Dumb question time

Collarspace Discussion Forums

Home Login Search

Dumb question time

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> Dumb question time

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Dumb question time - 2/20/2005 8:22:02 PM

ravenna

Posts: 121
Joined: 12/22/2004
Status: offline

Time to expose my ignorance (again): What's a "troll"? i've been warned against 'em, but how will i know one when i see/hear/smell one? (Sorry, guess i'm still a newbie. i even ran a search of the threads here, and i saw the word used a lot, but it didn't really help, except nobody seems to like 'em. Do they have anything to do with those billygoats gruff? Only kidding...) Can someone give me a handy trollspotting guide? Thought i'd ask my CollarMe compadres before i checked with my old friend Google...

Profile

Post #: 1

RE: Dumb question time - 2/20/2005 8:49:23 PM

GrandpaLash

Posts: 133
Joined: 1/8/2005
Status: offline

I've often wondered about this myself, because, in reality, it's a term that could be used of anybody on this type of site who is trying to connect. But in this context, I gather it means (usually) men who send out hundreds of emails on the basis that if you ask often enough somebody will be stupid enough to say yes. It usually also goes hand in hand with HNG - Horny Net Geeks. But as I have often said over the years of feminism, one woman's harassment is another's courtship, one woman's Dirty Old Man is another's wise older lover, and I think it follows that one sub's HNG is another's dream Dom. (Or vice versa, assuming HNG is not entirely gender specific.)

Probably not much help, but there you are.

Grandpa Lash

_____________________________

Sex without D/s is about as pointless as D/s without sex

(in reply to ravenna)

Profile

Post #: 2

RE: Dumb question time - 2/20/2005 8:57:23 PM

TravisTJustice

Posts: 74
Status: offline

Hello Ravenna,

Online trolls have been around since the earliest days of the net. The word itself is analogous to fishing where "trolling" is the act of sailing along throwing out baits trying to catch a big ol' Jonah of the internet seas. However, most of these crackpot Captain Ahabs these days rarely manage to net anything larger than unsuspecting young fishies. These trolls operate with the intention of starting arguments and generally disrupting things for online groups.

There's another definition of trolling that has gained currency in recent years mostly within the IRC world. Here you'll see it used to refer to a person who isn't interested in chatting with the group as a whole but rather is logged on purely with the intention of soliciting the attention of prospective partners.

Both varieties of troll should be ignored. :-)

Travis T.

< Message edited by TravisTJustice -- 2/20/2005 9:00:23 PM >

_____________________________

"It's a travesty, I tell ya! A travesty!" -- Foghorn Leghorn (Loony Tunes)

(in reply to ravenna)

Profile

Post #: 3

RE: Dumb question time - 2/20/2005 11:35:03 PM

MistressIsadora

Posts: 35
Joined: 12/24/2004
Status: offline

Everyone has their own definition as to what a 'troll' is.

For me, it is those that are dishonest little time wasters.

Mistress Isadora

_____________________________

"Grab them by the balls, and they will follow!"

(in reply to TravisTJustice)

Profile

Post #: 4

RE: Dumb question time - 2/21/2005 4:10:38 AM

Leonidas

Posts: 2078
Joined: 2/16/2004
Status: offline

It's a term that has been used as long as I've been on the 'net (a long time). Originally, it was a variant of "baiting" or "flame-baiting". It means the same thing as "baiting" someone in person. You're trying to pick a fight. An example would be a fundamentalist christian going into a BDSM related discussion group and telling everyone that they were going to burn in hell. If you reply to a post like that, you are "rising to the bait".

The term has also, and recently more commonly come to mean someone who is "fishing" or "trolling" for sex. They come into a message board like this one and post something that is a solicitation for sex or play, rather than engaging in any kind of discussion, or, similarly, they go into a chat and start hitting on those of the opposite sex rather than joining in the conversation. One more example would be someone who gets a profile here, and then sends a form-letter solicitation to just about every person of the opposite sex (or same sex, in some cases) in sight. The troll isn't looking for "someone" they are looking for "anyone". I'd agree with whoever told you to stay away from them.

< Message edited by Leonidas -- 2/21/2005 4:13:36 AM >

_____________________________

Take care of yourself

Leonidas

(in reply to ravenna)

Profile

Post #: 5

RE: Dumb question time - 2/21/2005 5:56:40 AM

liltxsubby

Posts: 328
Joined: 11/18/2004
From: TX
Status: offline

My definition of troll: Someone who is just plain annoying and contributes nothing but harrassment to the boards. One begging for attention, even if it is negative.

_____________________________

I'm Japan and Godzilla has taken over.

Laugh with them, or let them laugh at you.

(in reply to ravenna)

Profile

Post #: 6

RE: Dumb question time - 2/21/2005 11:36:56 AM

iwillserveu

Posts: 1633
Joined: 1/1/2004
Status: offline

A troll is a monster that usually lives under bridges.

Oh, wait a minute, you mean here?

It is an insult used by morons to desribe one who does not agree with them.

A real troll tells you how this new product I'm selling will greatly improve your life when you are trying to get information not related to that product.

Oh, BTW, there is no such thing as a dumb question. (Dumb answers however...

)

_____________________________

When the Lady smiles i can't resist her call. As a matter of fact, i don't resist at all. Well that depends if it is a smile or a grimmace.

(in reply to ravenna)

Profile

Post #: 7