Is this kind of poster, a 'Troll'?

[MissCommando]

I'm talking about the Internet kind. Do you class people who post stupid questions just for a response as a Troll?

I was on another site yesterday and there is a poster on there who does it and obviously, there is one on here. I think it's better to ignore them as they are just attention seeking.

[ChuckFickens]

OK, We'll ignore you.

[pdust]

but you just put up a thread drawing attention to it rather than ignoring it ;)

[bednobs]

i suppose "stupid" questions vary from person to person
for example i find twr's question from earlier stupid, but don't particularly find despot's questions stupid. Other people will think differently though.

[flump1]

Indeed, most of the time they are ignored. Although troll baited is considered good sport some times !

[ummmm]

No...a troll sets out to upset people.

[MissCommando]

Argh, I don't want to name anyone or get banned. Normally a Troll (I hate that word) but a Troll is someone who causes trouble. I just wondered if you would class posters like the ones I described as a Troll.

Lol, as you can see from the amount of questions I've posted from being a member - I'm a true Troll! lol

[plautus]

...and she should know.

[dotty.]

do you mean me? I am not sure but I think either jno or myself was called a troll the other day, must have been jno because i don't cause trouble like that........

[MissCommando]

No dotty, I honestly don't mean you x

[MissCommando]

I don't want to name anyone or make it personal and the person I am talking about will probably love this thread so I don't want to make it obvious.

[plautus]

No, Dotty's pedigree is well established. i was referring to those who flit from site to site stirring the cauldron until they drown in their own brew.

[MissCommando]

Posters get annoyed with this poster but still respond. I think it would be so much better if they ignored the thread and then the poster would get bored of creating the same old, same old posts. Can't make it anymore obvious than that.

[pdust]

i would say theres different levels of trolling... mean ones like umm mentioned.... that deliberately set out to spoil peoples enjoyment of a site and upset people as much as possible.... but theres fun trolls too..... ive had some of my funniest moments watching the antics of trolls just out for a fun wind up....

i suppose the troll in the op would be a mild sidelines troll.... just bobbing on every so often to get a response

[sherrardk]

Are you referring to people who post endless, harmless threads that are obliviously a old of old tosh, but which get genuine answers and concern? I don't know what they are called, know what I call them though.

[pdust]

but they probably wouldnt get bored misscommando, they would just post more and more ridiculous stuff until they got a response.

[B00]

If its who I think you're talking about MissC, I have it good authority that they aren't a troll.

They are however annoying (to me personally anyway) and I try not to get involved, though I occasionally do, and metaphorically kick myself for doing so afterwards as it's just pointless replying 9 times of 10.

So I guess I/we have to look at that they aren't being abusive, they're staying within the rules and regulations so they stay (sadly!!)

[Barmaid]

How do you tell if someone is asking a stupid question just for a response or if they are unable to articulate properly, or asking something that is obvious to some?

I've just (potentially) asked a very stupid question.

[ummmm]

A bit like you plautus? You've set yourself up as the MR of the dark side.

[dotty.]

looked at your profile Barmaid, which question do you think is potentially stupid....help me out here..........:)

[jno]

I agree with you and ummmm, a troll is someone trying to stir up trouble or be abusive. Asking stupid questions is normal. Scientific tests prove that 87.5% of AB questions are stupid. But they're seldom trolling.