Fifty Plus (50+) - Trolling?

I was just reading some posts this week where someone asked a question and at some point in the responses someone called them a troll. The questions seemed to be pretty standard ones... where can I get a kickstand, etc., but were not typical of that particular forum. In other words, the kickstand question was in the roadie forum, not in the touring or utility forum. But there have been other times I've seen people called trolls that I was confused by, because they seemed to me to be honest questions or opinions. I think the definition has become a lot more subtle than, say, going to the C&V forum and writing and essay on the marvels of Carbon Fiber compared to Steel.


Plus, I don't get the "troll" bit. I had always thought it was like "trolling for trouble", but it seems it's a noun, like the troll under the bridge.

Sometimes a poster will arrive and leave behind a relatively innocent post about say why does XYZ brand have defects. Perhaps he has a problem with xyz. Perhaps he works for A. If the poster is not a regular in that forum and especially if the poster joined BF 1 hr ago then one might suspect that one of the more subtile forms of troll has been found. At least thats my understanding of the definition.

On the internet, a troll is someone who writes something controversial, knowing that he/she will be flamed (provoke dissenting responses). So you are right, it is someone looking for trouble. In the examples above, it seems the writers just made mistakes in posting to the improper forums.

The term has also suffered from complete and utter overusage. Minor disagreements about bikes often lead to one person unfortunately calling another poster a "troll" even though it's an inaccurate statement.

The term has also suffered from complete and utter overusage. Minor disagreements about bikes often lead to one person unfortunately calling another poster a "troll" even though it's an inaccurate statement.

Also used by some to describe a poster who may provide opinions or comments not IAW the Conventional Wisdom held by the name caller and his comrades. Useful for running off intruders to the friendly high fivin' chatter of the good ole boys. Beats coming up with rational responses.

Parties whose objective it is to incite controversy and usually do not care if the information posted is factual. Clueless or overly inquisitive behavior is different but can yield the same result. If I see and odd post, I check the OP's other posts. Usually trolls post to a lot of different forums asking out of place questions.

Here is my response...

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/TrollBGon-vi.gif

Parties whose objective it is to incite controversy and usually do not care if the information posted is factual. Clueless or overly inquisitive behavior is different but can yield the same result. If I see and odd post, I check the OP's other posts. Usually trolls post to a lot of different forums asking out of place questions.

Here is my response...



Nice response. I think I'll save a copy, and hope to not have to use it.

There are many kinds of trolls. Sometimes you'll get posts that seem innocent enough untill you realize the poster just put it up to get an arguement started or a long time-wasting debate about a well-worn issue.

Examples:

I followed so-and-so's advice and soaked my Brooks saddle in burnt motor oil for 40 days and 40 nights and now it won't hold it's shape. These saddles are worthless!

or

I'm looking for a new bike to do casual century rides and some trail riding with small drops, nothing over 15-20 feet. Which of these Huffy models on sale for $50 at WalMart would be best?

I'm looking for a new bike to do casual century rides and some trail riding with small drops, nothing over 15-20 feet. Which of these Huffy models on sale for $50 at WalMart would be best?

The one with the kickstand.

The one with the kickstand.

And a mirror.

The alternate answer is:
The one with the most "speeds."

...like the troll under the bridge.There are trolls under some bridges:

http://www.worldofstock.com/slides/ASC1216.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fremont_Troll

I think a lot of times you find someone stating a personal opinion which is not widely held in a forum that they should expect would create contradictory replies. i.e. posting "Carbon Fiber sucks, it can explode at any time why would anyone ride a CF bike" in the road forum or "Helmets are useless and only an idiot would wear one" in the Advocacy and Safety forum. You would have be exceptional naive to think that this type of inflammatory comment would not elicit a lot of contradictory response and if you are doing it just to get the response then you are a troll.

I sometimes think the majority of people in P&R are trolling.:)

I don't know why old people bike. They are a hazard on the road and watching them try to get up hills is embarrassing.

Only in Wisconsin would a grown man wear one of those.

"...Only in Wisconsin would a grown man wear one of those..."Wear one of what?

I don't know why old people bike. They are a hazard on the road and watching them try to get up hills is embarrassing.

