Zaibatsu Corporation

[LE7ELS]

Trolls divert online discussions into non-productive, off-topic venues. They pose as part of a community only to disrupt it. Trolling is anti-social behavior.

Some of the techniques trolls use to accomplish their objectives are:

 

• Pithy put-downs
   
• Name-calling and insults
   
• Ad hominem attacks that try to negate an opinion by alleging negatives about the person supporting it
   
• Impugning other's motives
   
• Emotional rants
   
• Bullying and harassment
   
• Completely off-topic posts
   
• Posting inaccurate "facts"
  

What is the pay-off for trolling? Experts and online discussions cite:

•    
• Attention and recognition, even if negative
     
• The emotional release of venting
     
• Power (the power to disrupt)
   
• Vandalism
     
• The thrill of breaking social conventions
   
• Sabotaging groups the troll dislikes
   
• Immaturity