Troll Def from Wikipedia:

In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory,[2] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[3] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

I'm not sure about the intent part. That would give them too much credit, since it would infer a higher level of intelligence, with the ability to control the emotions of other individuals. Aren't there some who just don't know better and lack the insight to see themselves as others see them?

Wow. Those are some deep Wiki thoughts (you know...using Wikipedia as a primary reference source is a big no-no in academia), Mr. Battleship/Protector of internet decorum.

I'm still not clear what his point is. Is he talking about posting a thread solely to provoke an emotional response? If so than 90% maybe 100% are guilty. Or does he mean when somebody changes the direction of a thread with extraneous or off-topic messages, as the definition suggests?

Troll Def from Wikipedia:

In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory,[2] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[3] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

I'm not sure about the intent part. That would give them too much credit, since it would infer a higher level of intelligence, with the ability to control the emotions of other individuals. Aren't there some who just don't know better and lack the insight to see themselves as others see them?

Oh obviously some are repeat offenders, but like you said, everybody does it on occasion. But does posing a controversial thread mean you are trolling. I don't think so. But it can easily become it. Take the following example by Yahey.

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...;;page=unread#unread

Here, he poses a question he knew virtually nothing about based solely on the fact it would get an emotional response. And it got an overwhelming response. One could argue that was trolling, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. By post 14, it becomes clear to everybody that he really doesn't know what he is talking about, but he keeps going. Some might argue he is now a troll, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. But by post 22 and certainly by post 43, yahey has shown without a doubt that he doesn't have any clue what he is talking about as and can't possibly believe he thinks he is right, as he is flat out denying all the evidence presented and posing the same tired argument he started with. Now he is a troll in my view.

A troll's hide is pretty thick, so you want to target specific soft targets. The mouth, ears and eyes are pretty good spots, particularly if you have +5 dexterity and an enchanted bow. Generally, it's not a good idea to go toe to toe with them, since they are quite slow, but when they do hit they can do a lot of damage.

Unless you have safety in numbers, I wouldn't think about taking on most trolls unless you are at least a level 3 fighter or mage (fireball is a good spell for these guys). It is also a good idea to have a cleric with lots of healing spells available.

A troll's hide is pretty thick, so you want to target specific soft targets. The mouth, ears and eyes are pretty good spots, particularly if you have +5 dexterity and an enchanted bow. Generally, it's not a good idea to go toe to toe with them, since they are quite slow, but when they do hit they can do a lot of damage.

Unless you have safety in numbers, I wouldn't think about taking on most trolls unless you are at least a level 3 fighter or mage (fireball is a good spell for these guys). It is also a good idea to have a cleric with lots of healing spells available.

A troll's hide is pretty thick, so you want to target specific soft targets. The mouth, ears and eyes are pretty good spots, particularly if you have +5 dexterity and an enchanted bow. Generally, it's not a good idea to go toe to toe with them, since they are quite slow, but when they do hit they can do a lot of damage.

Unless you have safety in numbers, I wouldn't think about taking on most trolls unless you are at least a level 3 fighter or mage (fireball is a good spell for these guys). It is also a good idea to have a cleric with lots of healing spells available.

I don't care, I like Mr. YaHey.

Me too. Reading YaHey is akin to watching Larry David on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Both make me feel... very well.

Your best bet is to trick the trolls into arguing with one another until daybreak.

Your best bet is to trick the trolls into arguing with one another until daybreak.

"Here's what I tell those always deploring so-called "trolling" like the little crybabies they tend to be: Don't read the friggin' thread and then burden the rest of us with your high-minded pleas to make the LR somewhat of a better place by ridding all of us of these meddlesome trolls."

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Let's get this straight. If you identify and complain about posters who only offer posts and threads designed to instigate, then you're a "crybaby"? And if you suggest that a higher level of rational and civil discourse might be a good thing, then we're burdening you?

Fucking sad.

Where are you guys getting that I was suggesting he isn't appreciated? He is at some low common denominator. I was just pointing out a recent example of when a thread post goes from simply trying to spark a reaction to flat out trolling. Yahey just happened to be the thread poster and the troll in that thread.