- The act of deliberately posting inflammatory, offensive, disruptive, or off-topic comments online (e.g., in forums, social media, comment sections) with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response, often anger or annoyance, or disrupting the conversation.
Explanation
Origin
Originated in the early days of the internet, possibly on Usenet forums in the late 1980s or early 1990s.
Two possible etymologies:
- 1. From the fishing technique trolling, where bait is dragged slowly through the water to lure fish – online trolls lure people into reacting.
- 2. From the mythological troll, an unpleasant creature living under a bridge, disrupting those who pass – online trolls disrupt online spaces.
The term became widespread with the growth of online communities.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Being an internet asshole. (Vulgar)
- Stirring the pot. (Provoking trouble or dissent)
- Yanking someone's chain. (Teasing or provoking someone, milder than typical trolling)
Milder/More Formal:
- Engaging in disruptive online behavior.
- Posting inflammatory remarks.
- Intentionally provoking other users.
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to neutral. Common in discussions about internet culture and online safety.
- Can be used in professional contexts when discussing moderation, online community management, or cybersecurity threats.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Some people might confuse trolling with simply disagreeing or having an unpopular opinion. True trolling involves deliberate intent to provoke or disrupt, often using bad-faith arguments or insults.
- The term is sometimes overused to dismiss any opposing viewpoint.
Examples
- Ignore him, he's just trolling.
- The comment section was full of trolling and insults.
- Some people engage in trolling because they enjoy getting a reaction.
Dialogue
Person A: Did you see the comments on that news article? Absolutely vile.
Person B: Yeah, especially that one guy arguing in bad faith about everything.
Person A: Total trolling. He wasn't interested in discussion, just wanted to make people mad.
Person B: Exactly. Best to just scroll past. Don't feed the trolls.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Friendly reminder: Don't feed the trolls. Block and move on. Your peace is more important. #trolling #online MuteThem
- Forum post: Warning: User [Username] seems to be trolling in this thread. Please ignore their attempts to derail the conversation.
- Facebook comment: Are you genuinely asking or just trolling? Hard to tell sometimes.
Response Patterns
- Agreement/Warning: Yeah, don't feed the trolls. (Meaning don't give them the reaction they want)
- Dismissal: Just block them. / Ignore it.
- Annoyance: Ugh, trolls are the worst.
- Reporting: I reported the comment for trolling.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After identifying trolling:
- Advise ignoring or blocking the troll: Best thing is to not engage.
- Discuss the troll's comments (sometimes): What did they even say? (Though often discouraged)
- Report the user/comment to moderators or the platform.
- Express frustration about the presence of trolls online.
Conversation Starter
- No. Usually arises during discussions about online behavior, specific comments, or problematic users.
Intonation
- Often said with annoyance, dismissal, or weariness.
- Emphasis usually on trolling. He's just TROLLING.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood by anyone who spends time online, though the specific tactics and recognition might vary. Very familiar term for Millennials and Gen Z.
Regional Variations
- Universal term in online English.