"We have trolls of all varieties here. I'd say the far left has about as many trolls on here as the far right." IMHO, normally you would probably be correct, but because of Trump, the far left is using facts while the far right is a slave to emotion.
Actually, the far left is crazier than ever--transgender stuff alone shows how totally off their rockers and slavish to emotion they are. If you said "left" instead of "far left" I might agree with you. The far left is just loony.
Troll describes behavior. What trolling is (and the term troll comes from fishing, not from the monsters under the bridge), is putting out posts just to inflame (bait) the other side. The objective of trolling is to get the fish to attack the bait.
"The far left is just loony" .. as is the far right. It really depends on the topic of the thread I may be wrong but I don't think you will find any Loony Leftists in this thread.
Trolls did not originate with the internet, they have existed before the printed word, then came the printed word and graffiti, then news paper media and opinion columns, then, then... Part of the objective of trolls, or the idiot drinking next to you is to disrupt and generate anger... why let someone control you and make you angry? Me, I often prefer laughing at them... they certainly can’t shape my opinion or behavior.
I have yet to find a single person who will prove exactly what it is they dislike about the so-called "TROLL"? AS far as I can see the accused person labeled a "TROLL" is a person who challenges another person or who attacks ideologues. The ideologue is the person doing the complaining. Example: A thread (s) is flowing on the subject of wanting total open borders with total free movement - legals or illegals. A bunch of leftie liberals is patting each other on the back of their love for ALL people, especially black and brown people. Their priority is to show how the LOVE black and brown people, based on ideological thinking, thus the fact many are rapists and killers and drug dealers, along with some white people is not a matter which fits with their ideological stance - they lefties do not care its the fact the people crossing the borders are black and brown is all that matters. To the ideologue, they are poor people who need the help of everyone else taxes. THen ad into the threads a person who directly challenges the ideologues - a person who wants total border shut down and control?? It is this person who is then labeled the "TROLL"? The word "TROLL" is applied in the same way they call people a Nazi or Xenophobe. The intent is to shut down free speech especially when such speech hits directly at their ideology: i/e they are the only ones who love black and brown people - if you want closed borders you MUST, therefore, HATE black and brown people?? Of course, that is not the case, it is simply a matter of not speaking purely on ideological mindset, closed to any debate on the detail. When others speel out some academic claptrap that is OK but when someone states a long detailed opinion they are TROLLING or RANTING? RANTING is another label used to shut down speech, especially when it hits at the moaner who has been hit with some salient points.
So what? There are hundreds of threads and posts I find pathetic or bizarre. I simply accept freedom of expression and respect all people on a forum - because I do not know them. I do not see their eyes or body language or intonation of speech. That old classic reply: "EVIDENCE PLEASE" is a common waste of space because a discussion forum is about probing and listening. When chatting in a pub or bar you are not expected to leave the group and run to a library for a book to show all the issues you raise in debate as proven. For example; As an Irishman, I often partake interest to do with the "troubles" in Northern Ireland, with my British friends. They go straight for the IRA killed loads of Brits and are dirty murdering scum. I then say: "OK, but what about Croke Park? when the British military assassinated a number of innocent football fans watching a match, by driving an armored machine gun vehicle into the center of the pitch, whiles the game was on, and murderously sprayed the fans with bullets killing many people"? They respond with... "Oh yeah, wheres your proof of that crap" - "Prove it, that never happened, they probably deserved it"?? The fact us they are never challenged and it is their ignorance and stupidity which is shown for what it is. But my point is... I never tell them to get proof. I never get loud and demand proof. It is a debate and we simply debate the matter. They don't like it that I know my Irish history whereas they know only what the media had told them. They get angry because no one challenges them. It happens all the time. The IRA is a common subject matter for debate with the British.
My point was that troll is a description of a set behavior. Yes, it's occasionally used as an insult or a label, but for the most part, trolls are easily recognizable. I, personally, have no problem with trolls. I often feed them, because it's fun.
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, the original coat of arms https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabian_Society The 2020 US Democrat Presidential candidates demonstrate the effectiveness of the Fabian Society supporter's gradual efforts to make America Communist.
A troll is someone who specializes in insults and name calling. My comments are often controversial, but I avoid insults and name calling.
I’d say they are simply degrading of any opposition to their point of view and/or agenda. And, FWIW: I see many on left promoting their stance than I see right-wingers doing the same.