what is a troll?

[Anonymous]

I see people use this term here often - what does calling someone a troll mean?

[Anonymous]

In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into a desired emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)

[Anonymous]

I am a troll.

[Anonymous]

On THIS board, a troll is someone who posts an opinion about a school that other posters find objectionable and rather than debating the debate, they chose to attack the poster by labeling him/her a troll. In recent times, anyone who posts something about Sidwell, in particular, is summarily dismissed as a troll.

[Anonymous]

Also, if you try to discuss the needs of gifted kids, then you are a troll, or at least other parents will call you a troll and a liar.

[Anonymous]

I am a troll and I have a rabbit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On THIS board, a troll is someone who posts an opinion about a school that other posters find objectionable and rather than debating the debate, they chose to attack the poster by labeling him/her a troll. In recent times, anyone who posts something about Sidwell, in particular, is summarily dismissed as a troll.

Not true. Many posts about Sidwell create valid responses and discussion. But there also have been a lot of recent posts about Sidwell that clearly meet the troll definition posted above. Those posters should be labeled as trolls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On THIS board, a troll is someone who posts an opinion about a school that other posters find objectionable and rather than debating the debate, they chose to attack the poster by labeling him/her a troll. In recent times, anyone who posts something about Sidwell, in particular, is summarily dismissed as a troll.

Not true. Many posts about Sidwell create valid responses and discussion. But there also have been a lot of recent posts about Sidwell that clearly meet the troll definition posted above. Those posters should be labeled as trolls.

Translation: if I am a Sidwell parent and I am upset that others are talking about the football team, the disgusting poem, et al., I will label someone as a troll because it's easier to attack someone rather than respond to a post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Translation: if I am a Sidwell parent and I am upset that others are talking about the football team, the disgusting poem, et al., I will label someone as a troll because it's easier to attack someone rather than respond to a post.

Are you trying to debate the point legitimately, or just dismissing me to provoke a response? Seems like the latter.

[Anonymous]

She's jealous, because your kid goes to Sidwell, and so she wants to provoke you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, if you try to discuss the needs of gifted kids, then you are a troll, or at least other parents will call you a troll and a liar.

This needs a little more finesse.

1. If you tell another poster "if you don't see my point, then your kid must not be as gifted as mine," you totally deserve to be called a troll. (I've seen this lovely exchange several times this year!)

2. If you insist that your approach is the only possible approach for gifted kids (homeschooling or HGCs, take your pick), you will be called a troll.

3. If you use your kid's giftedness to play the victim on DCUM (see the post above, "nobody understands me!") then you will be called a troll.

HOWEVER, if you are willing to engage in reasoned, open dialogue with other posters about a broad variety of approaches, and if you can resist telling them their kids must be dumber than yours -- then you will do fine!

[Anonymous]

All individuals reading and posting on DCUM

[Anonymous]

This should help, OP!

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=what+is+a+troll%3F

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She's jealous, because your kid goes to Sidwell, and so she wants to provoke you.

Sure. If someone disagrees with a Sidwell parent, that person MUST be insanely jealous because their child isn't as Sidwell. MUST BE. Couldn't be that they have a differing opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, if you try to discuss the needs of gifted kids, then you are a troll, or at least other parents will call you a troll and a liar.

This needs a little more finesse.

1. If you tell another poster "if you don't see my point, then your kid must not be as gifted as mine," you totally deserve to be called a troll. (I've seen this lovely exchange several times this year!)

2. If you insist that your approach is the only possible approach for gifted kids (homeschooling or HGCs, take your pick), you will be called a troll.

3. If you use your kid's giftedness to play the victim on DCUM (see the post above, "nobody understands me!") then you will be called a troll.

HOWEVER, if you are willing to engage in reasoned, open dialogue with other posters about a broad variety of approaches, and if you can resist telling them their kids must be dumber than yours -- then you will do fine!

Nope. You just need to talk about the needs of gifted kids, and people will jump all over you.