What is a Internet Troll/Forum Troll?
Someone whose posts are filled with innuendos, baiting, argumentative statements. They want you to believe they are knowledgeable on topics that often 'point-fingers' at other members of the forum.
They like to take words, sentences and quotes out of context.
Occasionally a Troll will feign ignorance. While I hate to acknowledge the fact that most Trolls are intelligent people…They always have an 'agenda'. Sometimes it's the topic, or the poster of the topic, that the Troll sets as it's target. Sometimes they are just getting off on causing discontent on a forum.
They deliberately provoke people into heated/flaming discussion which usually end up in DEBATES.
Trolls will bait others to insult them…then run to the Forum Moderators to complain.
Trolls like to post harassing messages and if attacked, pretend to be the injured party. Often times a Troll will garner support by sending private emails to members who come to their support publically.
The supporters are only enablers who allow the troll to take over the forum.
What to do about Forum Trolls?
Negotiating with a Troll is out of the question, you can't reason with them, they appear not to have been schooled in 'social grace', they don't feel the need to follow Netiquette or the rules of the Forum they infest.
The best thing is to Ignore the Troll….Don't Feed The Troll! However, as in physics, every action creates a reaction. When ignored, Trolls will sometimes accelerate their posts. They demand their Right to Freedom of Speech!
Or they will begin posting members privately.
Trolls tend to cause other members to stop posting for fear they will be targeted by the Troll or his/her friends. If this happens, contact the Forum Moderators.
Sandra
Forum Administrator
