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(This is reposted, with permission, from the Moderators Guide board at Allpoetry.)
-A troll is a person that gets pleasure from sowing discord on the internet.
-A troll likes to start arguments for no other reason than to upset others, and the anonymity of the internet gives them the perfect place to play.
-The troll does not look at other users as humans, but rather as abstract entities. The troll never feels sorry for any harm they have done, and the greater the pain or embarrassment, the better the troll feels.
-Trolls do not respond to criticism, and there is no negotiating with a troll. They do not feel that they are bound by the rules of any site, nor are they bound by general rules of courtesy and social responsibility.
-Trolls discourage others from participating in discussions and message boards. Regular posters leave the boards because the trolls constantly are looking for a new argument. Others who normally don't post but enjoy reading soon decide not to participate at all for fear of exposing themselves to the troll’s abuse.
-Trolls often accuse others as being trolls to 'throw off admin' a bit. For instance, someone will post something that they feel strongly about, a serious post, and the troll will come in behind them and accuse them of trolling. When someone new posts to the boards, they may accuse them of trolling. (Note though, people may just be trying to be funny which is not necessarily trolling, but might be perceived as such. Be careful and make sure they are actually a troll before doing anything.)
-Trolls can create paranoia resulting in an environment where it takes very little to start a ferocious attack on an unsuspecting poster that posts even the slightest criticism. Any hint of healthy interaction is lost and negative emotion soon spills over into other areas of the website or on the boards. This is what a troll wants – to effect the entire community when possible.
-Also, trolls often work together in tandem. One will post a degrading comment and the other troll (working together) will then retaliate. They start an argument which will draw others in. Once one or two others have been brought into the argument, both original parties (trolls) then turn on everyone else. This is common in schools and usually is aimed at bulleting style sites (both allphilosophy and oldpoetry have been hit by these in the past).
-Do not attempt to reason with a troll. They look at this as a victory.
-Do not argue with a troll. That is another victory.
-Ignore the troll when possible. Encourage the others to ignore them. This is a huge defeat for the troll. NO victory.
What do they do when ignored?
-They will step up their attack. They become even more abusive, and protest that they have the right to do so because of their freedom of speech. They will argue that they should not be censored in any way as guaranteed by the USA Constitution (which, by the way, isn’t true in regards to in privately owned communities such as a Allpoetry, etc).
-Trolls crave attention, and they don't really care whether it is negative or positive. -
Ture, all of it.
I appreciate this fourm, very interesting and valuable. -
Thank you, Barbara.
I have met a few and what you say is true.
In one case, almost ten years ago, suddenly the majority of members, all the active ones and many Readers, without warning, left. (e-mail works.)
Gone.
What the troll did not know was that we had opened a closed group and loved the way poetry flowed in the freedom among old friends.
Terry, going back to delete stuff. -
>:(
You're trolling, Barbara!
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Calling a spade a spade
For new members:
Any well-established group divides into three parts: the majority who do not draw attention and thus are not involved, the few trolls who enjoy annoying others, and the targets.
Depending on patience and available time, the last group ignores, leaves, or stays to do research. -
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Excellent review of irony
Thank you for this. Source of other terms too. -
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No problem
It was mostly for the benefit of people who would stumble on my first post in this thread and assume I was being serious (as if the '' emoticon weren't conspicuous enough). 
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The definitive irony site!
Hahah! A very useful and enjoyable site. Thanx for the tip, AP. (And I`m not being ironic!)
Regards
gG
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pfffft.
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Goodness me, I had no idea! I had heard of trolls but I hadn't realised they had gotten so organised! That makes me very sad indeed.
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Adding your reply:
Barbara
Jul 12 2:17 PM 2006
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