Mark Richards wrote
You make it sound like 'troll-folk' are
identifiable,
and do nothing but 'troll' (whatever that is).
You make it sound as if you have never come across an actual troll.
In
fact, this word is almost always applied to someone
with whom we have a disagreement. It does not apply to
them in general, usually just the thing we disagree
with.
Like I said, the term is consistently misused. Like I said, I see nothing
funny or interesting in blurring its actual denotation.
This sort of dehumanizing generalisation is not
helpful.
It is remarkably helpful to distinguish between rhetorical proponents of
strongly-held views, and trolls who (as far as I can see) actually are
dependent in a psychological sense on confrontational argument. The
difference between needing to see that others hold sincere opposing views,
and needing help.
Charles