|
troll v.,n.
1. [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. 2. 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 the 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." 3. [Berkeley] Computer lab
monitor. A popular campus job for CS student. 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.
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:19 PM.
|
