Difference between trolling and a controversial question?

Question

Where do you consider the difference?

btw..I often post in Immigration and I'm considered a troll there.

And I have to confess that some of my questions in immigration were trolling. I mean that I posted a question that I knew would piss some people off to amuse me and some friends.

btw I also ask controversial legitimate questions there. And I have asked questions that I really didn't think were controversial but got a suprising negative reaction.

Answer 1

There is a difference between trolling and a controversial question. The question can be provocative, inflammatory, thoughtful, whatever, and not be stupid. It gets people to think about and examine themselves and that's good. Troll questions (not anti-feminist questions, which are fine) are just plain stupid.

Answer 2

A controversial question is one that seeks to start a mini-discussion. There is a valid point there, but with an unusual perspective. Statistics that support many different views are welcomed. The asker often tries to clairify a point that got muddled, and does not insult or attack the people answering.

Trolling? A question like, "Everyone KNOWS that women are dumber than men! So why don't they admit it!!!!" would be a perfect example. A person who gives a link to a study of IQ scores that disproves this is roundly ignored while the asker toys with the half-hearted "That's SOOOOO not true!" type of answers, trying to trap them into being forced to agree. Best advice? Don't feed the trolls. Don't get drawn in to answering someone who is not honestly wanting feedback, but is only there to harrass or annoy.

Well, Ms. Object has provided another type of trolling a few questions after this one - becoming obsessed with one or two people and asking "questions" for the sole purpose of trying to make those people look bad. Sadly, this only makes the person doing this look nutty and juvenile. (Why is it that I never see ACTUAL juveniles doing that? You, Rio, and other bright young people *never* do that stuff! LOL)

Answer 3

Trolling questions do not really seek an answer. There usually is no real answer.
But I always try to come up with something logical that will counter what the questioner asks. To me there is no real difference between the two. A troll asks a question to inflame, yes, but if you can give a good answer that is well-thought then you take away from the 'enjoyment' of the troll.

Also by answering EVERY question with respect, you help to ensure that you too will be treated with respect.

But you are on to something. If we all treated the troll questions as controversial rather than inflammatory, and did not take them personally, maybe the troll questions would begin to fade away....Maybe.

Answer 4

First up, there is not one question I have seen you post to immigration that I consider trolling. You are pro legal rights and adopt a considered stance towards immigrants who are in your country illegally which some people are infuriated by because it is an emotive issue. The fact that you know they will respond in anger doesn't make you a troll, and that goes to the general question too.

Trollish posts deliberately inflame without regard to the content or value of the question being asked. And it can be a fine line. I have also seen some very thoughtful posts by people who normally troll on questions which speak to their conditions.

Answer 5

I do not consider trolls as fun, I think YA does not do its Job by troll (ers) with many identities, that come on with a hundred point and post "I hate them @****@ Mexicans" It is meant to cause hatred. and can in no way be considered an answer to a controversial question. Trolls on immigration are very racist and profane. there should be no place for their types on any forum.

Answer 6

I think it's hard to tell sometimes. I know I've posted questions that others thought were trolling, since I took a question that someone else asked about women or feminists and asked it about men or anti-feminists. Sometimes I was really curious about the answers and really wasn't trying to drive people crazy. But sometimes I did ask a question to drive people crazy!

But you're right, many times when I asked something I didn't care about the "answer" to, but thought was interesting, those were the questions I was most vilified for! Just as many times I post something that is research, but doesn't ring quite true to me, and am curious what others think, but people will assume I'm trying to say awful things about men or women or feminists or non-feminists. I use to not give my opinion on questions so I didn't bias the answers, but now I often do, so they know I'm not flaming, but am really curious. I really have tried to refrain from adding to my original question, so I'm not picking on answerers, but sometimes the answerers are assuming so much that I didn't say, or the answers are so offensive I can't believe it!

I've also been accused of being as bad as anti-feminists for pointing out the angry crazy anti-feminist sites, anti-women father's rights sites, and the anti-women men's rights groups, but actually I was researching one of the questions. I ran across these web sites and thought it was fair to find out if others knew about the radicals in these groups, but if I ask about them, that's being mean. I guess if I acted sweet and nice I wouldn't be pointing out that men's groups have radicals, and they're current, not radicals from 40 years ago.

I know I can ask really sarcastic questions and answer sarcastically, so that's probably why I can't get away with asking legit questions without being assumed I have a secret agenda. lol You go girl, ask and answer away!

Answer 7

For me (as opposed to the rules of Yahoo) the line is drawn when someone intentionally posts inflammatory questions designed to bait people to answer. Controversial questions are the best....but to be posted without trolling, I think they need to be presented respectfully.

Answer 8

It's a very fine line -- that's why I don't report anything but the blatant ones. If I can see a way to somehow consider it as a controversial question, no matter how asinine it may sound to me, I won't flag them. And sometimes trolls are fun -- you can usually say whatever you want, b/c when or if they report you, it shows their trollish question as well, doesn't it?

Answer 9

I think you already answered your own question. Trolling is when someone posts something with the sole intent of harassing someone (or a group of "someones"). It's disrespectful. The questions aren't really questions at all...they are more like rants, and are intended to make people mad, not intended for actual discussion.

Answer 10

You have my sympathy, but take a second to think about this: men have been on the receiving end of trolling from misandric feminists for years e.g. 'all men are rapists'. Being strong & silent we have generally taken it on the chin (ok - we just didn't want to be made sleep on the sofa) but no matter who it comes from moronic statements of this kind are ridiculous, insulting and help nobody. IMO there's nothing like the smell of naplam in the morning, except perhaps an intelligent question on a controversial topic.