W1.4 On the Wide Variety of Internet Trolls

On the wide variety of Internet Trolls

A troll is someone who deliberately publishes offensive material to get a reaction out of other participants.

		Watch one of the three talks below about the phenomenon of trolling (or all of them if you're feeling particularly interested in this topic).
		Description: Talk from Fluent 2012 by Nicole Sullivan, @stubbornella Links to an external site.
		Don't Feed the Trolls Links to an external site.

		Description (via The Stream): Social media networks and online discussion forums are often the site of cruel, crude and hurtful comments left by people who identify themselves as “trolls.” Their main purpose is to provoke outrage and generate attention for their exploits, which include posting malicious comments on Facebook memorial pages or aggressively harassing just about anyone who uses the internet. The spread of trolling culture has prompted discussions on free speech and whether such bad behavior online needs to be policed. So why is online trolling is so prevalent? And which is more at fault for its spread, the internet or society?
		The Stream: Are Trolls Killing the Internet Links to an external site.

		Description (via KnowYourMeme): Know Your Meme scientist Patrick explains "Troll bait", internet slang used to describe any individual who unknowingly attracts trolls or easily falls prey to such scheme. Exhibit A: "Stop Calling Me a Homo" YouTube Drama.
		Know Your Memes: Troll Bait Links to an external site.

Watch this great Vi Hart video about understanding negative comments and getting over it.