The term is being thrown around the forum at present, here are some interesting definitions from the net for all to read.

A troll is a bulletin board participant who posts for one or both of two reasons: 1) to disrupt; 2) to gain attention.



THE MAJOR BREEDS



The Vulgar Troll. These, the crudest of all trolls, make no attempt to
hide their species. Often, they make racist comments, or they may post
porn and other spam. Vulgars usually confine their comments merely to
primitive, profane, off-topic observations. When you log into the
Really Profound Serious Philosophical Discussions board and see the
post, "I smell my farts," you've spotted the Vulgar Troll. Other
species of troll sometimes revert to this form when cornered.



The Deceptive or "Classic" Troll. More sophisticated but often easily
identified and exposed, the Classic Troll gratifies his ego by
pretending to be someone or something he or she is not. Classics make
up elaborate stories about themselves, sometimes weaving some amounts
of truth into their lies. As a web of lies is difficult to build with
consistency, however, Classics are often "outed" by other forumites.
When this happens, Classic Trolls have a bag of tricks to which they
turn:



– Classic Troll Tactic Number 1: If the heat gets too much for you,
claim it was all "a joke." In this way you can excuse any and all
deceit by claiming people just weren't smart enough to "get" the humor
of it.



– Classic Troll Tactic Number 2: Create another account, and log on
pretending to be someone else, in order to show support for the Troll
in Question (TiQ). These puppet accounts sometimes claim to be
disinterested third parties. At other times they pretend to be
"friends" of the TiQ.



– Classic Troll Tactic Number 3: When your lies paint you into a
corner, claim that your little brother, or some unnamed friend, has
commandeered your account and made you look foolish. This technique can
also be applied in claiming that the puppet account(s) you created may
not, in fact, be disinterested third parties or friends, but that they
are your relatives ("little brother" is most common) only trying to
help support you.



– Classic Troll Tactic Number 4: When nothing else works, claim that
now, finally, you're telling the truth about all the lies you told
before. Make up a fresh set of lies, and throw yourself on the mercy of
the forumites.



– Classic Troll Tactic Number 5: When all else fails, claim to be
leaving forever. Trolls who claim they are leaving never do, of course;
you can bet that anyone who proclaims, "I'm never coming back here,"
will most certainly at least check back for responses, and probably
will not be able to resist posting again.



– Classic Troll Tactic Number 6: Have a tantrum. When all their other
tricks are exhausted, Classic Trolls will become angry and start
shouting. Often they revert to Vulgar Trolls when this happens.



– Classic Troll Tactic Number 7: The insincere apology. Similar to
Tactic 4, this involves pretending to repent for one's trolling and is
accompanied often by great melodrama. Insincere troll apologists
hope that they'll be forgiven if only they act disgusted enough with
their own behavior.

Do you have someone in mind?

web page

Joran van der Sloot seems to exhibit most of these traits!

That person is not a troll, that person is an idiot of the highest order.....

Someone over there should use that POS for crab bait.
Todd

Just heard on the news that Joran wont leave the house as he is scared of being lynched.
Dont know where he got THAT idea from.

Some perspective:

This whole affair is a match made in hell: a stupid boozed up, drugged up slapper meets a screwed up idot and dies on him. I'm still think it's a distinct possibility that the stupid girl ran into the sea herself therby feeding herself to the sharks after slipping into a drug/alcohol induced coma. Our screwed up idiot then panics and tries to cover up any traces of his having anything to do with her. Our justice system, can't find proof of him doing anything wrong has to stop persecution, as in any civilised society there has to be sufficient proof before the state can persecute an individual. After that some sewer-rat, self-proclaimed crimebusting journalist, I'm using that term loosely here, sees this as his ticket US television, starts hounding the former suspect. Peter "R" de Vries, our gangsterbuddy sewer journo, gets to admire himself spouting his BS on US television. Natalee, our dopehead, gets sainthood bestowed upon her. And Joran, a twenty year-old young man besieged from all sides, is the only villain in this piece? I don't think so.

Further more a country that elects Edward Kennedy into the senate and George W Bush president, twice, should refrain from commenting on judicial procedure in other countries, especialy countries, that were republics before they even could spell the word. On top of that The Netherlands were the first country to salute a US naval vessel as a representant of a sovereign nation, on St. Eustatius, one of the Dutch Antilles where Aruba belonged to until they chose to have a direct relation to the NL. The people of Aruba did everything they could to help miss Holloways family and for her mother to call for a US boycott of the island is very bad form indeed.

Further clarification, the piece written above is not a defense of mr van der Sloot, but an attack on every jackass that has blown this case out of all proportion to further their own self interest, or to indulge his own xenophobia. I'd be grief-stricken and angry as hell if my child would have died before me, especially in such circumstances. But I don't know what I'd do the bastard that would try to make a circus event out of the death of my child, because he sees something to gain from it for himself.

Big difference between "judicial procedures" and justice.
Also Don't hurt yourself climbing down from that holier than thou Netherlands soap box your on.

Just was trying to point out the american holier than thou soapbox you were standing on. If you'd know anything about international affairs you'd know the Netherlands are usually bending over backwards to be the US's favorite lapdog.

Judicial procedure is just like the democratic process: not perfect, often painfull to watch but gets it right most of the time. Still better than dictatorship or mob rule in my opinion. Democracy and Justice take on different meanings in different cultures so trying to force a "one size fits all" democracy or Judicial system on the entire world is bound to fail. Incomprehension of each others values leads to struggle, understanding of each other would lead to a situation where we'd agree to disagree but could at least work together.

My original post had nothing to do with "judicial procedure" some people need an a##whipping and this snot nose brat is one of 'em. No national arguments or political statements just an a##whipping.If the "over there" part got your panties in a bunch, Oh well, but that's where he is so that's where it would be most convenient.You seem to have some serious U.S. issues.
"Incomprehension of each others values leads to struggle, understanding of each other would lead to a situation where we'd agree to disagree but could at least work together"
I don't care to understand you but I will agree to disagree with you. That's just my bad gringo, seppo, infidel attitude.Now let's all hold hands and sing Kambaya.
Todd

This is even more entertaining than the "other" thread.

Sorry for the Hi-jack. I'm done.

What gets my knickers in a twist is all the the sanctimoinous americans who come into Amsterdam that booze and smoke themselves into a stupour, create a general nuissance and then go back to their yokelvilles in the USA, brag about their substance abuse, but get indignated when some stupid butt does the same and runs into harms' way. What pisses me off even more is that some of my counrtymen are only to eager to pander to the wishes of US public opinion. Is that clear enough for you?

I think we have been clear all along. But, please do continue. My other source of cheap entertaiment seems to be running dry.

This thread is turning out to be a trainwreck I'll take my part of the responsability for it and will shut up.

I told myself to stay out of this thread, but your America bashing kinda got under my skin. It is obvious you have fallen victim to mainstream medias stereotype of the average American. I have seen media in various countries overseas and it would certainly have my opinion of America in a dim light if I saw it day in and day out. It is sad that you take the actions of a few bad apples and apply it to all US citizens. America is filled with great people that have no resemblance at all to what is portrayed as a whole across most European countries and to think it does shows your narrow-mindedness. Are 100% of Americans great folks? Of course not. Neither are are 100% of people in any other country for that matter. I have had my say and will reply no more! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

The U.S. bashing is a might annoying. Wouldn't you be speaking German if it wasn't for the EVIL United States? I'm sure your older generations still have some gratitude.

Shhhhh...don't feed the trolls.