Trolling

[arvg]

What is and what isn't trolling is fast becoming a heated debate.

Here on Disco, it is an accusation thrown at anyone for behavior or actions that they dislike.

More often than not, the title "Troll" is taken as a badge of honour, usually by people who do anything but Trolling.

I have been reading many articles on the subject, reviewing various methods for controlling Trolls, and managing moderation so that it can be both user firendly and socially responsible.

Here are a few things that struck me.

Trolling is nothing new.

I was around before the Internet, specifically known as "The Wind Up"

It is not, as many people believe, disagreeing with your point and belittling your intelligence for that. It is *intentionally* seeking to get a rise of emotion out of another person with or without actual belief in what they are writing.

For example:

Winding up: Deliberately telling someone that their idea sucks, not because it sucks, but because said person wishes to upset the person in question.

Disagreement: posting a contradictory idea that challenges the used to think, and defend his original statement.

Trolling is not posting in feedback. You cannot troll feedback, you are not a feedback troll if you legitimately have a complaint/suggestion (even if that suggestion may not please the opposing viewpoint)

On Disco, the Moderation Team takes Trolling, real Trolling, quite seriously. As for the other things mentioned above, you are welcome to go at it. Discussion, even a heated one, is good for the community, it provokes thought, and causes a person to reflect on their own beliefs.

I think you will find that conviction is far worse when unchallenged/unquestioned, than a bruised ideological fallacy that couldn't survive scrutiny under a community magnifying glass.

---