On 1/28/07, Rich Holton richholton@gmail.com wrote:
For instance, calling someone a "troll" for (even very persistently) disagreeing is a step in the direction of groupthink.
I would agree if it were a regular poster but if someone pops up out of nowhere and starts opposing the group on one or more issues, then there is a good chance that person is a "troll". A real honest detractor will agree with the group on some issues and disagree on others.
That's the way I saw it on usenet. An honest detractor would have a non-troll posting history in the group in question or at least in other groups. A troll drops out of the sky and starts flaming people.