The Troll Void

[MishaK]

As I understand the definition, I would not call M forever a troll.  Abusive and contemptuous of others, yes, perhaps a bit sadistic (in the way he would use personal information that people disclosed on the site to ridicule them later).  But I believe M forever mean't what he said.  The essence of "trollness" is saying things to push peoples buttons or get people to respond, just for the joy of being the center of attention.

More like sado-masochistic. He seemed to want to be ganged up on so he could play victim. But believe in his opinions he did.

[Scarpia]

More like sado-masochistic. He seemed to want to be ganged up on so he could play victim. But believe in his opinions he did.

In any case, he had some interesting ideas and experience in music to express, too bad it couldn't be separated from the sociopathic personality.

[Mirror Image]

Some may consider me a troll, but I'm okay with that. I'm on this forum way too much...

[eyeresist]

But I believe M forever mean't what he said.  The essence of "trollness" is saying things to push peoples buttons or get people to respond, just for the joy of being the center of attention.

Disagree with this definition. I think most trolls believe what they say. What defines them is their blindness to basic social niceties, complete lack of capacity for self-criticism, and repetitive repetitive repetitive assertion of their opinion as Fact.

They may also type vast paragraphs of pseudo-logic in defense of their position.

[drogulus]

     Why is there only one troll? It's a little like the 3 mental patients in Michigan who claimed to be Jesus. As an experiment they put them in a room and encouraged them to interact. For some reason they didn't like to be in each others company.

     Of course by some criteria there are always trolls, usually more than one. But I say no, a real troll is not a monomaniac about Mozart. Real trolls don't believe what they say, nor do they disbelieve. For a genuine troll words are weapons. Nothing they say has truth content. The point of hardcore trollery is the disruption they cause. The several trollish types that may inhabit a forum at once will frequently interact normally, or nearly so, when their particular obsession is not offended by a stray opinion. Real Trolls find it hard to engage in normal communication, perhaps because it diminishes them and prompts them to envy of other members.

What a bunch of idiots!!!

     Not even close.

[drogulus]

Disagree with this definition. I think most trolls believe what they say. What defines them is their blindness to basic social niceties, complete lack of capacity for self-criticism, and repetitive repetitive repetitive assertion of their opinion as Fact.

They may also type vast paragraphs of pseudo-logic in defense of their position.

     There really are 2 kinds.

     The kind that defend themselves and their theories are the trollish, near normal kind. The full-on Troll may not bother. This character wants to do damage. The truth or falsity of what they say is incidental.

   

[The new erato]

M forever wasn't a troll. Just slightly insensitive and a little bit rude, His posts always made sense even when he rubbed some people the wrong way, whereas the essence of trollness (trolldom?) is senselessness, stupidity and provocation. 

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Speaking of trolls, we haven't seen Sean in a long while. He fits this definition perfectly:

What defines them is their blindness to basic social niceties, complete lack of capacity for self-criticism, and repetitive repetitive repetitive assertion of their opinion as Fact.

They may also type vast paragraphs of pseudo-logic in defense of their position.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

The incredible Saul was a "nice" troll

Saul was nice?    As I recall he was constantly attacking people as "schmucks" and also pushing his own bizarre ideas on religion, particularly Judaism. Or maybe he was nicer at this particular site (he misbehaved greatly over at CMG, where for some reason he was indulged by the moderators there).

[The new erato]

Speaking of trolls, we haven't seen Sean in a long while. He fits this definition perfectly:

He was the classic definition of a troll. He used the site as a mirror to his own ego, and couldn't care less about anybody, anything, or any subject, other than himself.

[prémont]

The essence of "trollness" is saying things to push peoples buttons or get people to respond, just for the joy of being the center of attention.

This is also how I "understood" M forever. But generally I stayed away from him. You may know him better.

[prémont]

I think most trolls believe what they say. What defines them is their blindness to basic social niceties, complete lack of capacity for self-criticism, and repetitive repetitive repetitive assertion of their opinion as Fact.

M forever in a nutshell IMO.

[karlhenning]

I like that forever in a nutshell image . . . .

[karlhenning]

What a bunch of idiots!!!

Not even close.

Pffffff.

[Grazioso]

Pffffff.

Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it... 

I like that forever in a nutshell image . . . .

"I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself king of infinite space." --Hamlet

[Cato]

Saul was nice?    As I recall he was constantly attacking people as "schmucks" and also pushing his own bizarre ideas on religion, particularly Judaism. Or maybe he was nicer at this particular site (he misbehaved greatly over at CMG, where for some reason he was indulged by the moderators there).

I do not recall reading much or any of his extra-musical essays: he seemed just anachronistically stuck in 1840 or so, when it came to music! 

For real "Trolling" you should see the e-mails we get here at school from manic, micro-managing, and incredibly gullible parents, who have just heard the latest lies about Teacher X from their lazy and hyper-mendacious child, and then send off nasty, bruising insults to Teacher X, which are all based on the lies from their lazy and hyper-mendacious child.

[MishaK]

For real "Trolling" you should see the e-mails we get here at school from manic, micro-managing, and incredibly gullible parents, who have just heard the latest lies about Teacher X from their lazy and hyper-mendacious child, and then send off nasty, bruising insults to Teacher X, which are all based on the lies from their lazy and hyper-mendacious child.

Why are those people even given their kid's teacher's email address? That's what parent-teacher meetings are for. To maintain a professional distance. 

[karlhenning]

"I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself king of infinite space." --Hamlet

Yes, I thought right away of that response to Rosencrantz (or was it Guildenstern?)

[jowcol]

Personally, I tend to find trolls very entertaining, as I'm fascinated by circular logic.  If you view them as a form of entertainment, and assume they won't change, they become a moveable feast.  I've been on some lists were their behavior was so predictable that people set up Troll Bingo.   The trick is to realize the opportunities for entertainment that a troll in one's midst can provide.

Although, I haven't seen anyone on this forum who I'd call a full-fledged troll-- I'd say its a much more educated bunch than I've encountered in the past. 


I do miss Theresa-- but remember, she wasn't a troll, she was a pure energy angel that did not want flouride to sap and contaminate her precious bodily fluids.

[karlhenning]

Personally, I tend to find trolls very entertaining, as I'm fascinated by circular logic.  If you view them as a form of entertainment, and assume they won't change, they become a moveable feast.  I've been on some lists were their behavior was so predictable that people set up Troll Bingo.   The trick is to realize the opportunities for entertainment that a troll in one's midst can provide.

Yes! Whcih is exactly why James does not provoke any ill vibe.  I mean: No one cares about or is waiting for your opinion, meathead.  What's not to like?