There was an interesting article about trolling on the Greatest Page earlier this week:

[struggle4progress]

Don't let the trolls get you down
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=1289426
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/jun/13/internet-trolls-improbable-research

As this forum is one of various DU forums that become somewhat uncivil from time to time, I thought it might be appropriate to cross-post the above link here, for anyone who may not have seen it, and to note several aspects of the research discussed:

A definition of trolling -- "conveying pseudo-sincere intentions, but whose real intention ... is ... to cause disruption and/or to trigger or exacerbate conflict for ... own amusement"

Some advice -- "Trolling can (1) be frustrated if users correctly interpret an intent to troll, but are not provoked into responding, (2) be thwarted if users correctly interpret an intent to troll, but counter in such a way as to curtail or neutralise the success of the troller, (3) fail if users do not correctly interpret an intent to troll and are not provoked by the troller, or, (4) succeed if users are deceived into believing the troller's pseudo-intention(s), and are provoked into responding sincerely"

So if you suspect someone is yanking your chain for fun, don't play into the game

[MineralMan]

1. Probably very good advice. I think I'll follow it.

[struggle4progress]

2. Post questioning your character & intelligence, further asking if your mom still wears army boots!

[MineralMan]

3. Only when she's hiking in the desert, and she doesn't do

that much anymore at 87. However, this weekend, she will be, as she helps scatter her baby brother's ashes in the AZ desert.


As for my character and intelligence, I cannot speak without bias. :rofl:

[struggle4progress]

5. That's beautiful territory. I hope your mother finds comfort there remembering her brother.

[Iggo]

4. lol

:rofl:

:thumbsup:

[dimbear]

6. You guys have played internet before, haven't you!? n/t

[Curmudgeoness]

7. What happens when I amuse myself playing with the troll? nt

[struggle4progress]

8. I used to do that with earnest wingnuts who wandered in by accident

But a lot of the trolling I see at DU nowadays seems to be from people without much of a political agenda, who simply like to try to provoke reactions from other people

[Curmudgeoness]

9. Yeah, I know. It takes the fun out of it

when a troll posts and runs, never responding back to all the goodies that people dump on them. Those are the ones I just hate.

[sudopod]

10. lolz

γνῶθι σεαυτόν

[struggle4progress]

11. Could be good advice

[Fumesucker]

12. Your concern is noted..

;)

:hi: