I've been frequenting Wizbang for years. One of the things that makes this blog so great is the quality of it's readership. I've learned to appreciate, not only the quality of the pieces published, but, the comments from most of the readers. That being said, I've seen several trolls come and go. Some just disappear over time, others have been hit by "Olaf's Troll Hammer".
Some trolls are just annoying. Others are funny. And some, even though I may not agree with the substance of their posts, can actually provoke thought.
Thus, I will describe what I have come to call the "Three Levels of Trolldom". Let me explain.
- A Level 1 Troll is one who, no matter what the substance of your column may contain, will always disagree. Since this site is relatively conservative in nature, this Troll can most always be described as liberal or leftist. Even though these Trolls are misguided in their ideology, they are the ones I respect the most. They usually have something intelligent to say, they say it well, and they present it in a manner of thoughtful debate: A case of "I may not agree with you, but I respect your opinion". This is the rarest form of Troll, thus sightings are uncommon.
- A Level 2 Troll is somewhat similar to a Level 1 in that they disagree with everything you say, but they say it, not in a thoughtful, reasoned manner, but in a combative, abrasive, sarcastic way. No one needs to provoke them. It's just the way they were made. A Level 2 is the most common form of Troll, with some just teetering on the border of a Level 1, but never quite maturing to that point. A shame, indeed.
- A Level 3 Troll is a mindless, rabid kook. I liken them to the Troll in the old video game "Zork": Lurking around the corner, ready to jump out at you with a "verbal" bloody ax, ready to chop you or fellow commentors with name calling and childish schoolyard comparisons, just because they can. Nothing of substance to offer, no intellect or thought provoking counter ideas. Just ugly creatures with a chip on their shoulder and too much time on thier hands. They usually hi-jack a thread, making the discussion not about the substance of the post, but usually turning the comments section into a self-absorbed flamewar. These Trolls I despise the most.
Trolls are an invaluable part of a blog. The ones who offer counter-opinions can turn a thread into an informative, lively debate about substantive issues. Unfortunately, they are a rare breed, and even when they do turn out, the more reasoned readership usually rips their arguments to tatters, as the mainly leftist ideology is far too lacking of reason and reality.
If you feel I've left out any type of Troll, please feel free to offer up your own addition.
And to all you Trolls out there, I'm sure your responses will only re-enforce the notions set forth above.
But, by all means, keep up the good fight.
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Asshats, Blogging Matters, Humor, Moonbats
Comments (36)
IMOPeople who offe... (Below threshold)1. Posted by retired military | January 6, 2009 10:58 AM | Score: 8 (10 votes cast)
IMO
People who offer thoughtful points which disagree with you are not trolls. They simply are having a discussion. Yes their points may not make the best of sense to you but they tend to refrain from the namecalling or bombthrowing unless provoked.
1. Posted by retired military | January 6, 2009 10:58 AM |
Score: 8 (10 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 10:58
2. Posted by hyperbolist | January 6, 2009 11:02 AM | Score: -17 (21 votes cast)
1) Troll is not a proper noun--no need to capitalize in the middle of a sentence.
2) What kind of troll points out the misspelling and misuse of the word "their"?
Are you blogging from a Blackberry or some other device that makes it difficult to proofread your work? Do you purposefully butcher your own prose to make the public education system look even worse than it is?
2. Posted by hyperbolist | January 6, 2009 11:02 AM |
Score: -17 (21 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 11:02
3. Posted by bobdog | January 6, 2009 11:08 AM | Score: 3 (7 votes cast)
Their is a fourth type of Troll, but my finely polished sense of decorum and real good upbringin' prohibits further comment.
3. Posted by bobdog | January 6, 2009 11:08 AM |
Score: 3 (7 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 11:08
4. Posted by rodney dill | January 6, 2009 11:22 AM | Score: 6 (8 votes cast)
I wouldn't even classify your level I as a troll. To me disagreement isn't a trollish behavior.
