troll (noun; verb)
2016.09.21
Meaning:
Originally, a troll is a creature from Scandinavian stories. Trolls are like monsters, but less scary. They are ugly and they try to make problems by arguing with people. In modern times, the word ‘troll’ is an internet expression. It means a person who tries to start arguments on the internet; a person who posts messages (on blogs, social media etc) that will make people angry. As a verb, ‘to troll’ means to try to start arguments on the internet. Basically, ‘troll’ has a very negative nuance.
Example:
A: Have you seen the new Ghostbusters? Did you know that there was a twitter war between one of the Ghostbusters stars, Leslie, and a guy called Milo?
B: Yes. Milo trolled Leslie, right? He made rude comments about her looks.
A: Yes. And Milo had a lot of followers. The followers started sending her death threats. It became a big news story.
Talking Point(s):
Do you think trolling is a) bad manners, b) comedy, c) an important part of free speech?