trolling

The word or concept of trolling has no objective definition, and most believe that none is possible. Definitions based on the belief that someone is engaged in deliberate antagonism rely on assumed motives. Definitions based on offended or angered correspondents put the onus on the author to anticipate any possible interpretation of every possible statement. Definitions based on majority point of view are necessarily prejudicial to any particular minority point of view.

Each and every attempt to define an Internet troll as anything other than "an ordinary user who said something I didn't believe or did something I didn't like" has failed. Basically, the term is a pejorative that has no meaning whatsoever - it is wholly reasonable to simply say that all users are trolls and be done with it. This is the basis of troll-friendly wiki best practice as practiced at an increasing number of large public wikis who recognize the power struggle that is inherent in permitting a subjective word to be used to make administrative and editorial decisions that affect participation. Breakdowns in troll-friendliness lead directly to administrative sysop vigilantiism and editorial sysop vandalism.