Ongoing argument with boyf:
Me - Trolling is bad and pointless.
Him - Trolling is supposed to be like that.
He is a tad more eloquent than that. But, honestly, the media has discovered the word trolls and, like everything else spawned on the slightly more shadowy corners of the internet, has failed to 'get it'.
There is a difference between trolling and out-and-out abuse. Trolling may sink exceptionally low every so often, but it is there for a reason - to provoke someone. This may be, for example, the use of the word 'faggot' to disrupt a heated and earnest online debate. It may be far more directed and personal-seeming, but it usually revolves around one thing: derail your opponent.
It can be between friends or it can be in the glorious Anon-ymity of a forum, but with trolling, all you hope is that someone, somewhere, will rise to the bait and instead of getting even, will get mad. The precept is, no one has superiority. At some point or another, a mindless or abusive statement will tip anyone over the edge from reasoned, sensible human being to maddened idiot who will only undo themselves more in attempting a reply. And oh, that's exactly what they want.
Stealing someone's identity to defame them is defamation. Abusing someone or spreading malicious rumours and comments is bullying or libel. And misuse of the word trolling makes me want to literally huff off under a bridge and grind small children's bones to make my bread. Just, just... oh. They've totally trolled me.
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