How quick TvTropes is to yell troll

Myrmidon

Sometimes people are just assholes/stupid.

CommandoDude

Srsly. I agree so much.

These people should be thrown into 4Chan to see what REAL trolls are.

Noimporta

These people should be thrown into 4Chan to see what REAL trolls are.

Loud 13 year olds that post CP?

Vorpy

Or some people are oversensitive fucks who can't stand the fact that non-subtle, biased or controversial replies can exist?

Myrmidon

Says Vorpy.

Vorpy

Except I don't go to OTC?

Sammy

"These people should be thrown into 4Chan to see what REAL trolls are."

http://knowyourmeme.com/system/icons/4403/original/Girls.png

Vorpy

I don't gots permission to access the  file.

glennmagusharvey

Re opening post: I've seen this behavior here, heck.

Though sometimes it depends on the person's definition of troll.

Sometimes, someone considers "troll" to mean anyone who posts known inflammatory opinions, even if poster actually believes them.

Myrmidon

Try refreshing it.

Vorpy

There we go now I see it.

I guess when it comes to trolling, its subjective and differs from person to person?

Sammy

No, I fixed it.

That's pretty lame, though. Smokie's images ... they call to me.

Vorpy

Insert smokie images plz

Beholderess

Hmm, as far as this one understands, someone who ruins an anthill just to see the ants run around like crazy would be troll, while someone who does the same because they really do not want an anthill close to their house is not a troll.

And of course, everything based on motives is very difficult to verify.

glennmagusharvey

Yeah, judging motive is difficult, and that's the only actual basis for judging in this case.

Some people just don't bother, and assume that if you're posting something really crazy that your'e a troll.

BonSequitur

Well, that's the whole problem with the idea of punishing people for trolling, isn't it? It's okay if someone constantly causes flame wars and shitstorms by being a neo-nazi, but banworthy if he's just having a laugh.

InsanityAddict

No-one's banned for their political thoughts, they are banned based on their posting style. With Poe's Law, you can never distinguish between troll and true believer anymore.

Someone may fall in the left-leaning, anti-essentialistic category that is the troper average, yet if he argues in an intellectually dishonest, constantly shifting style(ignoring points that have been made or going on tangents) peppered with barely veiled personal attacks and retreads of old arguments, he will be banned sooner or later if he refuses to mend this(although you can hold out suprisingly long with these tactics).

Yet someone may be a complete bigot, if he is polite, sources his arguments, acknowledges points he can't argue against and generally debates in good faith, he will last. Which is a good thing, since it forces you to sharpen and justify your own worldview without having to resort to rhetorical tricks. Tiresome, but vital.