When is a troll not a troll and who decides?

It's a very interesting question. There are a few Forums out there where the Moderators have huge power- and can silence someone if they disagree with their opinion, especially on very specific topics, like certain 'secret' organisations- and there is nothing the member can do once silenced.

Fascinating article GrannyK.
We tend to think that Social Media are a good way of expressing dissatisfaction with goods and services, but they are clearly a two-edged sword when NHS Trusts use them to bully complainants

My view is that people should be able to make remarks that are annoying to others. Personally, I think it's pretty stupid to set out just to annoy someone by making silly or rude remarks but I don't think they should be censored in any way.

I thought that the term "troll" was meant to describe people who "stalk" a person or an organisation, making false/libellous statements about them, with the intention of, in the case of an organisation, challenging them or bringing them into disrepute and, in the case of an individual, frightening, humiliating or insulting them.

Threatening someone is a staightforward crime and can be dealt with as such. To take legal action for libel is trickier for an ordinary individual because it's difficult to prove and expensive to litigate.

In the original post's link, the case mentioned is a campaign against the NHS relating to the death of a vulnerable young person due to proven negligence. Personally, I would think it totally inappropriate to try and close this down as it isn't motivated by an irrational desire to be malicious just for the twisted fun of it, but is a natural reaction to the grief and unresolved anger surrounding the death of a son.

The original meaning of internet troll was someone who deliberately sets out to be disruptive on a forum. The stalking / abusive use is more recent.

On a forum of which I used to be a member, I have strong memories of 2 people who presented as genuine posters with real problems. Some members spent a lot of time (and money on phone bills) trying to help these people. One in particular said she was having problems with breastfeeding, the member spent ages on the phone giving "live" advice to the other person re getting the baby to latch on etc, the "troll" was very convincing, baby noises in the background etc.

Turned out to be a total fraud.

There are some odd people about.

Terry Pratchett knows all about Trolls

Terry Pratchett knows all about Trolls

JessM is right about the original meaning, but it does seem to have morphed into what Eloethan says in her post as well. There are some pretty sick and twisted people out there.

presumably it's the 'mods' who decide?

May be going off at a tangent here but when I was a "Sam", in among the very genuine and often tragic cases we also got the time wasters, the fantasists, the deliberate wind ups and the frankly obscene. These occasionally amused, but more often than not were upsetting because these people did have a problem albeit not the one they were presenting. What sick mindset prompts this sort of deliberate mischief? I cannot imagine but the story of the boy "who cried Wolf!" stays at the back of my mind.

Oh yes, I remember those types well Soutra , I remember nearly dropping my phone when one, very old (in 80s) and experienced volunteer on the other line, demanded 'as you masturbating?'

I've had one sing to me.....

Gosh were we ever in the same branch? I have s similar recollection- same age of lady, cut glass accent only I think she used the idiomstic expression which rhymes with "online banking"!

roses, G'net doesn't have 'mods' in the usual sense. HQ staff will investigate if one of us reports a post as being offensive or if we suspect trolling, but they don't usually take it upon themselves to censor posts or posters.

Oh right, Anno I didn't know that.I assumed they kept an eye on things.

I think gransnet is very naive when it comes to trolling , although people that have been on other sites over the years are more aware.

I suspect GNHQ are well aware of the 'regulars' who pop back under a new username. If I can spot them - and I have - then anyone can! Hard to prove though, until they give themselves away.

Soutra - definitely not a cut glass accent! It was a very, very, very, very long song too...

Oh, your post was to Aka, sorry. Put it down to being tired after a sleepless night trying to think up businesses you can start at home...