Is "trolling" really the right word?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Is "trolling" really the right word?

Posted: 10/6/2004 6:41:30 PM EDT

I've wondered about this in the past, and the "pig trolling" thread made me think about it again.

Shouldn't it be "trawling" - as in what fishing boats do with their nets?

Didn't there used to be expressions like "trawling for babes" (i.e out with the guys on a night on the town). The "pig trolling" certainly seems to have a fishing analogy, and seems to be that it should have been called "pig trawling"

Similarly, the "trolls" on this site (and other internet sites) - what does it mean to be "trolling"?? I wonder if it originally was "trawling" (as in "trawling for trouble") and at some point, some dude was saying it to another out loud, and it acidentally got mis-typed as "trolling" (since the words sound identical). And it probably stuck, because we can all imagine a troll - being a mean a malicious creature out to cause trouble.

Any of you internet dorks actually know the origin of this word? I'm betting it was originally "trawling" and not "trolling"

So there.

Now that I've wasted your time, and procrastinated my own, I'm getting back to work

Posted: 10/6/2004 6:43:23 PM EDT

[#1]

ITS A TRAP !!!!!

Posted: 10/6/2004 6:44:08 PM EDT

[#2]

What does this have to do with the price of ludefisk in Denmark?

Posted: 10/6/2004 6:45:26 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
What does this have to do with the price of ludefisk in Denmark?

Blech

Lutfisk is some horrible swedish thing. We're all about the herring and the cod!!

Posted: 10/6/2004 6:46:51 PM EDT

[#4]

Its a regional dilect.

trawling is as far as I can tell a gulf coast word.

Normal people go trolling.
ie: trolling motor for the bass boat.

Same thought as the Dutch being from Norse stock.

(just kidding about the last part)

Posted: 10/6/2004 6:47:53 PM EDT

[#5]

Lutefisk is a Norwegian thing. Trolling is trolling as in the little beast that lives under the bridge:

Posted: 10/6/2004 6:50:00 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Its a regional dilect.

trawling is as far as I can tell a gulf coast word.

Normal people go trolling.
ie: trolling motor for the bass boat.

But isn't a regional dialect just a matter of pronouciation, not actual spelling?

So the word "trawling" might be pronounced "trolling" - but it still refers to a fishing kind of term, not a mythical animal, right?

Damn - I really do need to get back to work! I just hassled my fiancee to proof-read an article because I told her I was really busy

Posted: 10/6/2004 6:50:46 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Lutefisk is a Norwegian thing. Trolling is trolling as in the little beast that lives under the bridge:

I think you're correct--as a child, my Norwegian neighbor lady made it for us--buttered it, sprinkle sugar, roll it up and eat. It's made from potatoes, IIRC. Oh, don't roll the napkin up with it--it's nasty dry that way--especially if you were raised all polite and refuse to spit it out.

Posted: 10/6/2004 6:51:24 PM EDT

[#8]

Trolling definitely doesn't seem to fit.

Posted: 10/6/2004 6:54:33 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Its a regional dilect.

trawling is as far as I can tell a gulf coast word.

Normal people go trolling.
ie: trolling motor for the bass boat.

But isn't a regional dialect just a matter of pronouciation, not actual spelling?

So the word "trawling" might be pronounced "trolling" - but it still refers to a fishing kind of term, not a mythical animal, right?

Damn - I really do need to get back to work! I just hassled my fiancee to proof-read an article because I told her I was really busy

I did a look up on the dictionary:

I knew it was a trap. You dutch boys.
8 entries found for trawl.
trawl ( P ) Pronunciation Key (trôl)
n.

1. A trawl net.
2. See setline.

v. trawled, trawl·ing, trawls
v. tr.

To catch (fish) with a trawl.

v. intr.

