2007-11-28 02:35:06 · 8 answers · asked by PatriciaLIrishladypat 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
How do we know if they are trolls?Do they always cause trouble?Or just sometimes?Why aren't they kicked off?
2007-11-28 03:29:43 · update #1
Sorry I didn't see that the question was asked before.Sorry for being new to this also.
2007-11-28 03:33:30 · update #2
Welcome to Y/A! A troll is someone who'll post questions and answers designed to stir up trouble...also, they have a tendency to hand out lots of "thumbs down" on answers...and they love to report people for absolutely anything.
I view them as the Y/A paparazzi.
2007-11-28 03:41:21 · answer #1 · answered by Blue Oyster Kel 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In fairy tales, a "troll" is usually a homely, beastly humanoid, who lies in wait to ensnare the unwary.
On this website, "trolls" are usually new users (referred to as "newbies" or "newbs") who ask inane questions without seeing if the question was already asked (i.e., by entering keywords into the "Search for questions" box at the top of nearly every Yahoo Answers webpage; and, yes, your question was asked and answered MANY times on this site), and/or are people who ask questions using inflammatory language with the intent to start "flame" wars and/or use "illegal" or "immoral" words or phrases. Similar for "answer" trolls.
What these creatures get out of all this is beyond me! You'd think they'd have better things to do with their time, but, it's pretty obvious that they are not being properly supervised (most trolls are pre-college students with low self-esteem and correspondingly low grades).
Fortunately, trolls can be "contained" and even "eradicated" by the judicious use of the "Report Abuse" button. Unfortunately, trolls tend to use phony or never-used e-mail addresses (or even other people's e-mail addresses!!!), so they can re-create themselves in their own bizarre, twisted image, over and over again.
If Yahoo simply devised an automated mechanism to scan and eliminate over-asked questions, like this one, and to eliminate all newbs having even one clearly inflammatory question or answer (i.e., they shouldn't rely on software to make that decision), then the incidence of trolls would be drastically reduced. It's not only possible to do, it boggles the mind that they haven't done it already!
2007-11-28 03:25:14 · answer #2 · answered by skaizun 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A name for a Internet user who asks stupid questions with the sole intention of getting a major response. For example, one who goes into alt.rape.surviors and posts a message with the words "Suck me, and get back in the kitchen and make me some pie!"
The analogy with Trolling in the fishing sense. They stick a tasty morsel on a hook, and drag it through a population hoping someone will bite.
2007-11-28 04:35:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ethos and pathos of trolls, look for lots of thumbs down on pages. Since trolls have multiple accounts. Thus being able to report you 3 or 4 times and get your answer or question deleted usually. Since Yahoo bots respond to a certain number of reports to work and delete your answer or question. and if you vote on undecided questions, you can find them their too by looking for high votes sometimes.
2007-11-28 04:35:46 · answer #4 · answered by Yahoo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Someone who asks questions to cause trouble
2007-11-28 06:26:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
An SOB, or trouble maker. Someone who has nothing better to do than cause trouble for people who are trying to have a good time on line.
2007-11-28 03:27:22 · answer #6 · answered by Paulus 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A person that will post or answer questions just to start trouble.
2007-11-28 02:38:44 · answer #7 · answered by Flat_out_Bob 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
someone who makes fake q&a just to annoy people
2007-11-28 02:38:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