What is an Internet troll?
Of course the Wikipedia has a long definition and discussion at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll (Who's computer is this?)
that can be summarized as:
"Someone who intentionally posts messages about sensitive topics
constructed to cause controversy in an online community such as a
Usenet news group in order to bait users into responding".
More generally, troll descends from an obscene Old Norse compound word
that can be roughly translated as "axe-grinder".

How do trolls score troll points?
Based on my exhaustive research, troll points are scored based on the
average projected area of a Usenet thread. This lost area in
cyberspace is defined via the Knoop formula as the length of the
thread multiplied by the average depth of the thread. (This research
consisted of re-reading threads from Archimedes Plutonium until a six-
pack of Iron City light beer was exhausted). Also see the Wikipedia
list of notable Usenet "personalities" at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notable_Usenet_personalities (Who's computer is this?)
(Neither Bret Cahill nor Keith P Walsh are on the list).

Is there an easy way to keep a troll from scoring lots of points?
Yes. Continue the discussion by starting another thread, and give it
as long and descriptive of a title as you can. Remember that Google
web search indexes Usenet based on the titles. Anyone who reads the
new thread can start from your reply rather than some silly troll
starter post. Your goal should be to be heard, not buried under a ton
of troll crap that people will never read past.

What is another way to keep a troll from scoring points?
Use the Roger Rabbit strategy. Do not reply to every post, at any
time. Only reply when it would be funny.

How else can you annoy a troll?
Point out how long it has been since he got back to pontificating
about his favorite topic. Phil Hendrie, the infamous California radio
"talk" personality, calls this process getting them back into their
myopia.

Should the process be called dancing with trolls, or troll wrestling?
That somewhat depends on how sober you are at the time. I say that it
only seems like dancing, so wrestling is actually the preferred term.

Are there still more ways to wrestle with trolls?
Only as many as you can think up. Top post. Top AND bottom post. Side
post (if you can). There are more of us than of them. They will not
ever go away, so we might as well have fun with them. Put the USE back
in Usenet!

How about tag team troll wrestling (TTTW)? Should it be considered a
sport?
Yes, provided that it is kept less violent than football, NASCAR
Nextel Cup racing, or Hockey Night in Canada.

Pittsburgh Pete

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