4. Posted by rodney dill | January 6, 2009 11:22 AM |
Score: 6 (8 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 11:22
5. Posted by Shawn | January 6, 2009 11:26 AM | Score: 10 (14 votes cast)
All fixed, Hyper!!
Thanks a million!!
And since it's my post, I'll capitalize whichever damn word I choose!!
So, what kind of TROLL are you?
5. Posted by Shawn | January 6, 2009 11:26 AM |
Score: 10 (14 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 11:26
6. Posted by Shawn | January 6, 2009 11:30 AM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Rodney,
I would agree with you, however, I am talking about the ones who will disagree with anything put forth. You could say the sun is a star, and they would disagree. That was my point for a Level 1.
-Shawn
6. Posted by Shawn | January 6, 2009 11:30 AM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 11:30
7. Posted by Clay | January 6, 2009 11:31 AM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
What kind of troll points out the misspelling and misuse of the word "their"?
Their the kind of Troll of a somewhat nit-picky nature. There sometimes intelligent, but most times annoying.
7. Posted by Clay | January 6, 2009 11:31 AM |
Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 11:31
8. Posted by rodney dill | January 6, 2009 11:36 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
8. Posted by rodney dill | January 6, 2009 11:36 AM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 11:36
9. Posted by irongrampa | January 6, 2009 11:36 AM | Score: 6 (8 votes cast)
Long since given up debating trolls,having gotten EXTREMELY tired of chasing goalposts and topics.
9. Posted by irongrampa | January 6, 2009 11:36 AM |
Score: 6 (8 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 11:36
10. Posted by potroast | January 6, 2009 11:46 AM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Come on Bruce....Where are you?? I guess he didn't crawl out of his cave yet? I'll beat the other one to the punch...you act like a 13 year old girl, no I mean an eight year old boy.
10. Posted by potroast | January 6, 2009 11:46 AM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 11:46
11. Posted by MPR | January 6, 2009 11:52 AM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Bruce and his comrades are speechless over the liberal circus in D.C. today.
11. Posted by MPR | January 6, 2009 11:52 AM |
Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 11:52
12. Posted by hyperbolist | January 6, 2009 12:01 PM | Score: -4 (8 votes cast)
Clay: taht's only your upinnion.
12. Posted by hyperbolist | January 6, 2009 12:01 PM |
Score: -4 (8 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 12:01
13. Posted by Hansel2 | January 6, 2009 12:39 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Shawn,
I must disagree with your post - courteously.
13. Posted by Hansel2 | January 6, 2009 12:39 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 12:39
14. Posted by Parthenon | January 6, 2009 12:47 PM | Score: -1 (9 votes cast)
Hilarious piece.
A blog is only as good as its trolls, imo. They humorously harass the hosts, and all the like-minded commenters tee off on them generally brilliantly. I won't read a pure echo chamber, no fun.
You crazy war-monging chickenhawk religious nuts. :)
14. Posted by Parthenon | January 6, 2009 12:47 PM |
Score: -1 (9 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 12:47
15. Posted by Baron Von Ottomatic | January 6, 2009 1:33 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Trolls are baby shit compared to a class five full roaming vapor...
15. Posted by Baron Von Ottomatic | January 6, 2009 1:33 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 13:33
16. Posted by Sheik Yur Bouty | January 6, 2009 1:37 PM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Wait. Which kind of troll makes obscure movie references?
:-)
16. Posted by Sheik Yur Bouty | January 6, 2009 1:37 PM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 13:37
17. Posted by Bruce Henry | January 6, 2009 2:28 PM | Score: -3 (7 votes cast)
MPR and "potroast" (never noticed you before. Do I annoy you?):
I'm here, and I feel duly chastised by the ever-insightful Mr Mallow. I promised him I would be real good from now on, on another thread, but apparently he couldn't stop brooding about being verbally bitch-slapped by me and others who read his "posts." Hence, this one.
Oh dear, I've gone too far again....