1. To fish with a trawl.
2. To troll.

[Possibly Middle English trawelle, perhaps from Middle Dutch tragel, dragnet, possibly from Latin trgula, from trahere, to drag.]

edited to correct color

Posted: 10/6/2004 6:54:45 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Lutefisk is a Norwegian thing. Trolling is trolling as in the little beast that lives under the bridge:

I think you're correct--as a child, my Norwegian neighbor lady made it for us--buttered it, sprinkle sugar, roll it up and eat. It's made from potatoes, IIRC. Oh, don't roll the napkin up with it--it's nasty dry that way--especially if you were raised all polite and refuse to spit it out.

You are thinking of lefse. Lefse is good with butter. Some people eat it with sugar too. Lutefisk is white fish, soaked in lye and then boiled and then baked. It's kind of industrial tasting. You can eat it with LOTS of butter on it though. My wife is 100% Norwegian so I get the stuff from her relatives.

Posted: 10/6/2004 6:56:09 PM EDT

[#11]

Trolling is the right word.

In fishing terms trolling refers to cruising with a bait hanging in the water to see what you can get to strike. It has nothing to do with nets or trawlers.

Internet trolls put something outrageous out there to see who takes the bait.

troll
v. trolled, troll·ing, trolls
v. tr.

To fish for by trailing a baited line from behind a slowly moving boat.
To fish in by trailing a baited line: troll the lake for bass.
To trail (a baited line) in fishing.
Slang. To patrol (an area) in search for someone or something: “ [Criminals] troll bus stations for young runaways” (Pete Axthelm).

Posted: 10/6/2004 7:06:28 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Lutefisk is a Norwegian thing. Trolling is trolling as in the little beast that lives under the bridge:

I think you're correct--as a child, my Norwegian neighbor lady made it for us--buttered it, sprinkle sugar, roll it up and eat. It's made from potatoes, IIRC. Oh, don't roll the napkin up with it--it's nasty dry that way--especially if you were raised all polite and refuse to spit it out.

You are thinking of lefse. Lefse is good with butter. Some people eat it with sugar too. Lutefisk is white fish, soaked in lye and then boiled and then baked. It's kind of industrial tasting. You can eat it with LOTS of butter on it though. My wife is 100% Norwegian so I get the stuff from her relatives.

You know--you're right. It's been almost 40 years, but it was "lefse"--now that I see the word, I can "hear" her saying it. "Gram Cooper" was a sweet lady. She nearly wet herself laughing when I ate part of the napkin, but tried hard to pretend nothing happened.

Thanks for straightening me out.

Edited to add: With the last name of "Krause"--I prefer strudel, especially as the napkin keeps its distance.

Posted: 10/6/2004 7:09:39 PM EDT

[#13]

"Is "trolling" really the right word?"

'Useful Idiot' by any other name, is just as stinky. Whether from Ignorance, Indoctrination, or willing apparatchik-ness, the effect is the same as far as I am concerned.

Posted: 10/6/2004 7:09:51 PM EDT

[#14]

Yes. The troll icon is really the wrong one to put out. We should have a fishing boat smiley instead.

Something said/put out there to get a lot of action.

Posted: 10/6/2004 7:11:36 PM EDT

[#15]

Trolling is the perfect verb to describe what trolls do. You just cruise along, post some outrageous or offensive statement, say it with conviction like you really mean it and are willing to argue it, and sit back and watch who takes the bait.

Perfect metaphor.

Posted: 10/6/2004 7:21:12 PM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
Trolling is the right word.

In fishing terms trolling refers to cruising with a bait hanging in the water to see what you can get to strike. It has nothing to do with nets or trawlers.

Internet trolls put something outrageous out there to see who takes the bait.

troll
v. trolled, troll·ing, trolls
v. tr.

To fish for by trailing a baited line from behind a slowly moving boat.
To fish in by trailing a baited line: troll the lake for bass.
To trail (a baited line) in fishing.
Slang. To patrol (an area) in search for someone or something: “ [Criminals] troll bus stations for young runaways” (Pete Axthelm).

Well, I'll be dipped in shit!

I had no idea. I guess it is the right word after all. Who knew that trolling and trawling were BOTH fishing terms!!! I swear I learn something new every day on arfcom.

But then I agree with what others have said - the troll icon is incorrect, since it does appear to be a fishing term, and nothing to do with animals living under bridges or in the woods.

