Contrary to popular definitions of 'troll bait,' one who is troll bait is not a victim or bullied. Those who are troll bait know exactly what they are doing and are in fact trolls themselves.
The term 'troll bait' describes a type of trolling commonly found on the internet. 'Troll bait' is used to describe an internet user who knowingly invites the hatred of a highly reactionary group of trolls. A common characteristic of all troll bait is that they do things that are known to invite swarms of trolls (e.g. Creating pointless and incendiary videos, calling out entire troll communities). They do this because they find the constant anger and hate from trolls amusing, especially since this form of trolling is a form of troll hunting (or counter-trolling). Any type of troll bait usually causes trolls to fall into their own trap (getting annoyed and becoming upset).
Another characteristic of troll bait is that they are widely popular, mostly due to the hate they receive. This is explained by the Streisand effect, where attempting to censor a form of media only draws more attention to it, making it even more popular. In some YouTube communities, troll bait videos, while rated poorly (as most troll bait videos are), may receive hundreds of thousands of views. As a result, the instant popularity that is possible from being troll bait makes this form of trolling even more attractive.
The term 'troll bait' describes a type of trolling commonly found on the internet. 'Troll bait' is used to describe an internet user who knowingly invites the hatred of a highly reactionary group of trolls. A common characteristic of all troll bait is that they do things that are known to invite swarms of trolls (e.g. Creating pointless and incendiary videos, calling out entire troll communities). They do this because they find the constant anger and hate from trolls amusing, especially since this form of trolling is a form of troll hunting (or counter-trolling). Any type of troll bait usually causes trolls to fall into their own trap (getting annoyed and becoming upset).
Another characteristic of troll bait is that they are widely popular, mostly due to the hate they receive. This is explained by the Streisand effect, where attempting to censor a form of media only draws more attention to it, making it even more popular. In some YouTube communities, troll bait videos, while rated poorly (as most troll bait videos are), may receive hundreds of thousands of views. As a result, the instant popularity that is possible from being troll bait makes this form of trolling even more attractive.
YouTube video: "I'm calling out (insert reactionary troll community here) for saying mean things about me. Stop it! I'm going to take you all down!"
The above, while appearing to admit defeat to trolls, actually causes more trolls to swarm, thus fulfilling the troll bait's purpose.
The above, while appearing to admit defeat to trolls, actually causes more trolls to swarm, thus fulfilling the troll bait's purpose.
by Dashir July 6, 2013
Someone whose opinionated, volatile, easily offended, insecure nature makes them super-easy targets.
Bieber/Twilight fangirls are easy troll bait because they take ANY negative remarks about their "god" as a personal attack and will violently attack expecting the trolls to stop and make themselves stand in the corner but their attacks never cease, troll feeding ensues.
by Laurel Scarlett Katrina October 4, 2010
a person who attracts trolls and responds to them unknowingly to their scheme; one who falls prey to the phenomenon of trolling in an irc room, forum, or internet voice chat room; a person, place, or website that trolls find a method of attack--especially naive, overly deceptible person.
Don't be troll bait or else you could find yourself kicked, devoiced, bounced, banned, or booted from a voice room, irc channel, website, or web forum by responding angrily to a troll who has shrewd skill in avoiding the radar.
by runandwin July 30, 2005
Troll baiting is the act of giving yourself or your argument credibility by intentionally martyring yourself by picking fights with extremist nut jobs who oppose you or your argument. The last thing a troll baiter wants is to come up against someone who is calm, intelligent, passionate and highly informed on the subject who can easily blow holes in their argument without getting vulgar or making personal attacks.
The minister was just troll baiting when he protested the sinfulness of dancing at a nightclub in a bad neighbor hood instead of the university dance department down the road because he could get more supporters by being a victim than by being wrong.
by Professor Lunacy July 6, 2014
A person or an object that can be used to capture a troll living in sewers,under bridges,in forests and even in tution classes
by King hunther October 9, 2011
The creepiest kind of Facebook troll.
The type that sits on Facebook community pages tagging you in everything to get a rise out of people and bait you in.
Sometimes they even may feature your photos in their own groups.
It really gets them off.
The type that sits on Facebook community pages tagging you in everything to get a rise out of people and bait you in.
Sometimes they even may feature your photos in their own groups.
It really gets them off.
by MrWhittlesea February 19, 2022