Yeah, you old geazers need to stay to the MUPS on your beach bikes and stay out of the way of real cyclists!:eek:

I don't know why old people bike. They are a hazard on the road and watching them try to get up hills is embarrassing.

Troll... :)

I don't know why old people bike. They are a hazard on the road and watching them try to get up hills is embarrassing.

Watching them try to wear spandex is embarassing...:D

Here' a troll. It always starts a long thread where people get all riled up:

"Hello! I just got my Motobecane from bikes direct and love it!"

--or--

Everyone knows that PC users hate freedom and truth. They should get Macs and learn to be creative nurturing humans, not corporate bean counters.

Example A is perhaps a new user, unaware that they are starting a war.
Example B is someone who is an online arsonist, or a TROLL

Where's the Troll-b-gone when you need it.
peace

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/th_feed_troll.jpg (http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/feed_troll.jpg)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/th_dont-feed-the-troll.jpg (http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/dont-feed-the-troll.jpg)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/th_DoNotFeedTroll.png (http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/DoNotFeedTroll.png)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/th_Do-not-feed-the-troll.png (http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/Do-not-feed-the-troll.png)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/th_Don__t_feed_the_Troll.jpg (http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/Don__t_feed_the_Troll.jpg)

Here' a troll. It always starts a long thread where people get all riled up:

"Hello! I just got my Motobecane from bikes direct and love it!"



You've been hanging out at road cycling haven't you:D

The TRUE troll is never discovered. He/she enters the conversation and handles responses in such a way that folks have no or little clue they are being manipulated. Like a very rare wine, they are subtle and smooth.

"Carbon Fiber sucks, it can explode at any time why would anyone ride a CF bike"

Yep, I had an emergency room visit from CF burns after a CF frame explosion. Terrible stuff!

Why are old people over 50 years old allowed to ride bicycles on highways? They're a hazard to themselves and to everybody else, too. That's what I read on a respected world wide web forum. It's true!

Well, now I look back on my "I like to Coast" thread and I'm surprised you guys didn't throw me under a bridge! Sorry.

I thought trolls were more the argumentative type.

I'm thinking of going clipless...:D

Well, now I look back on my "I like to Coast" thread and I'm surprised you guys didn't throw my under a bridge! Sorry.

I thought trolls were more the argumentative type.

I'm thinking of going clipless...:D
:lol:

I think trolls are the more argumentative type, who post to deliberately incite a flame war. If not, then I'm surprised they haven't thrown me off the same bridge due to some of my dippy questions. :o

:lol:

I think trolls are the more argumentative type, who post to deliberately incite a flame war. If not, then I'm surprised they haven't thrown me off the same bridge due to some of my dippy questions. :o

Yen-
You have given some good advise when it was needed.
To me that is all what matters.:)

Your "I like to coast" thread would have been a troll in a road group, but not in the 50+ group. Many of us like to coast. Just like many of us ride hybrids and comfort bikes.

Your "I like to coast" thread would have been a troll in a road group, but not in the 50+ group. Many of us like to coast. Just like many of us ride hybrids and comfort bikes.

I ask non-50+ questions here because this forum seems like a safe haven. A kinder, gentler bike forum. :)

Yen-
You have given some good advise when it was needed.
To me that is all what matters.:)
:)

(... and Happy Retirement!)

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We would actually rather have people report trolls or possible trolls on Bike Forums than post their personal information on threads. In fact, posting personal information without permission is a no-no.

As to who we consider a troll on this forum, we generally accept this definition:


...someone who intentionally posts messages about sensitive topics constructed to cause controversy in an online community such as an online discussion forum or USENET groups in order to bait users into responding. They may also plant images and data on networks that others may find disturbing in order to cause confrontation. They often change screen names or acquire multiple screen names to cause confusion and gain credibility by agreeing with themselves in forum debates.

We would actually rather have people report trolls or possible trolls on Bike Forums than post their personal information on threads. In fact, posting personal information without permission is a no-no.

As to who we consider a troll on this forum, we generally accept this definition:

dang donna..you are impressively intelligent...;)

I think it was originally used as a verb, as in trolling for fish, but has taken on the pejorative, nominative form now used so often.

