To troll is to insult or provoke, sometimes using subterfuge. An internet troll is someone who posts malicious comments online. The intention is to ridicule a group or individual.
Where does the word come from?
The etymology is complex, with various competing origin stories.
One possible source is the old French hunting term troller. There is also a connection to a mythological Norse monster.
In folklore, trollers are ugly, magical cave-dwellers.
Trolling is also a fishing technique that involves dragging bait through the water.
Why did the word troll catch on online?
The Internet use of troll probably derives from a slang term used by US naval pilots in the 1970s - see here.
So trolls just insult people for fun?
Trolling can simply consist of crude abuse, but sometimes relies on deception. This can involve adopting a false identity to post ridiculous, provocative, threatening, and/or abusive comments.
Are trolls just an unpleasant nuisance?
Concentrated malicious trolling can have a devastating impact, especially when personally directed at the vulnerable. Many have described the disorientating impact of social media pile-ons.
