Trolls are everywhere. We are inundated with serious trolling daily. The concept of the troll began long ago, but we were unaware of what it was until the advent of video games then we began to understand the awesomeness and aggravation that trolling has become in the modern world. In any video game widely distributed, the troll takes on the form of someone needing your help…desperately, or some helpful soul providing you with an awesome tip. They do not understand how to mine steel, or they might tell you to jump off a cliff for a player boost. It is not so much by being rude or obvious, but it is manipulation.  Your victim does not know he has been trolled for some time (if ever), so you have the last laugh.  

 Being called out as a troll means you have been a failure. I learned this concept in video games.  In the early days of video games, you could convince noobs (new inexperienced players) that standing in fire gave them an experience buff. It was an initiation. It was a way of joking with a person that is harmless. You are ignored, identified as a troll, and get a reputation. Trolling is funny in the way of a person being so gullible as to listen to strangers or believe outrageous claims.  The more outrageous the claim, the sillier the person looks by following the troll’s suggestions or statements. There is a line between obvious and subtle that a writer and gamer must dip one toe in discretely while feigning innocence.  

There have been many times when I assumed something was trolling, but nobody complained, yet there were moments when anger was apparent at some innocuous words or statements. My best experiences have always been delighting at hiding some weird hidden fact in a story. People have prejudices and if you tap into the collective unconscious, you find a way to annoy and perplex the best minds. Why? Serious trolls are bored.  They take satisfaction from tricking the unsuspecting dupe.  Without success, a troll will move to another game or activity, so trolls must be fed by CAPITAL LETTERS, name calling, and forcing someone to “rage quit.”  Some of the more famous trolls have videos on YouTube, have millions of followers on X, or are on television. I have been bored and trolling is tempting. This brings up the unfortunate part about trolling: Eventually, you get trolled back, or someone calls you out.  

Cure for becoming a full-time troll and losing all credibility?  In gaming, I think of not being a troll all the time and playing just for the love of the game.  Writer trolls should take their imagination and point out something unsuspected and interesting and trust the intelligence of the audience, not pointing out their ignorance by intentional deception.  As in gaming, not everything written should be read with complete seriousness and you should be skeptical. You should stop feeding trolls at some point.   

How are trolls fed? A troll feeds off any attention. Laughing at other’s ignorance is sport and can become addictive. Feeding the trolls requires a reaction by ALL CAPS, yelling, complaining, whining, praise and criticism. Some people do not get the joke behind it all and get offended.  Creating a world of faux reality is challenging. Successful trolls are talented at the art of subtlety. The top of the heap in professional trolling is the person who can profit the most. Some people are bad at trolling and give the game away too early. People will no longer trust you. Your character needs to be rehabilitated. Trolling has a place in society; and I enjoy a good laugh, so troll on.   

I despise smart people who are smug. It ruins the fun of trolling by not being in on the joke but making a joke out of the innocence of the audience. They know everything and want people to look foolish. Trolling can be hazardous. You could very well lose your audience if you are too successful. You get a reputation; trust becomes an issue. It happens, so you must be careful. As in gaming, do not take it so seriously that you cannot write fiction, but not so silly that you are not motivated by communicating a deeper thought.