Seriously, dude, it's just a blog. We all have real lives elsewhere, right? ...Right?
Actually, Mallow, that was a pretty good article, I do feel chastened, and I will try to be a better correspondent in future. I just couldn't resist one last jab.
17. Posted by Bruce Henry | January 6, 2009 2:28 PM |
Score: -3 (7 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 14:28
18. Posted by jmc | January 6, 2009 2:44 PM | Score: -2 (8 votes cast)
I would say I'm a level 2 troll. In fairness though, I find myself often responding to Cassy's posts; and let's face it, thoughtful, reasoned, intelligent, responses are impossible when dealing with that level of absurdity.
In fact, I'd say Cassy would qualify as a level 3 herself, if she wasn't a conservative on a conservative blog.
Damnit, there I go again being sarcastic.
18. Posted by jmc | January 6, 2009 2:44 PM |
Score: -2 (8 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 14:44
19. Posted by JLawson | January 6, 2009 2:48 PM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
"What kind of troll points out the misspelling and misuse of the word "their"?"
The Pedantic Troll - has an overly inflated sense of their self-importance, and not being able to find a way to refute the substance of the issue is reduced to covering it with polka-dotted paint to distract the casual reader.
"Which kind of troll makes obscure movie references?"
The Fanboy troll - who doesn't understand why EVERYONE isn't concerned about the changes in luggage styles on the Hogwarts Express between movies 1 and 2 - because people just don't buy new trunks that often, and it's terribly important in the metaphysical sense to understand just what was being implied by the changes in the latches and hinges, especially when compared to the interior rearrangements of the living quarters between season 3 and 4 of Voyager!!1! (Kate Mulgrew was pretty damn hot, too. Seven of Nine? Man, you could TELL those water balloons were teh fake!)
19. Posted by JLawson | January 6, 2009 2:48 PM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 14:48
20. Posted by DodoDavid | January 6, 2009 2:51 PM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
So, what kind of trolls blog on Wizbang Blue?
20. Posted by DodoDavid | January 6, 2009 2:51 PM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 14:51
21. Posted by jmc | January 6, 2009 2:52 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
We should be honest here, both sides do that in order get under the skin of their opponent.
21. Posted by jmc | January 6, 2009 2:52 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 14:52
22. Posted by shawn | January 6, 2009 2:54 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
"So, what kind of trolls blog on Wizbang Blue?"
Wizbang what?
22. Posted by shawn | January 6, 2009 2:54 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 14:54
23. Posted by Brian | January 6, 2009 2:56 PM | Score: 2 (8 votes cast)
Actually, the term "troll" is already well-defined, and it applies only to your level 3 (and maybe 2.5). However, it is often misused by Wizbang commenters, consistent with this characterization:
That's the basis of your level 1 and 2 definitions.
And as long as we're being grammar trolls today:
...the quality of it's readership....
it's: A contraction, short for "it is".
its: A possessive pronoun.
23. Posted by Brian | January 6, 2009 2:56 PM |
Score: 2 (8 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 14:56
24. Posted by Rance | January 6, 2009 3:01 PM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
There is also a "Rebuttal Troll". Rebuttal trolls attack even sincere, well reasoned, opposing viewpoints at level 3.
They are easy to identify. There response usually starts with a phrase like "You libtards are all alike."
24. Posted by Rance | January 6, 2009 3:01 PM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 15:01
25. Posted by Sheik Yur Bouty | January 6, 2009 3:06 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Rance,
No they don't, you insufferable jerk!
:-) Sorry...couldn't resist...
-syb
25. Posted by Sheik Yur Bouty | January 6, 2009 3:06 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 15:06
26. Posted by OregonMuse | January 6, 2009 3:32 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
We don't know; they get banned too quickly.
26. Posted by OregonMuse | January 6, 2009 3:32 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 15:32
27. Posted by martyredcars | January 6, 2009 3:51 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
I can't believe you remember the troll from Zork. I would have never remembered him on my own.
