"In the context of the Internet, a troll refers to a person who makes inflammatory or hostile comments, which by effect or design cause disruptions in discourse... The contemporary use of the term first appeared on Usenet groups in the early 1990s. It is widely thought to be a diminutive of the phrase "trolling for suckers," itself derived from the sports-fishing technique of trolling." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll . |
I tend to like trolls. It seems to me that whenever one appears on any of the forums I have frequented they seem to stir things up. Perhaps that is viewed as not good, and perhaps it isnt. However, it also seems that the majority of contributors to these forums tend to be in agreement, ultimately, and tend to stand together when all is said and done, and the evidence of this in place for all to see. Whenever a conflicting point of view arrives to shake things up it also tends to affirm that which is agreed upon and may be true. Even in those instances when there is no resolve, I have seen many wonderful examples of debate where those involved managed to be generous, patient and respectful.All this, and time and time again when trouble might have been expected outcome. So, trolling may be born out of selfish motives, or the desire to provoke people or cause confusion, but it rarely has the power to compromise the truth as it is understood, or to compromise those who value respectful discourse. The evidence of this is easy enough to find if anyone doubts it. |
All of you are wrong, here is an accurate description of a Toll: BAY AREA Bay Bridge to expand FasTrak Wednesday, June 8, 2005 Three more lanes at the Bay Bridge toll plaza will be reserved for FasTrak users later this month, giving Interstate 880 drivers the chance to pay their tolls electronically but threatening to create gridlock if too many commuters insist on paying with cash. Officials with Caltrans and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission said Tuesday that the three northernmost lanes at the 21-lane Bay Bridge toll plaza -- known to commuters as the mini plaza -- will be converted to dedicated FasTrak lanes on June 27. "We have heard your demand for more FasTrak lanes at the Bay Bridge,'' Bijan Sartipi, Caltrans district director, said at a news conference at FasTrak's new customer service center in San Francisco. OH, you said TROLL, (never mind). |
