The Virtues of Trolling

I have to agree with bigfurytexan on his points of views. I too am a member of another discussion forum, and tend to find myself learning more by discovering something new that I had not been aware before.

I suppose being a "Troll" would actually classify into different categories, but , all in all, it can be a unique learning tool for the less informed.

"Great explanation TEXAN!!"

I came across this interesting newsbit today Porn Bailout: Flynt & Francis Seek Gov Money and it occurred to me that Flynt is a great example of someone who exercises many of the virtues of trolling.

Getting people inside and out side of washington to re-evaluate their government's values/priorities, with a little tongue in cheek jostling.

Has anyone asked themselves why Glenn Beck is so popular?

I've been asking myself that exact question lately, and it wasn't until i came across the following clips that it dawned on me... the man is a troll... but what kind of a troll is he... the kind that makes you laugh with him or at him? What virtues if any are present in his delivery.

I wouldn't mind trolls so much if they actually knew the art of trolling. A good troll never loses his temper. I frequent various IRC channels and run into a lot of would-be provocateurs. I say "would-be" because they are obviously inexperienced kids who get angry about 5 minutes into the argument and start with the name-calling. A good troll would never stoop to that.

on topic:

I suppose trolling could have its advantages. It could draw more people with experience on the topic being debated into the fray, thus increasing the overall "usable" knowledge added. Cool thread, interesting perspective.


TheAssociate

reply to post by TheAssociate


Kudos, thank you for the warm regards and insightful perspective.

There really is something to be said for what could be referred in the best of light a "devil's advocate" versus... on the negative end of the scale ... a "toxic clown"... but then that may just be a matter of view point... maturity being a key factor.

The left has it's set of "trolls" too, who i think are more honest and balanced in their positions. Stewart/Colbert, Maher & Obermann. All could be consider "toxic clowns" by the right, though i find them way more on target and thought provoking then Beck, Hannity, Orielly & Limbaugh.

My theory on their greater popularity is based on the demographic they cater too. The general populous is intellectually lazy and can easily be won over by selfish ideologies that stroke primitive egos.


[edit on 22-4-2009 by The All Seeing I]

reply to post by The All Seeing I



I read it, I actually don't consider that trolling. Trolling is getting tossed around to much. Usually trolling has very negative or even abusive intentions to bring attention to the person or an issue, for completely selfish purposes, or has cruel intentions.

The guy who infiltrated an epilepsy website and changed it so it flashed brigt colors is a troll.

This person said something to gain attention, but it actually wasn't far from the truth. He couldn't get helped, so it sucked. I don't consider that trolling. To me, he was just the person who starts yelling on the phone to customer service when they can't get heard.

Well lets see...

ATS definition:
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/warn-ptroll-new.png[/atsimg]
Wiki definition:

An Internet troll, or simply troll in Internet slang, is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum or chat room, with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion.

The contemporary use of the term is alleged to have first appeared on the internet in the late 1980s, but the earliest known example is from 1991. It is thought to be a truncation of the phrase trolling for suckers, itself derived from the fishing technique of slowly dragging a bait through water, known as trolling. The word also evokes the trolls portrayed in Scandinavian folklore and children's tales as they are often obnoxious creatures bent on mischief and wickedness. The verb "troll" originates from Old French "troller", a hunting term. The noun "troll", however, is an unrelated Old Norse word for a giant or demon.

urban dictionary:
www.urbandictionary.com...

So i would say that you are on target... but the point of this thread was to explore if it's possible that what we normally associate with the shadows of human nature could be in some cases/situations used with positive intentions? Now consider the title for this tread... it could be accurately labeled as "baiting" and those "suckers" who post i "harass"... so i could be consider to some degree a "troll"?

Ying & Yang... there are very few absolutes, rarely is everything all black and all white.

[edit on 22-4-2009 by The All Seeing I]

reply to post by The All Seeing I


Defining trolling is tricky.

I think that using a disturbing round about way still has nothing positive about it.

Take my example of the troller who hacked the epilepsy site, and made it so the page blinked brightly.

His reasoning was that he was in a deviant way, showing the site owner that the page was vulnerable.

If there was any positive reasoning to this action, he could of simply hacked it, and sent the information to the owner. If you are really trying to help society, that is yoru method.

Making excuses is only like asking for forgivness after deliberately doing the sin.
This person slandered an entire good product, potentially hurting people,t heir products, and their jobs. And has encouraged other peoplle to do so.

If he had problems with customre service, then he should of just said that, customer service sucks, don't tell me to go to the man pages.

[edit on 22-4-2009 by nixie_nox]

Ok... i see the parallel you have drawn. A hacker as troll... but there are hackers/trolls with good intentions too. A prime example can be found in Anonymous's barrage of attacks/exposes on Scientology.









[edit on 22-4-2009 by The All Seeing I]