Excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolling
+++
In general, popular wisdom advises users to avoid feeding trolls, and to
ignore temptations to respond. Responding to a troll inevitably drives
discussion off-topic, to the dismay of bystanders, and supplies the troll
with the craved attention. When trollhunters pounce on the trolls,
ignorers reply with: "YHBT. YHL. HAND.", or "You have been trolled. You
have lost. Have a nice day." However, since trollhunters (like trolls) are
often conflict-seekers themselves, the loss usually is not on the part of
the trollhunter; rather, the losers are the other forum-users who would
have preferred that the conflict does not emerge at all.
Literature on conflict resolution suggests that labeling participants in
Internet discussions as "trolls" can perpetuate the unwanted behaviors. A
person rejected by a social group, both online and offline, may assume an
antagonistic role toward it, and seek to further annoy or anger members of
the group. The "troll" label, often a sign of social rejection, may
therefore perpetuate trolling.
Better results normally ensue when users take the moderator role and
describe more constructive behaviors in a non-judgmental,
non-confrontational way. Trolls are excited by trollhunters, and
frustrated by "ignorers", and neither of these emotions produce positive
results for the forum. Engaging trolls results in "flame wars". Trolls
frustrated by the "ignore strategy" may leave the forum (and either troll
elsewhere, or become constructive users) or may become progressively more
inflammatory until they get a response.
Novice trolls may experience serious "troll's remorse", a feeling of great
regret after losing their account (whether it be from an Internet service
provider or from a website) as a consequence of their reckless trolling.
There are those who argue that a lack of response to trolling can also
inspire trolling, a "Damned if you do, damned if you don't" result.
Particularly fanatical or irrational commentators will respond to a forum
that irks them largely independent of responses. Trolls also often
continue to post, taking umbrage with peripheral arguments or arguments
that were less well-founded, until their positions become untenable, then
turning either to insults or moving to another topic. By this logic,
relentless confrontation through argument of trolls (when such argument is
to be found) can be vital.
+++
The rest of the article is pretty informative as well. That is, of course,
if you can take the time to read it.
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