[Vision2020] Of trolls and trolling

[donald toogood]

You got that right and someone even wrote in to me and said that Joan had
been writing in under a different name before too.

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: "Phil Nisbet"
  To: vision2020 at moscow.com
  Subject: [Vision2020] Of trolls and trolling
  Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 10:23:18 -0700

  >
  > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll#Use_as_pejorative
  >
  > Internet troll
  > > From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
  > In the context of the Internet, a troll is a message that seems to
  > at least one user to be inaccurate, inflammatory or hostile, which
  > by effect or design causes a disruption in discourse. The word is
  > also often used to describe a person posting such messages.
  >
  > Some authorities consider the term "troll", when used to label a
  > person, as being roughly equivalent to "riff-raff" or "scum" or
  > some other term that dismisses a person as being unworthy of being
  > heard for reasons that are not directly stated. Some even consider
  > it to be racist.
  > Use as pejorative
  > As a pejorative, the term "troll" is very often a slander of
  > opponents in heated debates. People who identify as trolls and
  > those who vehemently deny that they are trolls will both use the
  > term, often making it obvious to all neutral third parties that
  > both participants are, in fact, trolls: one who admits it, and one
  > who does not. Accordingly the view has arisen in some circles that
  > trolls, the plural, is a valid term, but that it is not valid to
  > refer to someone as an Internet troll on their own. In other words,
  > it takes two to troll, and once they do, they're two trolls.
  > Many times a person will post a sincere message that they are
  > emotionally sensitive about. Skilful trolls know that the easiest
  > way to upset them is to falsely claim that they are a troll. On
  > other occasions a person may not instantly understand or fit into
  > the social norms of a forum where most people are the same - and so
  > acting just slightly out of social norms, often unintentionally,
  > for legitimate reasons gets the poster called a troll. Whether they
  > actually "are" a troll depends wholly on whether one takes the
  > political view of trolling, in which motives are not considered.
  >
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  >
  > Looking through all the current definitions, it would seem clear to
  > me that Joan just as readily fits the pattern for trolling and
  > seems to use the term itself as a way of IDing her political
  > opponents, thus employing the power of positive pigeon holing to
  > label all who disagree with her broader political agenda as some
  > how driven by bigotry.
  >
  > Its is also very possible that Joan is acting out by posting as the
  > troll herself as a means of gaining sympathy for her causes. I
  > note that she tends to lump any who think differently than she does
  > as evile reactionaries, nasty old conservatives, religious fanatics
  > and tends to use exceptionally nasty scatological terms about
  > anybody who disagrees with her conclusions. This tends to bring
  > her sympathy within her personal group, a possible motive for Joan
  > to post trolled messages as counter arguments to herself.
  >
  > As for bravery being displayed in posting by Joan, I would note
  > that she is actually in a position of power. Other posters who
  > disagree with Joan do not have the power to head down to the radio
  > station and spend two hours a week casting aspersions on the ideas,
  > physical characteristics or moral integraty of those who disagree
  > with them. Neither do other person who post here have the power to
  > write articles in print and electronic journals in roles as
  > ‘journalists’ or authors. Disagreeing with Joan can have serious
  > consequences for the person who does not agree with her arguments
  > or even her style, but she suffers no risk or harm from calling
  > those who do, troll, a-shole and a host of other things.
  >
  > Phil Nisbet
  >
  > PS Meanwhile back on the topic of Moscow’s future, what do any of
  > the various BS postings about religion or homosexuality have to do
  > with it?
  >
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