Need to ask - what is trolling?

[Rogue Writer]

I have to ask because I think it's happened to me (if it is what I think it is) - what does 'trolling' mean?

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I have to ask because I think it's happened to me (if it is what I think it is) - what does 'trolling' mean?

Trolling, involves a person doing or saying something mean spirited. When in connection with a story, it usually involves a one vote that is unwarranted, or personally rendered fedback or PC's. That is to say, attacking the author personally or disparaging the work without grounds.

 

[cantdog]

It originally meant a technique of making an inflammatory post on a forum or on Usenet. The rest of the board would react, all out of proportion. It gets attention. The word is the same as a fishing technique, dragging bait behind the boat so that something will bite at it.

Now, it means just about anything anybody doesn't like someone else doing.

 

[Rogue Writer]

thanks

Thanks for solving that for me. I had a feeling it had something to do with getting negative votes for reasons other than the story. Some posts here and on the Feedback Forum warned about people giving nasty feedback. I posted a story and recieved very postitive feedback and votes, but a few days after I posted a link in the Feedback Forum the ratings dropped quickly. It could still be the quality of the work, but the timing with the post seemed a little coincidental. Guess you can't please everyone.

Rogue

 

[cantdog]

No. That's a cold fact. But most of us find we build a readership if we stay with it and keep a little integrity. Many of our fellow authors, as you've seen, are willing to go to some lengths to help new writers and even older ones develop.

 

[mcfbridge]

It also seems to happen if a story gets rated highly. I don't know, but I do believe that some authors troll other stories to guard their ranks

 

[cantdog]

That's kinda icky, isn't it?

 

[BlackShanglan]

Icky indeed. And pointless ... you can't make yourself better by making everyone else worse. (Not that it's not a popular strategy.)

 

[gauchecritic]

Icky indeed. And pointless ... you can't make yourself better by making everyone else worse. (Not that it's not a popular strategy.)

Damn...