sandra1952 (6051)
• Spain
27 Dec 09
Hello, Judith. Thanks for the Troll Glossary. I never knew there was such a thing as an internet troll until I joined MyLot. Unfortunately, I've had most of them, all rolled into one person, and several of the established members here know who that one is, as they had similar problems. That was quite a nasty experience, and, as I was daft enough to give that person my own email address because I thought they were a good friend, I still get the occasional piece of vitriolic burble, which I ignore.
I had a right bruising from the Neg Trollers when I stupidly went in and gave my opinion in a 'gay' discussion. I went from 9 to 6 overnight, but it took me nearly 3 months to get back. The Greek Girl is, of course, a stalker, but she's not a stalker troll, because she comes after you, me and several others because she believes - quite rightly - that we start some brilliant discussions. Hers are pretty good as well, so I go and stalk her when we're overloaded with ice cream, coffee and pizza discussions. 
@mysdianait (66205)
• Italy
27 Dec 09
How I can understand all that Sandra! Only when you go through it can you realise what it 'tastes' like.
So if someone stalks another to plus them up, are they to be considered as a troll too?
p.s. I was not aware of this term either until I joined here. Maybe they are all gathered here?
3 people like this
@Sandra1952 (6051)
• Spain
27 Dec 09
Hello, Diana. Yes, we both went through that, but it wasn't all bad, as because of that we became friends, and we've had some fun together, which alleviates the negative stuff.
Judith, I get annoyed with those one-liner trolls as well, and don't usually respond to them. BTW, please send some plus trollers in my direction!
3 people like this
@stvasile (7313)
• Romania
27 Dec 09
I can't say I've had much to do with the trolls of myLot. As I once said (I can't remember if it was one of your discussions or not) in The Lord of the Rings (can't remember which of the books) it is said that trolls have been created by the Dark Lord as an opposite to Ents, but they only got a pale opponent for them. That's why trolls don't really bother me. I've been here since 2006 and I'm still standing. One of the reasons might be that I don't really care if someone attacks me. Everyone has the right to express their opinion, as I have the right not to respond aggressions, not to lower myself to their level. The trolls will pass. I will keep on going on.
@thea09 (18313)
• Greece
27 Dec 09
Quite a good definition of the various types there jb, as it's such a nuisance when people mistakenly mistake a stalker as a troll. Now I could never be a troll as wouldn't dream of using that kind of vulgar language unless stuck behind an Italian camper van on the mountain, certainly not in the mylot forum. I think mylot trolls who are banned should just stay away but they are forever sneaking back in hoping to hit the elusive 100 posts so they can then start negging again.
There are a number of good stalkers here though, even the ones who don't own up to it. I often stalk my friends as they might be having some fun, and I do have a little tendency to stalk people who have said something rude about me or my friends in an effort try and annoy them into good behaviour. I loathe the spineless neg trolls and they are so easy to detect. There was a point where I was tripping over friendly stalkers stalking me, it was most bizarre.
@thea09 (18313)
• Greece
27 Dec 09
Add more? I thought you had it covered and now I can't see your list anymore.
There seems to have been a bit of confusion with some people thinking they are trolled when they aren't though it is possible they may have encountered a bit of stalking, but stalking is a compliment. Well I presume it is when you stalk me, you wouldn't stalk me if I was too tediously boring now would you. I even get bored of stalking the rude ones if they are permanently boring.
But how we laughed earlier when we thought someone else was the victim of trolling and it was someone else all along as the supposed victim was after all too boring to be either trolled or stalked. Such fun.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66205)
• Italy
27 Dec 09
I must get a camper next year just to hear what you would say lol
1 person likes this
@Hatley (164094)
• Garden Grove, California
27 Dec 09
hi jb blue bunny to me a troll is a vicious mylotter who should be hung up by his heels til he yells uncle then banned for life from mylot. this troll is the one who loves to minus people if they dare to disagree with him or her about anything, specially smoking,drinking, politics, and religions. they love you only if you agree otherwise look out. they sit around all day just hitting the neg key on person after person. two trolls did that to me when I was relatively new here stayed up all night,mylot admins told me this, and minused every post I had made. thus taking my star from a ten down to a 5, and i guess they thought they had done something funny. but mylot banned them from here and put my star back but only to an 8, I myself have wo rked it up to a 9 now.But I think these trolls should be permanently banned from mylot.
1 person likes this
@jb78000 (15163)
•
27 Dec 09
i have heard of these two trolls before and they were dreadful - fancy spending an entire night just knocking somebody they disagree with down. are they not permanently banned? they certainly should be. anyway pleased to see you are now up to a nine, 10 soon hopefully.
@PeacefulWmn9 (10422)
• United States
29 Dec 09
Wow, so many versions...
Fishermen "troll" for fish
A-holes troll for unsuspecting romantic interests they can con
Animalistic trolls lurk beneath ancient bridges
Desk trolls have funky neon hair and so ugly their cute faces
Um....you named all the others, so you win the troll prize of the day @PeacefulWmn9 (10422)
• United States
31 Dec 09
no, you don't want to know...it involves a foot without the rest of the rabbit attached
@mjcookie (2273)
• Philippines
28 Dec 09
I've never heard of these tolls before. Anyway, thanks for that information.
The only troll that I know is that yellow bearded monster that lives under the bridge that Dora and Boots have to deal with to pass through and get to their next destination. :D
