trolls...

back alley

back alley

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trolls...
a fact of life on the internet, trolls are described as someone who makes a deliberately offensive or provocative online posting...normally, i think, they possess less that average intelligence and have a need to make an impact on others on the net world as they have less than average self esteem and lack the courage to say something provocative to someone's face.
however we describe them or whatever we think of them, they seem to be sticking around and not going away anytime soon.
so, i've decided to take a fresh look at their impact on me...and my photographic output. most of the trolling directed at me is about my images and how dreadful they are (put nicely), you know what i mean, that i have no talent and that i am deluding myself.
but when you think about it...trolls either think i'm really bad or maybe they think i'm really good and they are just jealous!
one way or the other...my images are having an emotional impact on them and pushing them to seek me out and make comment on my work.
is this not what every artist truly wants? to establish an emotional connection with their audience?
so really, having your own troll sort of establishes you as a real artist...no?
 
There are lots of different types of trolls.
I have a friend who is an excellent troll (as in very good at it). He likes to see how long it takes until someone will call him a rude name. He makes very civil comments that are so infuriating. He is one of the most intelligent and quick witted people I know.
On the other hand, what you have are maybe anti-groupies as a subset of the wider troll population?
In my opinion (of which I have a lot if you ask my wife), to consider yourself an artist, you should have both groupies and anti-groupies. If your art is controversial then you should only have groupies and anti-groupies, and no one in between.

Congratulations Joe.

Michael
 
back alley said:
most of the trolling directed at me is about my images and how dreadful they are (put nicely), you know what i mean, that i have no talent and that i am deluding myself..
...
is this not what every artist truly wants? to establish an emotional connection with their audience?
Click to expand...
Joe, why care about what others think about your images? Only you can be the true judge of your own work.. If you create an image that makes you (or someone you're emotionally tied to) happy, then that's all that counts.

By the way, the true great aren't the least bit interested in their audience, they're only obsessed with pursuing their creative vision..
 
Sadly, the world is burdened with too many people consumed by the knowledge of their own inadequacy, who are desperate to crush the spirit they envy in others. The people have an undeveloped core and a need to spite others to buoy up their own fragile, hollow self. Looking closer to home would be too painful.

Dedicated trolls are people with genuine issues. I prefer to consider my own work in light of the comments of those whom I have respect for i.e. decent human beings.
 
Trolls are dangerous only when someone is feeding 'em. As soon as I admit I'm mid aged with a cameras and some free time, they loose arguments. Want talk about art? Leave me alone. Want discuss nuances of digital sensor design and optical phenomenons (like bokeh)? Look for someone who is involved. I'm just someone who owns photographic gear and likes to use it in several ways with occasional output which isn't supposed to be liked by masses. When I'll be done I'll move on. You trolls should find someone who really depends on your opinion so you can suck out juices from innocent artist.
 
internet-troll.jpg
 
Unfortunately, 'trolling' has been devolving since it was invented - way, way, back in the day (and, yes, I've been around long enough to follow the devolution). It had already become mean-spirited by the time alt.syntax.tactical invaded rec.pets.cats (remember that 'trolling' was based on the concept that if you run an attractive-enough lure through the waters, something is bound to bite: 'troll' as a noun is a back-formation, though one that was made pretty quickly).

Don't take it personally. If you don't, the "joke" is on them not you.

...Mike
 
Harry S. said:
I think you mean "trawling", mfunnel.
Click to expand...

Trawling, at least in the USA, is a commercial fishing method.

Trolling is a technique used by sport fishermen. You sit in a small boat, like a jonboat or a bass boat, equipped with an electric motor. Electric boat motors, powered by batteries, are popularly known as "Trolling Motors" because that's mainly what they're used for.

Trolling motors are very quiet and won't scare fish the way loud gasoline motors do, but they're slow. You use your gas motor to get to the part of the lake you want to fish, then switch to the trolling motor to move the boat as you fish. A lot of trolling motors have foot-pedals to control speed and steering, so your hands are free to handle your fishing rod!

I have an aluminum jonboat equipped with a foot-operated trolling motor and a gas motor. Great rig for fishing the small lakes that dot northern Indiana.
 
IMHO, trolling is all about negativity. As they say, the haters always hate. The worst trolls are those who enter threads with short sentences stating their immediate negativity, such as "I don't like this-or-that" without any concept or explanation. You could almost feel they just want to be mean and show hatred or just a simple dislike towards you.

The next level is where the same thing is hidden beneth a thicker blanket of more politically correct wording etc. There's so many types of trolls.
 
back alley said:
but when you think about it...trolls either think i'm really bad or maybe they think i'm really good and they are just jealous!
one way or the other...my images are having an emotional impact on them and pushing them to seek me out and make comment on my work.
Click to expand...

I think this is perfectly correct. There are billions of photos around that mean nothing to me. Why would I take the time to write insulting comments to millions of photographers "that do not reach me" (to avoid the phrase "bad")?

You have reached them, one way or another.
 
Chriscrawfordphoto said:
Trawling, at least in the USA, is a commercial fishing method.

Trolling is a technique used by sport fishermen. You sit in a small boat, like a jonboat or a bass boat, equipped with an electric motor. Electric boat motors, powered by batteries, are popularly known as "Trolling Motors" because that's mainly what they're used for.

Trolling motors are very quiet and won't scare fish the way loud gasoline motors do, but they're slow. You use your gas motor to get to the part of the lake you want to fish, then switch to the trolling motor to move the boat as you fish. A lot of trolling motors have foot-pedals to control speed and steering, so your hands are free to handle your fishing rod!

I have an aluminum jonboat equipped with a foot-operated trolling motor and a gas motor. Great rig for fishing the small lakes that dot northern Indiana.
Click to expand...

Ahhh! Thanks for the clarification
 
Turtle said:
Sadly, the world is burdened with too many people consumed by the knowledge of their own inadequacy, who are desperate to crush the spirit they envy in others. The people have an undeveloped core and a need to spite others to buoy up their own fragile, hollow self. Looking closer to home would be too painful.

Dedicated trolls are people with genuine issues. I prefer to consider my own work in light of the comments of those whom I have respect for i.e. decent human beings.
Click to expand...
That pretty much covers it.

Cheers,

R.
 
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