I guess I was both right and wrong

Posted: 10/6/2004 7:28:14 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
Well, I'll be dipped in shit!

You Europeans have strange customs!

I had no idea. I guess it is the right word after all. Who knew that trolling and trawling were BOTH fishing terms!!! I swear I learn something new every day on arfcom.

But then I agree with what others have said - the troll icon is incorrect, since it does appear to be a fishing term, and nothing to do with animals living under bridges or in the woods. I guess I was both right and wrong

You've never heard of the "Trolling Troll of the North"?? Geez, I suppose you snobbish Europeans have never heard of Santa Klaus either. He's even from Daneland.

Posted: 10/6/2004 7:36:47 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Well, I'll be dipped in shit!

You Europeans have strange customs!

I thought that was an American expression! Here I am, trying to fit in, buying guns and muscle cars, and you don't even appreciate it

Geez, I suppose you snobbish Europeans have never heard of Santa Klaus either. He's even from Daneland.

He is totally Danish - and lives in northeastern Greenland.

Although that whole Santa/Saint Claus/Nickolaus is just wrong. He is not "saint" anything - he is just called the "Christmas Man"

Posted: 10/6/2004 7:38:35 PM EDT

[#19]

What about a bridge "Troll"
"What is your favorite color?"
"What is the air speed volocity of a coconut laden swallow?"
Hummmmmmm!!!

GM

Posted: 10/6/2004 7:38:55 PM EDT

[#20]

Geez, nobody ever gets my jokes. I realize it was subtle, but it's actually "Santa Claus"--oh, never mind.

Posted: 10/6/2004 7:40:45 PM EDT

[#21]

Dont feel bad I actually found a dutch word and it went right on bye.

Posted: 10/6/2004 7:44:55 PM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
Geez, nobody ever gets my jokes. I realize it was subtle, but it's actually "Santa Claus"--oh, never mind.

Yeah - Christmas is a tough time for me. I swear, about the tenth time someone says "Claus? That's just like Santa ... heh heh" on any given day, I'm pretty much ready to rip their head off

Otar - I saw the Dutch word origin thing, but I'm jumping in and out of surfing arfcom and trying to get some work done, so I didn't respond. I did appreciate the irony though

Posted: 10/6/2004 7:48:22 PM EDT

[#23]

That's a cool pic.

Posted: 10/7/2004 2:16:14 AM EDT

[#24]

I believe that the troll icon is appropriate, as defined in definition #2 below.

troll

v.,n. 1. [From the Usenet group alt.folklore.urban] To
utter a posting on Usenet designed to attract predictable
responses or flames; or, the post itself. Derives from the phrase
"trolling for newbies" which in turn comes from mainstream
"trolling", a style of fishing in which one trails bait through a
likely spot hoping for a bite. The well-constructed troll is a post
that induces lots of newbies and flamers to make themselves look
even more clueless than they already do, while subtly conveying to
the more savvy and experienced that it is in fact a deliberate
troll. If you don't fall for the joke, you get to be in on it. See
also YHBT.

2. An individual who chronically trolls in sense 1;
regularly posts specious arguments, flames or personal attacks to a
newsgroup, discussion list, or in email for no other purpose than to
annoy someone or disrupt a discussion. Trolls are recognizable by
the fact that the have no real interest in learning about the topic
at hand - they simply want to utter flame bait. Like the ugly
creatures they are named after, they exhibit no redeeming
characteristics, and as such, they are recognized as a lower form of
life on the net, as in, "Oh, ignore him, he's just a troll."

3. [Berkeley] Computer lab monitor. A popular campus job for CS
students. Duties include helping newbies and ensuring that lab
policies are followed. Probably so-called because it involves
lurking in dark cavelike corners.

Some people claim that the troll (sense 1) is properly a narrower
category than flame bait, that a troll is categorized by containing
some assertion that is wrong but not overtly controversial. See
also Troll-O-Meter.

Source: Jargon File 4.2.0

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Is "trolling" really the right word?

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