I've done a bit of lurking and a couple posts, might even post to LURKERS: pci if I get time; have yet to come across the meaning of troll. Any carved in stone definitions out there or do you all argue about that, too?

-- Patrick McHenry (pmchenry@gradall.com), October 06, 1999

Answers

You can search TB2000 archives, (found at the bottom of first forum page),...many threads on trolls in more than one category. Try 'general'. Here is a definition easily found from searching with keywords "troll" and "definition":

troll /v.,n./ [From the Usenet group alt.folklore.urban] To utter a posting on Usenet designed to attract predictable responses or flames. Derives from the phrase "trolling for newbies" which in turn comes from mainstream "trolling", a style of fishing in which one trails bait through a likely spot hoping for a bite. The well-constructed troll is a post that induces lots of newbies and flamers to make themselves look even more clueless than they already do, while subtly conveying to the more savvy and experienced that it is in fact a deliberate troll. If you don't fall for the joke, you get to be in on it.

Some people claim that the troll is properly a narrower category than flame bait, that a troll is categorized by containing some assertion that is wrong but not overtly controversial.

-- Donna (moment@pacbell.net), October 06, 1999.

....then there's that weird little guy in the funny hat, who lives under the bridge...

-- Rumplestiltskin (rapunzel@goldhair.com), October 06, 1999.

"troll " from Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

troll

An electronic mail message, Usenet posting or other (electronic) communication which is intentionally incorrect, but not overtly controversial (compare flame bait), or the act of sending such a message. Trolling aims to elicit an emotional reaction from those with a hair-trigger on the reply key. A really subtle troll makes some people lose their minds.

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), October 06, 1999.

tHEn TheRE iS ThaT gUy WhO TYpEs In tHE mosT annOYiNG MaNNER, whIST SEndInG To THe chosEN FEw GEms Of wisdoM!!!!!!!! IDioT BunGarDenER!!!!

DiD I mENtiON ThaT I haTe yOu??????

No?????

BuT I do!!!!!

VerILy!!!!

-- Dieter (questions@toask.com), October 06, 1999.

You know, I think the way you write is really cute, Dieter....I'd even make you some chocolate cake from my nice Y2k supplies...

-- Psychotic (y2k@doom&gloom.com), October 06, 1999.

I thought he was talking about al-d.

-- (al@d.d), October 06, 1999.

....Of course I was talking about al-d. Everyone knows Dieter doesn't wear a hat....

-- Rumplestiltskin (rapunzel@goldhair.com), October 06, 1999.

WaIT A mINuTe!!!!!! hYENaS!!!! i tHOuGhT DIetER wAS taLkINg aBOuT Al DasH D!!!!!! sCROTUmS!!!!

-- Dieter (questions@toask.com), October 07, 1999.

Great...now you've done it....Dieter sounds pissed...

-- Billy-Boy (Rakkasn@Yahoo.com), October 07, 1999.

An' a pissed dieter is worse than a dissed peter.

-- Poteen (The Irish do@it.best), October 07, 1999.

NOTHING'S worse than a dissed peter!

-- Knower (Dissed@dat.com), October 07, 1999.

In the land home to Dieter and co. Are loud screams heard wherever you go. His "scrotum-breath" phrase Comes from cultural ways Perpetrated upon any foe. . .

-- Poteen (The Irish do@it.best), October 07, 1999.