Trolling in its original sense can be extremely annoying but is ultimately harmless and easily and safely ignored ("Don't feed the trolls") because the troll will eventually be bored at not getting a reaction. The term has unfortunately come to be used for legitimate criticism that the speaker doesn't like as well as actual harassment. Sending dick pics or calling out terfs is not trolling.
In the original sense, trolling is a forum post that attracts predictable responses from ignorant participants while being obvious to those who are more knowledgeable. In moderation, it's a harmless practical joke.
It has come to mean internet harassment meant to make someone miserable, which is never harmless. Some might argue it's justified if the target is harming others.
Personally — my definition is any time you post something that isn't constructive to the topic (or the comm) with the intention of distracting others from constructive discussion (typically, by getting them to engage with you instead).
I think there's an art to it, and some trolling can be fun, as long as everybody's having fun. Personally, I'm not very good at it. I say what I mean and mean what I say. But I don't mind as long as it's fun.
By my definition it's harmless almost by definition. It's meant to be fun mischief, otherwise it's not really trolling. I suppose somebody could take it the wrong way but "I'm just trolling" should be enough to counteract that otherwise it's something more serious.
The media latched on to the term in some time in the 2010s and equated it to serious online harassment but that's not how it was originally used.
Theres a guy on insta who dresses in a Union Jack suit and goes to right-wing areas in the UK and proceeds to gently explains to bigots how ridiculous their beliefs are. They think he's an ally and he talks like them, but slowly drops truth bombs on them. You can see them blue-screening in real-time. It's wonderful.
A troll is someone who purposesly tries to piss you off.
An example of a troll would be someone who goes into a particular fandom's spaces and tells them their favorite thing sucks and they're stupid for liking it. IE posting "Fornite sucks and is for dumb babies" in a Fortnite community.
30 Comments
MushuChupacabra@piefed.world · 30 pts · 30d
It can be harmless and exquisitely funny. See Ken M.
Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 30d
Pastor says Ken M is the gateway to the devil.
a_non_monotonic_function@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 29d
Osvaldo says black pastors are like white pastors that happen to be black.
fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 18 pts · 29d
A poor troll argues with others. A good troll gets others to argue amongst themselves.
Goldholz@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 5 pts · 29d
A good troll also has the effect that others outside this situation find it funny
Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 29d
Fantastic answer
vrighter@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 29d
no it's not!!!!
Lumidaub@feddit.org · 10 pts · 30d
Trolling in its original sense can be extremely annoying but is ultimately harmless and easily and safely ignored ("Don't feed the trolls") because the troll will eventually be bored at not getting a reaction. The term has unfortunately come to be used for legitimate criticism that the speaker doesn't like as well as actual harassment. Sending dick pics or calling out terfs is not trolling.
Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 30d
I can agree with that
Zak@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 29d
In the original sense, trolling is a forum post that attracts predictable responses from ignorant participants while being obvious to those who are more knowledgeable. In moderation, it's a harmless practical joke.
It has come to mean internet harassment meant to make someone miserable, which is never harmless. Some might argue it's justified if the target is harming others.
psud@aussie.zone · 1 pts · 29d
I miss the time when a good trolling comment could spark a thousand reply thread flame war
cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 6 pts · 30d
Personally — my definition is any time you post something that isn't constructive to the topic (or the comm) with the intention of distracting others from constructive discussion (typically, by getting them to engage with you instead).
I think there's an art to it, and some trolling can be fun, as long as everybody's having fun. Personally, I'm not very good at it. I say what I mean and mean what I say. But I don't mind as long as it's fun.
Zachariah@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 30d
remon@ani.social · 1 pts · 29d
By that definition every joke would be trolling.
Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 30d
Yeah that all tracks.
anothermember@feddit.uk · 5 pts · 29d
By my definition it's harmless almost by definition. It's meant to be fun mischief, otherwise it's not really trolling. I suppose somebody could take it the wrong way but "I'm just trolling" should be enough to counteract that otherwise it's something more serious.
The media latched on to the term in some time in the 2010s and equated it to serious online harassment but that's not how it was originally used.
fushuan@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 4 pts · 28d
Interesting that I've you tagged as troll lmao.
Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 28d
Absolutely appropriate, glad I've been able to earn the title.
akunohana@piefed.blahaj.zone · 4 pts · 30d
Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 30d
I drew that
DisasterTransport@startrek.website · 4 pts · 29d
Trolling is a art
remon@ani.social · 2 pts · 29d
*an art
zxqwas@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 29d
Anything low effort in order to provoke an emotional response.
It's at best useless according to that definition.
naught101@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 29d
Yep, but also at scale it's also harmful in a similar way to AI slop.. It degrades the quality of the internet
YeahIgotskills2@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 29d
Theres a guy on insta who dresses in a Union Jack suit and goes to right-wing areas in the UK and proceeds to gently explains to bigots how ridiculous their beliefs are. They think he's an ally and he talks like them, but slowly drops truth bombs on them. You can see them blue-screening in real-time. It's wonderful.
Kennystillalive@feddit.org · 3 pts · 29d
Trolling, by getting fans of something pissed of can be quite fun and harmless.
Trolling by spreading missinformation or engaging in culture wars etc. Can be very harmfull.
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 2 pts · 29d
A troll is someone who purposesly tries to piss you off.
An example of a troll would be someone who goes into a particular fandom's spaces and tells them their favorite thing sucks and they're stupid for liking it. IE posting "Fornite sucks and is for dumb babies" in a Fortnite community.
HubertManne@piefed.social · 2 pts · 29d
trolling never reflects well on teh troller. Its possible to do goofy harmless trolling with friends but you will look like a dork.
probable_possum@leminal.space · 1 pts · 30d
https://m.youtube.com/shorts/n-dZjeCEoWU
vantablack@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 25d
griefing your teammates in Halo games can be pretty fun and funny and is ultimately harmless as it's just a game
Soulinyx@piefed.world · -1 pts · 27d