Since this has come up recently in comment threads (roughly, “what constitutes or defines a ‘troll’?”).
My definition:
Trolls DON’T:
-show up in comment threads seeking in good faith to: 1) learn; 2) honestly engage/debate with mind open to persuade/be persuaded by facts and reason combined into valid argumentation.
Trolls DO:
-show up with minds closed, seeking above all else to provoke; insults, ridicule, extreme positions taken primarily for their provocative effect, imputation of bad faith to perceived adversaries (not an exhaustive list of indicators, I’m sure) may all at various times be employed in service to the trolling cause.
Glad I could help.
FAQ: Pastor Dan defines trolls
Interesting, thx.
Following your link though, (and the links from there), I didn’t actually find Pastor Dan defining “troll” other than as a mostly automated function of an (undisclosed) number/percentage of troll-ratings by “Trusted Users” at dKos, but not what elements/characteristics make a comment “trolling”. I see that the linked wiki definition is pretty concordant, though, with my mostly-off-the-top-of-my-head definition above (after a little thought prompted by troll-definition question[s] in thread[s] here, but no research).