Please Help Me Understand: What is a "troll"?

So please help me understand: -the site defines a troll as someone who intends to elicit an emotional reply. If a question is asked, and the reader (due to personal feelings or taking it the wrong way) gives an emotional reply which leads to more emotional replies, can the OP really be accused of trolling? For example, I had a question regarding why I possibly didn't enjoy Venice, based on why perhaps others felt the same. Now if someone got engaged or married in Venice or for some reason it had really special meaning and they get upset at me, does that make me a troll? I am asking for opinions, and if a reader can't keep his emotions out of it and offer a composed reply, would that be my fault? That could happen with any question, so does that mean I restrict my questions to only those about cold facts, and not opinions?
-if you feel someone is a troll, is it appropriate to "out" them on the thread? These are serious questions for me because as stated, I love using this site, but I see differing standards and am getting confused. Thanks!

There seem to be two types of questions on this helpline: 1) a request for specific information, and 2) a request for opinions. Both types can descend to arguing and disagreements. I think the accusation of trolling is usually the result of the request for opinions, such as what is the best/worst of anything. What is your favorite-----.? etc

Monique... I read and responded to your question as I thought it was fun and insightful to read the responses.
There are lots of questions here that ask for opinions (most actually) So, when I saw the accusation that you were a troll I was also confused. This is the only internet site I have ever been on, so I am probably not too tech savvy, but in the past it appeared that someone accused of being a troll was either some random person who did not ever post and asked a riduclious question trying to incite controversy, or some silly itinerary just to see what people said, with no intention of ever using any info from the posters. Maybe I don't know what a troll is, (ugly person who lives beneath a bridge?) but I thought your question was asked in all sincerity. Hope you continue to post.

A troll post is meant only to stir up controversy. It not just asking for opinions, it's raising un-helpful questions to make controversy. Trolling for trouble... I don't know of your case, but I accused the other OP of trolling for asking about global warming in Italy. Why? Because there are many people that do not "believe" the earth's temperature has been rising. And climate change has nothing to do with weather. I incorrectly assumed he might have been hoping to get people arguing over climate change. As it turned out, the OP came back and explained his question better and seemed genuine. I also tried to answer that question non-controversially and to be respectful. I think I succeeded because the OP came back and didn't seem too upset. I'd also add that trolling is pretty rare on this forum.

Thanks Terry Kathryn - I did ask in all sincerity. In fact when I thought I may have offended a poster, I publicly apologized. And I had said something about "hating Barcelona" but I deleted it because I thought it went too far. I didn't want any drama. It turned out nice because we had different opinions but everyone was expressing them in a mature and tactful way, and I thought that is what this board was about. But perhaps like you, I just don't know what a troll is and while I was mad at being called one, I still want to make sure I wasn't in fact, guilty. Douglas, I can see where you were coming from now. That can be a touchy subject for some, but since it was the last thing on my mind when I heard that question, that's what threw me. But I get you. Thanks for explaining!

Monique, keep posting! I always enjoy reading your posts. Perhaps there are a few people who see trolls under every bridge, and most of us don't realize how terse a posted response can seem, but for the most part people try to be helpful and respectful. Posters who really want to start a ruckus don't usually stay here long.

Gosh, I must be getting old. I often explain that there are trolls on the trails in the CT to collect money in order to pass. I'm referring to the fare booths on the trails and it comes from "Billy Goats Gruff". Now, it's all about the internet troll. Of well.

When you start a thread to say you don't like Venice it can be interpreted differently by different people. For you it was totally innocent. But other's responses can contribute to someone else taking offense. I saw nothing wrong with your thread and I didn't think you were a troll. But I don't like those kinds of threads because it's a no win situation. It sets people up to get offended, even if you didn't mean for it to. The one I really dislike that comes up every 6 months or so is "Why are the French so rude?". That and some others have the potential to get people's backs up. I dislike Siena but I wouldn't start a thread about it cuz I wouldn't want the possible back-lash.

@Terry Kathryn. From one Michigan troll to another. You live under the Mackinac Bridge. ;-)

@Susan: thanks for your reply. I think you explained that well, and I can see exactly what you mean. I think when it comes to posts that could incite negative and emotional responses, a lot has to do with motive. And since motive cannot always be correctly read through a computer screen, it's best to just tread lightly. Thanks all for your helpful insight!

@Mike... you're right. Guess I never thought about it that way!
At some point we need to have a Mi. / Ohio group. I am meeting Zoe (from Toledo) in a few weeks. I will keep you posted if we decide to try and do something after that. I might prefer an 'event' such as a visit to DIA. (We can all dream and pretend we are in Europe) Wonder if any of the other groups do anything like that.

I think the salient characteristic of "troll-hood" is someone who is not posting in good faith. It's not whether they are posting an opinion per se or trying to illicit opinions per se. It's what their main motive is behind the question or statement. Someone not posting in good faith is trying to send a thread off the rails so that it descends into mud and bickering. That's when other posters might say "DNFTT" (Do Not Feed the Troll) as a signal to others that the conversation has been hijacked by someone not posting in good faith. We have all seen posts like "I have ten days and want to visit Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Germany, England, France and Spain. Help!" And usually, after a little discussion it is easy to tell who is trolling and who is sincere with that post, though not always, and some of us are quicker than others to accuse someone of trolling. It's not the post per se, it's the motive behind it. And then there are the "anti-trolls" who actually enjoy getting down in the mud with the troll

For me, a forum "troll" is someone who is posting a question, opinion or reply that is not meant to be bona fide. I don't consider the occasional clueless question or even some stubborn posting as "trolling". I actually don't mind honest, if absurd, questions; and I think some people are just seeking "validation" to ideas set on stone on their minds. <i>Trolling</i> is not like that. As the Internet make it easier for anonymous posting, some people will just post something to entice a (negative/irate/angry) response without actually caring for what is being asked at all. I think I stumbled upon just 2 or 3 "trolls" on the Helpline. Likely people who got so aggravated by the community reaction that they created fake profiles to ask fake questions only as a way to antagonize people even more and sour the mood of the Helpline.

True trolling behavior seems to be relatively rare on this website. Off the top of my head, I can't remember a single posting that would fit the standard definition, although I'm sure there have been some. I wouldn't even consider our all-time most infamous poster a troll. He seemed to be more of a sad individual who needed others to validate the imaginary avatar he had created of himself as an experienced and knowledgable traveler.