27. Posted by martyredcars | January 6, 2009 3:51 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 15:51
28. Posted by bryanD | January 6, 2009 4:10 PM | Score: -1 (5 votes cast)
So-called trolls are crucial in preventing this blog from devolving into an virtual version of a leather bar for men.
The editors should ask themselves two questions:
1) is this blog a specialist's or expert's blog (original reportage)?
2) is this blog a comedic or voyeuristic or literary blog?
If the answers to these questions is No, then this blog is for entertainment purposes only and is, (at best) supplemental for knowledge. Which means Wizbang's audience is of the "trolling" kind; but if the word "troll" is reserved here for only contrarians and iconoclasts, we must dub the Wizbang Orthodox as Wankers, because without Trolls, there would only be a circle jerk left in the comments section.
In conclusion, Wizbang's open comment policy (registration-free) is key to its success. I'll venture that opinion with serene confidence. It's hiccupped down the traffic meter due to past delusions of Odin on the part of former editor and tubby agoraphobe, Jay Tea, from which it has yet to fully recover, though I'd say the prognosis is good, if tampering and tinkering is resisted in future (though I would, if I were Kevin, combine all paged under the main page, a'la Mayor Giuliani's Operation Broken Windows campaign. Pop, Tech, and Sports remind me of the Bates Motel: empty.
Shawn Mallow: very good (and different!) topic. Don't be afraid of open threads, music debates, and head-to-head battles of the Hollywood babes, past and present.
28. Posted by bryanD | January 6, 2009 4:10 PM |
Score: -1 (5 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 16:10
29. Posted by JLawson | January 6, 2009 4:31 PM | Score: 1 (5 votes cast)
And there's the gay-slinging insult troll. Wow, what a zoo we're collecting!
29. Posted by JLawson | January 6, 2009 4:31 PM |
Score: 1 (5 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 16:31
30. Posted by Shawn | January 6, 2009 6:20 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
"I can't believe you remember the troll from Zork. I would have never remembered him on my own."
-------------------------------------
I used to love that game.
"You are standing in a clearing. There is a white house to the east, and to the west..."
30. Posted by Shawn | January 6, 2009 6:20 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 18:20
31. Posted by martyredcars | January 6, 2009 6:37 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
The only other thing I can remember is a sandwich in a paper bag. Was it something weird, like an onion sandwich?
A few years ago I scored a Commodore 64 and a whole collections of floppy disks (genuine floppies!) on Freecycle. One of the floppies is Zork! Alas, there's some kind of cable missing so we've never hooked it up. Maybe I'll nag the hubby to look into it.
We are comerades in nerddom, Shawn.
31. Posted by martyredcars | January 6, 2009 6:37 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 18:37
32. Posted by Shawn | January 6, 2009 7:34 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
There was a clove of garlic in the bag..
32. Posted by Shawn | January 6, 2009 7:34 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 19:34
33. Posted by Tom Blogical | January 6, 2009 8:21 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
it's: A contraction, short for "it is".
its: A possessive pronoun.
This is one of my biggest pet peeves, as well as having to read "there, their and they're" confused often.
One of the big ones I've been noticing lately is using the spelling "loose" for "lose". To a lesser extent, a lot of people can't spell "ridiculous".
I never bother trying to correct anybody though.
33. Posted by Tom Blogical | January 6, 2009 8:21 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 20:21
34. Posted by rodney dill | January 6, 2009 9:21 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
34. Posted by rodney dill | January 6, 2009 9:21 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 21:21
35. Posted by Tom Blogical | January 6, 2009 9:26 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
LOL! rodney, you always make me laugh.
35. Posted by Tom Blogical | January 6, 2009 9:26 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2009 21:26
36. Posted by D-Hoggs | January 7, 2009 11:53 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Tom, one of my biggest pet peeves is people's usage of the word 'an'. For example:
"devolving into an virtual version of a leather bar"
36. Posted by D-Hoggs | January 7, 2009 11:53 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 7, 2009 11:53