Troll of the day: New RD

I don't have time for this nonsense... I have a meeting to go to and I really want to get back to those other threads, but I wanted to set a couple of things straight.

I can't tell if you're trying to actually compliment me or if you're being sarcastic. Since trolls do not usually typify something good, I am assuming sarcastic. So bite me.

Someone on the other thread mentioned that I was a "troll" because I mentioned how I was a chippendale dancer. OK, truth be told, I just said that because chippendales was mentioned just before that in the thread and it's easier to just go with chippendales instead of explaining what an Appollo's Man is. So, forgive me for my slight construeing of the facts. Also, for what it's worth, dancing is not the picnic many of you think it is. Maybe 1 party in 5 has one girl you'd remotely want to be associated with. You can figure out the rets.

Now, as it pertains to running, I am all in on doing my race well. It will crack me up when many of you do it and laud as being so awesome while you all think now that I am a tool. Remember Coe in 84? That'll be me.

Wow, he is pretty good at this.

Surprise! wrote:

Wow, he is pretty good at this.

Yeah, he's got it down. One post over a hundred responses, other well on the way. Timely responses. Must be fun.

Still, I thought that he would come up with something in his response that would at least stir me up a little bit. But I got nothing from that. Pity.

I think you're on to something. Analyzing my own reactions, I found myself thinking that there was no way this guy could be for real: the arguments were too extreme, the namecalling too over-the-top.

*Especially* for someone poised to take over a significant (by his telling) race. No way!

And yet...and yet...the slim possibility that he *might* be serious kept me reading his threads, feeling a mix of fascination and outrage.

So, yeah, eventually I had to post something...confirming his trolling prowess.

So, New RD, because we know you're reading this, congrats!

Thanks for the input. I really am interested in the whole dynamic of trolling. I know that someone somewhere HAS to have more articulate theories of it, I just have to find it.

Oh, and the other thing that made him so effective was the title of his first thread: "no prize money for women's sex." It was provocative enough to draw your eye (the word "sex" and all), but also a little incoherent, which made it seem sincere. (Most trolls are too clever by half, and excessive cleverness makes it hard to maintain that all-important suspension of disbelief.)

calling some body or using the word troll might be the gayest thing I have ever heard right next to pwned. Anyone who uses theses words is basically a big bag of douche.

Postmodern Fatigue wrote:

Thanks for the input. I really am interested in the whole dynamic of trolling. I know that someone somewhere HAS to have more articulate theories of it, I just have to find it.

what better place to start?

Humbled wrote:

Oh, and the other thing that made him so effective was the title of his first thread: "no prize money for women's sex." It was provocative enough to draw your eye (the word "sex" and all), but also a little incoherent, which made it seem sincere. (Most trolls are too clever by half, and excessive cleverness makes it hard to maintain that all-important suspension of disbelief.)

Excellent point. That, and the consistent spelling errors, seem to be aimed at bringing in the grammar geeks, but thus far (at least, from what I've seen), it hasn't worked.

qqq wrote:

calling some body or using the word troll might be the gayest thing I have ever heard right next to pwned. Anyone who uses theses words is basically a big bag of douche.

yes, troll would be up there with gay and douche. congrats, that's the triple crown with pwned thrown in for good measure.

I think new RD has elevated the level of creativity involved in trolling here on LetsRun, so Bravo to him (her?) for that. Pity he (she?) has managed to rile up some pretty cool posters, but what can you do. I think he (she?) is just trying to have some fun at all our expense. Kinda like Flagpole Willy used to do, but a lot more subtle and nuanced, and not quite as funny.

This place is truly fascinating. Hate to admit it, but people like "new RD" make me check this site more often than I really ought to. Not sure what that says about me. :-)

Very interesting analysis of a successful troll. And yes you need a good hook in the title and the first paragraph needs to create an emotional response.

I'd be even more interested in your hypothesis about why someone would troll and what type of troll they choice to use.

Have you ever trolled?

Also, even nontrolls sometimes need a hook to get responses generated. A slightly edgy title often serves that purpose.

what other thread are you referring to? I'm interested now.

midwesta wrote:

what other thread are you referring to? I'm interested now.

This is an interesting topic since most people on Letsrun have done some form of trolling. I myself have my own theories on who the 430miler is and such. The way Letsrun is setup along with its strong personality... and of it and its contributors... really make for fertile grounds in which to engage in such silly games.

I appreciates several of the analysees (analysisis? analysi?) above. If I could add my 2cents, I would add that a troll like RD has to have ample time to respond, but at the same time be choosy about when. Another possibility is that while it's likely he/she is debating something he/she himself/herself does not believe, elements of his/her personality comes out (for credibility) and he/she will accentuate these to generate responses. Like, Catholic Boy said, most do this to get a hook just to get things started though. Last comment, I think you can detect a troll who is decent, but done in a more spontaneous way, by seeing their personality change and develop over the first couple of days. I have not looked at RD to see if this is true with him/her, but I wouldn't doubt it.

That was a very keen first post, PMF. Hmmm... would that have been straight out of the lips of a once-in-a-while troll, or was this perhaps even a clever admission? (smile) If so, that was awfully self-congratulatory of you.. wouldn't that be right up RD's alley... ha ha.

ha, ah yes, the not pay money to women thread. Great stuff.

Catholic boy wrote:

I'd be even more interested in your hypothesis about why someone would troll and what type of troll they choice to use.

Have you ever trolled?

I myself have never trolled. To be honest, I am not sure why someone would ever want to. My best guess is that these posters give half-way reasonable responses to other posts that go ignored. In order to both lash out and get the attention they want, they then troll. This is a pretty weak theory, I admit, but it's the only thing I can come up with.

As far as troll choice, I would imagine that this is a purely creative act that is solely concerned with netting the desired response. In my experience, though, many trolls do not express a solid identity via their screen name; rather, they choose to do so by general truth claims and ways of speaking. In this way, New RD is a little unique. However, other successful troll identities seem to include coaches (authority figures with ability to damage sport via incorrect truth claims), powerlifters (intended to threaten the manhood of the typical underweight runner), women (same), and high school boys/girls (vastly ignorant with regards to the sport yet overly confident in their own knowledge and ability).

I've trolled once or twice. Not the angry type of troll but more of a mischievous type. I trolled about a year or so ago about being bitten by a water snake. "I didn't think it was poisonous and questioned if I should go to a doctor". Once I committed to the troll it was hard not to stop the thread. Some posters were really nice and concerned and of course I felt guilty and at some point didn't think it would be fair to pull the plug.

It was a creative endeavor but it obviously was wrong. The reason I trolled ......seriously not sure. It was kind of like I was writing a story and posters were helping me to write it.

Now if anyone wants to write in what a loser I am ....I probably deserve it. But tomorrow is Good Friday so I decided to come clean.