This Troll is useless without pictures

I thought this guy had some good thoughts on trolling;

www.paulgraham.com/trolls.html

I have heard the “reason that there's so much back-biting and politicking in (insert activity here) is because the stakes are so low” argument before. Also here are many comments from people on metafilter regarding the article, some funny, some rude, but overall a fun discussion on a topic that comes up here and on any forum often;

www.metafilter.com/69192/Paul-Graham-on-trolls

Good read Ron, thanks -- another metafilter lurker, I see...

Interesting article, some good points and some stuff I disagree with but thoughtful.

I don't think all trolling is bad, in fact sometimes a good troll can expose a truth when the "web collective" has started to believe it's own PR which happens on this site quite a lot IMVHO. Sort of when the child tells the emperor he has no clothes on. Trolling can be an act of dissention and dissention can be good sometimes,eh?

Sure trolls can be good sometimes... even funny

xkcd.com/386/

I agree, dissention (being a troll) is not only good, it's healthy for a society. However, I think the difference is "how" you dissent that is the clear and discenable difference between, say, this site and TGR. Case in point brought out in the article: I don't mind at all in being a jerk on this forum. BUT, what is expected here is I'll need to give you five reasons why I'm right and you're wrong. Now it's your job to play defence attorney. I think this form of dissent is perfectly valid here. You can't just say "you suck" and get away with it (even if you do!).

Playing by the rules doesn't necessarily mean you have to be liked.

You suck.

Five reasons you suck:
1. You suck
2. You suck
3. You suck
4. You suck
5. You suck

Did I get away with it...? What rules? Whose rules?

-Troll