The troll is a mythological figure.
Troll is a Norwegian term that mentions a mythological creature . In our language , the correct spelling of the word is troll , with a single L , as accepted by the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) .
According to Scandinavian folklore, a troll is a being that lives in caves and forested regions. Their appearance varies depending on the story : there are stories that mention trolls as evil giants , while others define them as humanoids who kidnapped children.
Troll in literature, film and TV
For JRR Tolkien (creator of "The Lord of the Rings" ), a troll was a gigantic creature of great strength and little intelligence. J. K Rowling also thought of trolls as large beasts in the "Harry Potter" saga.
In the same way, throughout the history of cinema, television or literature the figure of the troll has been very recurrent. Thus, for example, in the cartoon series "David, the gnome" the trolls were precisely the toughest and most feared enemies that the protagonist had.
Likewise, in the mythical novel "The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende, which was later brought to the big screen, the trolls are important figures that, in this case, have the shape of a tree.
The term in music, video games and toys
It should also be noted that in music the figure of the troll is very important. More specifically, it is in the field of the rock and heavy genre since, in both cases, there is a special admiration and predilection for Norse mythology . Thus, for example, we can highlight the existence of the Finnish group Finntroll that practices what has been called troll metal .
In the field of video games, we must highlight the existence of "The Tale of the Troll" . It is a free online game where the protagonist, a unique elf, carries out an adventure with the clear objective of finding trolls on his way.
A troll doll , on the other hand, is a toy that was very popular a few decades ago. The main characteristic of these dolls is their hair , combed upwards and in very striking colors.
The trolling carried out by trolls can include manifestations of racism, homophobia or xenophobia.
Troll on the Internet
In the field of computing , a troll is a user who publishes offensive or misleading content on the Internet , with the intention of generating a negative climate in a virtual community or distorting reality. The concept is also used to name false identities that are used online to spread misinformation anonymously.
Trolls of this type can be found circulating on the Internet in many spaces. Thus they can be found in wikis, discussion forums, multiplayer online games, blogs and social networks, for example. The usual thing is that they are of two types: those that seek attention and those that seek only one hit.
A political party, for example, can create hundreds of trolls to publish false complaints about another group, trying to multiply the false message on the Internet to discredit the opposition group.
Offensive comment generator
The Internet troll seems to take special pleasure in offending other users and starting absurd discussions, for no apparent reason. Although in certain areas his actions can be simply annoying and, in the best of cases, funny, in others he can cause deep psychological wounds due to his comments, which are generally tactless.
Given the problems they usually generate, many people seem not to understand why this nefarious figure cannot be eradicated once and for all ; The explanation, on the other hand, revolves around the relative anonymity that the Internet provides us. A troll has no intention of reasoning; He does not want to reach an agreement with others, nor does he feel guilty about the consequences of his attacks. The reason for its existence is simply to hinder the communication of others .
The figure of the troll may go unnoticed by many people, especially those who have been surfing the Internet since its beginnings, but the most vulnerable individuals can live experiences close to harassment . In the case of forums , for example, the incessant discussions sparked by a troll can lead certain users to unsubscribe and others to decide not to register.
As if this were not enough, the tense atmosphere that a troll creates is contagious: little by little, more users who used to enjoy their interactions on the Internet become more cautious when initiating an exchange, for fear of falling into the clutches. of one of these annoying beings; Likewise, a simple dissenting response can spark violence if it appears to come from a troll.
A troll can act from fake accounts or resort to identity theft to avoid being discovered.
The troll in politics
The troll in politics became a common resource. In this case, these are not simple malicious users, but rather people hired to spread fake news and fill certain spaces with negative comments and insults.
A troll at the service of a political party, for example, can access every publication of an opposition party to spam , sow discord and promote disinformation. The idea is to encourage manipulation of the electorate, confusing them.
These users develop toxic behavior based on provocation and sometimes even cyberbullying or online harassment. The harassment they carry out seeks to be functional to those who pay for the service.
It should be noted that trolls can be impostors acting under a false identity. Sometimes these tasks are carried out with bots (systems that repeat a message).
How to respond to attacks
What should you do when you detect the presence of a troll? As a first step, warn other users and ask them not to speak to you and ignore your attempts to exasperate them. You should also give notice to the platform you are using, which usually have options like "Report Abuse" .
What should be avoided? Try to reason with them; Our kindness or our patience does not matter, since they play a fixed role , they are not bad-tempered people who sooner or later will calm down, but entities that only respond in a bad way and provoke others.
Moderation of comments is a necessity in the face of aggression. The limits of freedom of expression are clear: hate speech and threats cannot be allowed. Although censorship is not desirable, the intervention of digital media by blocking users and eliminating messages with verbal violence is necessary.