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== Internet troll ==

== Internet troll ==

A troll, in [[Internet]] parlance, is an entity or character that purposely disrupts a conversation via discussion [[forum]] or [[email]], a comment thread on a [[blog]], or another sort of website. For example, on [[Wiki | Wikis]], users who purposely make disruptive edits are considered trolls. Many people consider this type of activity to be merely childish, while others consider it symptomatic of deviant minds of opposition whereby infiltration by deceit is normal practice. Trolls pretend to be of common thinking, at the same time plotting anti-social crimes. The troll can otherwise be known as a [[frenemy]] or as a [[hoax plant]] lurking for an opportunity to create trouble.   

A troll, in [[Internet]] parlance, is an entity or character that purposely disrupts a conversation via discussion [[forum]] or [[email]], a comment thread on a [[blog]], or another sort of website. For example, on [[Wiki | Wikis]], users who purposely make disruptive edits are considered trolls. Many people consider this type of activity to be merely childish, while others consider it symptomatic of deviant minds of opposition whereby infiltration by deceit is normal practice. Trolls pretend to be of common thinking, at the same time plotting anti-social crimes. The troll can otherwise be known as a [[frenemy]] or as a [[hoax plant]] lurking for an opportunity to create trouble.  Many trolls are also liberals and atheists wanting to make a splash in the Internet community. Do not mistake real atheists or liberals for trolls, even though their debating tactics are similar, the difference lies in that trolls sometimes do not believe what they post. If the person seems sincere about what they say and prolong the conversation to a single hot-button issue, such as abortion, they are probably a real leftist. If their posts are short but random and prolong the conversation to various random unrelated subjects, they are probably a troll, although sometimes it is hard to tell.

The term originated in the early 1990s, an abbreviation of the term "trolling for suckers" (trolling being an angling technique to seek fish). An [[Internet]] troll will lock their target, bait the line and spread the net to catch their goal (unwitting victim). Sites such as [[YouTube]], [[Yahoo!]] and the Internet Movie Database are known for their lax (laid back) and sometimes negative enforcement of community guidelines on their forums and comment sections. The effects of trolling on children who use the internet have been linked to a number of well documented suicides among youth in years past. The reason most trolls act the way they do online is because they either have nothing better to do, suffer from low self esteem as a result of a number of factors, or are anonymous children who have been, or are being [[bullying|bullied]] in real life and turn to the Internet to vent their anger. Many users have been banned from web forums or social networking sites as a result of using foul language or abusive replies to defend themselves against trolls, mostly due to corrupt and one-sided web masters. This is the basis that most trolls operate on. Luring their victims in, getting them stirred up, and then using their reactions against them and pretending that the victim is the bad guy. Anybody who expresses their viewpoints freely and/or touches on divisive and/or sensitive issues is a potential target for trolls. Trolling is a common weapon used against conservative speech in feeble attempts at silencing them. Most trolls are kids between the ages of 10 and 16 who have no other agenda than amusing themselves with other people's frustration.

The term originated in the early 1990s, an abbreviation of the term "trolling for suckers" (trolling being an angling technique to seek fish). An [[Internet]] troll will lock their target, bait the line and spread the net to catch their goal (unwitting victim). Sites such as [[YouTube]], [[Yahoo!]] and the Internet Movie Database are known for their lax (laid back) and sometimes negative enforcement of community guidelines on their forums and comment sections. The effects of trolling on children who use the internet have been linked to a number of well documented suicides among youth in years past. The reason most trolls act the way they do online is because they either have nothing better to do, suffer from low self esteem as a result of a number of factors, or are anonymous children who have been, or are being [[bullying|bullied]] in real life and turn to the Internet to vent their anger. Many users have been banned from web forums or social networking sites as a result of using foul language or abusive replies to defend themselves against trolls, mostly due to corrupt and one-sided web masters. This is the basis that most trolls operate on. Luring their victims in, getting them stirred up, and then using their reactions against them and pretending that the victim is the bad guy. Anybody who expresses their viewpoints freely and/or touches on divisive and/or sensitive issues is a potential target for trolls. Trolling is a common weapon used against conservative speech in feeble attempts at silencing them. Most trolls are kids between the ages of 10 and 16 who have no other agenda than amusing themselves with other people's frustration.