is it really even a big deal? nd
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t is clear, both when researching and engaging in general conversation on this topic, that defining ‘trolling’ is not an easy task. The term is often used broadly, to refer to a range of different behaviours. These muddy waters heighten the lack of clarity around the nature of trolling, and essentially, contribute to a continued lack of understanding of the gravity of the issue. Because if we look closer trolling, in its most serious forms, is indeed a problem. The term ‘trolling’ has become fairly mainstream over the years, but since entering our general vernacular, it has lost some its clarity due to its overuse. Most people recognise the word trolling, but many lack a nuanced understanding of what it actually means. When we’re unclear on what is actually being described, it becomes far easier to minimise its impact.
Jessica Murdoch
In her book Troll Hunting, Ginger Gorman outlines the evolution of trolling, and discusses the spectrum of its usage – from harmless jokes, rick-rolling, and pranks, to needling or shitposting, all the way to deliberate, targeted bullying. With such a multifaceted range of behaviours covered by this spectrum, it is worth breaking down the term further and developing clearer language to discuss what trolling looks like, and how it might impact us when it takes the more serious form of bullying. 31