Please define 'Troll'

[chloe2910]

Just that really....

I read quite a bit on here with interest, but don't really post as am usually reading at work, when should be working!

I can't figure out exactly what a troll/trolling is, because it seems to be an accusation banded around quite freely, and with little consistancy. Just wondered if someone could actually define it for me!!

Am obviously new to all this - with 6 weeks to go til due date!

Let me google that for you

Usually someone who

a) deliberately starts a convo with an inflammatory statement then sits back and watches kick off (eg something utterly stupid like 'disabled children shouls all be put in homes and not allowed to mix with 'normal' children')

b) posts deliberate lies that get found out as people ask them questions (people lying about being in abusive relationships etc)

Oooh TDWP I am 'impressed^ with that!!!

He he fun isn't it?

Very Matrix

Chloe welcome to mumsnet - just takes a while to get used to everything.

Good luck with you imminent arrival!

Agree with a) and b)

Sometimes it's called trolling when it's light-hearted though. People who do that need to be a little careful to make the joke clear before it goes too far though.

Also of course even a) is ok if they believe that to be the case and are willing to defend it. It's when it's down JUST to wind people up.

Thank you! Had guessed along those lines (had never even thought of googling it - and have never seen that very clever let me google that for you thing!!!)

tdwp i am impressed with your I.T. skills i can just about type on my laptop never mind do things like that

(a) ugly small bloke with big warty nose who sits under bridges and tries to scare you.

(b) unkind poster who posts crap specifically to shock/unsettle/provoke other most-lovely posters

addictedtolatte - as much as I'd love to claim I'm highly skilled , it's very easy

lmgtfy.com/ Go here

type in whatever, then copy paste the link they provide.

Fab site- what a genius to some up with it!

thanks tdwp i will try that website later. i will be annoying everyone with emails just so i can try it out

TDWP I love it! People are always asking me to find stuff out for them.... going to enjoy using that site - thanks!

The Wikipedia definition is the best. I have no idea where this idea comes from that a troll posts deliberate lies though.

A troll is an inflamatory poster who tries to cause arguments. Simple.

The people who get called trolls on here all the time are just sad losers possibly with mental health issues.

PML TDWP

I quite like justfuckinggoogleit.com/

There was a troll on the Annabel Karmel Facebook page. All of her comments have now been deleted. She posted comments under every recipe in the hope that someone would argue with her.

Fair enough if you have a strong opinion on something, but why become a fan of a site just to irritate others?

I think she was a bit bonkers as she also started to send private messages to people on the fan page and then denied that she had!!

A lot of people complained and then suddenly all of her posts disappeared thank God. It was starting to really irritate me to see her comments under every single post.