Trolling is any deliberate and intentional attempt to disrupt other people who work to create content for and help run their businesses. Not to be confused with large warty monsters thought to dwell under bridges, in caves etc.
A troll deliberately exploits tendencies of human nature or of an online community to upset people. The basic mindset of a troll is that they are far more interested in how others react to their actions.
The basic policy regarding trolling is simple: Please refrain.
Definition of trolling
The idea of defining trolling is in many ways comical at best. The nature of trolls is to slip from any definition intended to constrain their actions and to find new and innovative ways to annoy. What follows are some comments that point generally in the direction of what a troll is and what trolls do. But it is not possible to identify everything someone might do to deliberately try to wreak havoc.Trolling is a deliberate, bad faith attempt to disrupt someone or something else. Ignorance is not trolling. Genuine dissent is not trolling. They are only trolling when they are motivated by a program of malice rather than ignorance or bias.
Dealing with trolls: Do Not feeding the troll
A common piece of advice regarding trolls is "Please do not feed the trolls." It is sometimes abbreviated as "DNFT" or "DFTT." While many seasoned veterans of online communities consider this advice useless, because in a community of any size, someone will react to the troll's posts.
Please do not feed the trolls.
