(no subject)
Jan. 9th, 2008 02:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jackIn fact, I think possibly the question of being provocative and when its trolling is more interesting than the particular ramblings that inspired it, so I'm reposting that question here.
Lizzip asked, "was he trolling", and while I think it's clear what he's doing, I don't know if it's trolling, I think the definition is still filling in.
Making up deliberately offensive opinions, especially ones that are "supposed" to be so over the top they're obviously false, is unambiguously trolling.
Arguing in good faith, however insane a proposition, isn't trolling (though may seem like it).
But in real life, on the internet, and in newspapers, there's often an intermediate position. Someone has an opinion, and makes generalising, exaggerated comments based on that with a deliberate disregard for being clear or polite, in a forum where they know the views are provocative.
Children often work like this, either from a lack of imagination in coming up with provocative opinions, or as a natural way to tease people with opinions they disagree with, or as a devil's advocate technique in order to get responses and information. And then they go and do it online to strangers.
If you're running a forum (or a newspaper), you have to decide if someone's behaviour is *solely* calculated to offend, or if they're redeemable, and where you draw the line of what you're prepared to accept. It might be unclear whether it counts as "trolling" or not.
Lizzip asked, "was he trolling", and while I think it's clear what he's doing, I don't know if it's trolling, I think the definition is still filling in.
Making up deliberately offensive opinions, especially ones that are "supposed" to be so over the top they're obviously false, is unambiguously trolling.
Arguing in good faith, however insane a proposition, isn't trolling (though may seem like it).
But in real life, on the internet, and in newspapers, there's often an intermediate position. Someone has an opinion, and makes generalising, exaggerated comments based on that with a deliberate disregard for being clear or polite, in a forum where they know the views are provocative.
Children often work like this, either from a lack of imagination in coming up with provocative opinions, or as a natural way to tease people with opinions they disagree with, or as a devil's advocate technique in order to get responses and information. And then they go and do it online to strangers.
If you're running a forum (or a newspaper), you have to decide if someone's behaviour is *solely* calculated to offend, or if they're redeemable, and where you draw the line of what you're prepared to accept. It might be unclear whether it counts as "trolling" or not.