While hated by most, these people are typically non-social for reasons beyond their control, and manage to get that one glimpse at society by eliciting responses from forum-goers who, nine times out of ten, think they know everything and that anything that goes against the norm is bad. There are of course the assholes who do it just for fun, but a lot of these people are suffering: people with manic (or often just plain old) depression, people with real issues in real life, or people who's real life isn't as cupcakes and unicorns as people on the internet assume.

I say this because I know people in real life who many would consider trolls, and they "troll" on forums because they receive no attention from their family and very little from anyone else. They are saints for putting up with it in real life, but it'd be unhealthy to pent up all their frustration. So what do they do? They speak out on the internet, often in obnoxious and annoying matters. The very fact that people respond to what they say is important to them, just because they get satisfaction in knowing that some people somewhere acknowledge their existence, and perhaps more importantly their opinion. Believe me, most trolls you see aren't "a poor excuse of a human being". Their lives in real life is worse than many could imagine. Everyone needs to vent sometimes.

The art of annoying people subtly.
A is troll
B is victim

People who post empty and meaningless messages, purely to provoke.
Such people are mentally ill and have severe personality issues and insecurity as well as the average mind/priorities of a twelve year old.

Some people just can't grow out of the period in their life when scribbling on the walls and dropping spiders on the girls they liked was acceptable. At 20-30yrs of age, it's just pathetic.

Trolls don't care about proving a point or championing a cause. They just want to annoy, for the sake of annoyance and personal enjoyment, like a baby is entertained by a rattle or colorful lights.
They may tack on a "point" to draw out specific types of people but, it really doesn't matter. They're all the same. They all say the same shit. They all have the same excuses. They all fall back on the same responses and, they all share the same obliviousness to how stupid and pointless their lives are.

The troll is easily amused by things only the most retarded, unfunny child would appreciate.

They celebrate getting a reaction, that's it. Generally, they are so desperate for human interaction and, they are usually so vile, that negative attention is the best they can get. The saddest thing is, anyone can get a reaction by acting like an idiot. Anyone. They honestly take pride in the "art" like they've actually accomplished something.

It's astonishing to watch them brag about something 90% of the world would be embarrassed to even consider.

Don't let the occasional "smart" troll fool you. There is no "art" to it. It's a self loathing tool with anonymity to shield him, doing stupid things and when someone tells them they're making an ass of themselves, they dance around like some great mastermind who manipulated the psyches of those around them through careful planning and psychology, when in reality, they're a retard who shit in the public fountain and laughed when everyone looked.

Trolls have existed since ancient times, when they were referred to as the "village idiot" or "town drunk" a quixotic hero in their own mind, that the rest of the world pities in disgust.

Said disgust, isn't a victory, trolls. You've lost. Pray you never realize it. Ignorance truly is bliss and, you're the happiest motherfuckers around. Go see a shrink and tell them that you find enjoyment in pissing people off and try to look surprised when they tell you, you've got serious mental problems.

Humanoid in stature and speech and thought. Trolls dwell in the forests and caves ov the darkest reachs ov the world. Very large brutish folk with a sinewy complex and mussed beards. some can have tusks or horns some won't.
Usually seen with animal skins and such adorning their person.

Very dangerous and mischievious they are capable ov beserker rage. Usually when angered Trolls will go into a village and pillage!!! taking all the maidens back into forest. they will proceed to have blood orgy with the freshly taken virgins!!!

A Troll will never pass up an opportunity to have a FEAST with Trollfolk and Goblinkind alike.

Raging fires, War Mead, Inhaling sacred herbs and ingesting copious amounts ov MUSHROOMS whilst dancing and singing to the forest.

Thus explains a Troll.....in short

trolling is the act of stating completely true facts inside a forum or thread. The act of trolling is often looked down upon because other people don't like it when they are told they are wrong. A troll is simply some one who states true facts in the attempt to make the world a better place

A despicable person on a message board that deliberately tries to get everyone pissed off. Usually, they write in capital letters and make outrageous topics to get a rise out of everyone. Many times, trolls will be regulars but cannot be identified because they make new Screen Names, usually these new Screen Names are named after the topic they're trolling about. Either way, trolls should never be responded too, because theyll just use insults or useless arguments, and you'll never win by arguing with a troll.

Trolling is the act of purposefully antagonizing other people on the internet, generally on message boards. When done in a moderated internet community, this can result in banning. When done to uptight people such as fundies, this can result in hilarity.