In a situation where there exists mutually exclusive positions A and B, a concern troll is someone who supports A but professes to support B around genuine supporters of B. However, they express their "concerns" about aspects of position B in order to sow doubt and uncertainty amongst genuine supporters of B.
Whilst this does genuinely happen, the term is used by some paranoid people to effectively mean "anyone who does not agree entirely with the standard dogma of position B, thus must actually covertly support position A", when said person does actually support B, just only 99%.
Thus: disagreeing *at all* with the standard dogma of B will get you branded by such people as The Enemy, and you will get generally treated with hostility and suspicion and, at worst, forcibly ejected from the B-supporter group. Result: everyone stops thinking about the issues, and discussion descends into not arriving at logical and interesting places but who can most furiously support B.
Whilst this does genuinely happen, the term is used by some paranoid people to effectively mean "anyone who does not agree entirely with the standard dogma of position B, thus must actually covertly support position A", when said person does actually support B, just only 99%.
Thus: disagreeing *at all* with the standard dogma of B will get you branded by such people as The Enemy, and you will get generally treated with hostility and suspicion and, at worst, forcibly ejected from the B-supporter group. Result: everyone stops thinking about the issues, and discussion descends into not arriving at logical and interesting places but who can most furiously support B.
1: "All Democrats should be hanged, drawn and quartered! Grrgrrrgrrrgr!"
2: "Uh.. that's a bit excessive. I mean, I don't agree with the Democrats, but maybe we shouldn't actually, like, KILL them.."
1: "CONCERN TROLL! CLEARLY YOU ARE 100% DEMOCRAT! BEGONE, SINNER!"
(everyone flings rotten fruit at 2 until he leaves)
2: "Uh.. that's a bit excessive. I mean, I don't agree with the Democrats, but maybe we shouldn't actually, like, KILL them.."
1: "CONCERN TROLL! CLEARLY YOU ARE 100% DEMOCRAT! BEGONE, SINNER!"
(everyone flings rotten fruit at 2 until he leaves)
by bald_rick December 22, 2011
Someone who raises a false question as a means of injecting a totally unsupported allegation into the public discourse. When challenged on the barely-veiled insinuation, they claim that they were "only asking a question."
A concern troll would say, "I'm not saying Congressman Smith engages in oral sex with farmyard animals, but isn't it awfully coincidental that he has a picture of a sheep in his office and always carries a handkerchief? The public has a right to know!"
by WhatTheHolyHeck October 10, 2012
A sleazy way to discredit anyone who disagrees with your point of view, especially if that point of view can cause physical harm to others.
So, I read your comment about the 400 pound mother who suffered health complications during pregnancy and I'd like you to know you are a total concern troll trying to push your skinny privilege on others!
by RazorEm March 30, 2015
by Sherry_M August 14, 2008
A person who pretends to support an ideology, often taking it too far, in order to discredit the ideology. They accuse someone of being a concern troll for simply bringing concerns or not being fully committed to the ideology. Their goal is to make the ideology look dogmatic and extreme to outsiders, as well as encourage paranoia, tensions, and infighting among supporters about who is really a supporter.
"In our last 'Flat Earth' meeting, David brought up a concern about how we would explain the moon's movement if the Earth was flat. Emily said that she was concerned that David was a concern troll because obviously the moon doesn't exist. I stated that I have concerns that Emily might be a concern troll troll and was trying to discredit our movement, but then she also accused me of being a concern troll. The rest of the meeting consisted of everyone arguing about who was really a flat Earth believer. Stacy tried pointing out that she was concerned we were getting nothing done and we should focus on our agenda, but Tom called her a concern troll for trying to distract everyone from their concerns that there might be concern trolls and concern troll trolls among us."
by concerntt April 18, 2022
One who engages with no one on a sane level; One who continuously flirts with Death; One who is truly concerned... so she trolls people into hating her until we start loving her again and then she does more shit to make us hate her again. La La La La .... omg... like.... what?!
I'm concerned about trolling concerts for trolls to give better fitting Clothings outfits toys joys and wHynmsims and wishes and wants and desires to; Jesus Christ what does a lady have to do to cease all operations as an intergalactic Concern Troll (Proper Noun)?
by LillyManson July 14, 2023
When a person gaslights you into feeling or looking vulnerable or needy for their fake help and hence, inferior. It's a way of domineering over you by establishing a power dynamic where they get to control your life, order you around and you're supposed to feel grateful to be treated like a dog. May be part of a smear campaign, triangulation and poisoning the well of your general reputation. Common to narcissists but everyone has done this at some point, we usually grow out of it after school. They will interrogate you for slander and ruin under the guise of politeness. Social sabotage and attempted social murder.
e.g. "I'm just worried about you" or "are you okay? you seem XYZ" Classic form of concern trolling, weaponised by controlling men and women who otherwise have no recourse to control you in that situation. May speak to you like an abusive parent to a naughty child. Boundary violation is the purpose.
"People have been talking about you so I just came to check how you are." Triangulation method, they're the problem. They are smearing you.
"You look terrible/tired" or "You seem so sad, secretly, can I help?" Interference and belittlement gaslights.
"Are you SURE you're okay?" wearing you down with resistance to their interrogations. Happens in the workplace too.
"People have been talking about you so I just came to check how you are." Triangulation method, they're the problem. They are smearing you.
"You look terrible/tired" or "You seem so sad, secretly, can I help?" Interference and belittlement gaslights.
"Are you SURE you're okay?" wearing you down with resistance to their interrogations. Happens in the workplace too.
by paint88 July 01, 2024