Of course, now you can simply call anyone who expresses an opinion a troll, and if they argue with you, don't forget to yell "Straw man!"

I also find comical the race some people have to be the first one to 'out' a troll. As if they get some kind of prize for not being 'had'.

dang donna..you are impressively intelligent...;)

Is that allowed on the internet? Alert the media!

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This looks a lot more impressive than it is. IP addresses are dynamically allocated, so that can change from day to day, or even session to session. Knowing the ISP is essentially meaningless unless someone is engaged in illegal activity. Knowing that someone uses Firefox or IE is meaningless, likewise for the operating system.

It is kinda like a dog that is all bark and no bite. If someone has their location listed in their profile, then that's about equal info (or perhaps it is even more precise info).

And if someone goes deeper down to truly personal information (like the ISP account owner's real name), and then posts it, the person who posted it runs the risk of having charges filed against them, because you are supposed to have to have a subpeona to get that info. So one could have them investigated.

Actually, what you read on that little penguin is your own info, and everyone else reads their own information Your computer broadcasts this every time you are on the net to every site you visit. This little thing just displays it back to you.

Bill, that little piece of software does report back to the company that produces it just what forums you visit here. That's the only info they actually collect and then they sell the info to various marketing analysis firms. Danasoft uses this little toy for income.

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So what the hell did I do?:eek:

that is my IP address, provider and setup :mad:

george

So what the hell did I do?:eek:

that is my IP address, provider and setup :mad:

george

George, you read your own, whoever else reads it reads their own info. I know what that toy is, and it doesn't tell anyone anything about you, only about themselves. It reads and displays back to you your own info.

Bill, it does burn bandwidth though. so I'm deleting it. Sorry, it's a cute toy though.

Wow, this thread is a great comfort to me. I thought "troll" references were the spirit of my long-gone dad [still] making fun of my high school girlfriends. Mind, I thought they were beautiful. . .still do.

George, you read your own, whoever else reads it reads their own info. I know what that toy is, and it doesn't tell anyone anything about you, only about themselves. It reads and displays back to you your own info.

Bill, it does burn bandwidth though. so I'm deleting it. Sorry, it's a cute toy though.

I'm glad you did that Tom, I hated that frickin thing. Regardless of how innocent it was in reality (which is debatable), the implication was far from innocent. I don't think it was cute at all.

Wow! I drew moderators out of the woodwork! :o

I read all this stuff above and must say that you managed to make me feel stupid.
I do not have a clue what you guys are worried about.
Troll? Seems to me it is the eyes of the beholder.
Personal information is a no-no? What is that? Does that include personal experiences and location?
ISP?
IP?

I guess some of you forgot the topic of this thread!:)

I've witnessed forumites disagreeing over paint color and tossing the "troll" label around in response, so it's essentially a meaningless term nowadays.
BikeForums.net won't assess IP addresses and ISP providers and has even called longtime member/posters "sockpuppets" without reason or evidence, so don't sweat it!

dang donna..you are impressively intelligent...;)

Troll.

Actually, what you read on that little penguin is your own info, and everyone else reads their own information Your computer broadcasts this every time you are on the net to every site you visit. This little thing just displays it back to you.

Yep, almost every web page out there collects this information from you. It is pretty innocuous, providing just basic web ID information. It allows web hosts to monitor where their users are from, their ISP provider, their browser and their OS. I'd be surprised if BikeForums wasn't collecting some of this info.

The license plate on your car provides more personal information than this. By looking at the back of your car, I know where you are from, the make, model, color, and year (I know cars) of your car, and your personal license plate number, which could be used to run an ID check on you from places like this:
https://secure.bestpeoplesearch.com/c-VINL,Service.aspx

>>> I guess some of you forgot the topic of this thread!

DUDE!!! This is the FIFTY-PLUS forum! It's about forgetfulness. Put another way, it's using the world's expectation of our forgetfulness as an excuse to exercise our well-earned Anarchist proclivities.

Let chaos reign. [I'm gonna' crochet that onto a pillowcase.]

Gotcha!!!

Well it is a thread about trolls.

and the responses they elicit.

george :)