I've noticed a fair number of Hubbers saying their farewells to HubPages lately thanks to negative experiences on the Forums. It makes me sad, just like it makes me sad when, for similar reasons, a member leaves the local meetup group that I help organize. I can't really see myself getting into such a position, except maybe in my meetup, because as moderator there, I have to get involved now and then. (Y'all be nice to Maddie!) Here at HubPages, I can be nice, and I can be quiet.

Trolls are everywhere on the Internet. I sincerely hope I'm not becoming one of them, by virtue of writing this hub.

Nah, I know I'm not a troll. I just don't want to be troll "bait."

Let's see if I can find an official definition of "troll bait"....

Definition of Troll Bait

Oh - cool - I promise - no lie - I just thought of this term, "troll bait," as I was writing this hub - I had no idea it was already out there! But here's what Urban Dictionary says:

"a person who attracts trolls and responds to them unknowingly to their scheme; one who falls prey to the phenomenon of trolling in an irc room, forum, or internet voice chat room; a person, place, or website that trolls find a method of attack--especially naive, overly deceptible person."

I do apologize for calling that an "official" definition, what with all the grammar confusion and all....but the other immediate results in my Google search were....well, Troll Bait. So apparently there are people out there actually looking for a fight. Interesting, isn't it, that "Trolls" and "Troll Bait" share that personality trait. I wonder when my husband is going to realize that the Internet was created just for him....Oops....TMI.

A Better Definition of Troll Bait

I like this definition from Cabela's better (and if I stil had an Amazon account, I'd just add a capsule...but that's another hub):

"Pro-Troll bait buckets have a concave back for better control. Attaches from side or top. Built-in handle for strength. Easy open-locking door. Aerates water without drag."

In case you haven't read my other hubs, I like fishin'. Specifically, I like to fish on the Outer Banks of NC. And the only person I like to antagonize, just a little, while I'm fishing, is my husband. I like it when he has to admit that I've out-fished him.

Mostly I like fishing for the peace and solitude, with just the occasional excitement of a bite and the even more occasional excitement of a catch. If I'm unobtrusive and mind my pier manners, fellow fisherman are happy for me when I reel in a fish. My grandmother taught me well.

In the Internet world, just like in real life, I like people to LIKE me. I've found one of the ways to get people to like you is to refrain from pissing them off.

Now some people are truly easy to piss off, even when you don't mean to. Some people really can't stand it if people disagree with them. When you encounter those kinds of people, it shouldn't take you long to figure out they are not worth your time or energy.

And others (trolls, as they are known on the Internet....Asses, as they are known in my real life) LOVE it! I've learned not to humor them. I save my logical, reasonable, and even sometimes naive-without-much-substance points of view for those who actually want to listen to me rather than wasting my time to argue with those who just want to insult me.

Why is that so hard for some folks to figure out? I understand getting sucked in perhaps, by what seems like an innocent question. I understand the heartfelt initial reply. But why continue when it's obvious that the other person (troll, perhaps original poster) just wants to argue?

And why, why, why, get sucked into the argument, post after post after post, and then decide you can't stand HubPages and make an announcement that you are outta-here? Don't you realize what a Happy Troll you've perpetuated when you do that?

A Lurker just reads. Now and then, when you want to be a writer, you ought to just read. Just soak it up, understand that the story is not yours - it's someone else's story, and you might, just might, learn something from it.

Again, I apologize for calling this any sort of authoratative definition...it is from Wikipedia, but at least it is grammatically correct:

In Internet culture, a lurker is a person who reads discussions on a message board, newsgroup, chatroom, file sharing or other interactive system, but rarely or never participates actively.

Now is that really so hard? And is there really anything negative in that description? Does your favorite author really mind that you have not sent him or her "fan mail" arguing with his/her perspective?

I don't know about you, but I don't have a problem at all with those who "view" (and especially when views convert to clicks!) but do not comment.

I love you, Trolls, and Troll Bait. You really entertain me when I'm bored. I seldom venture into the Religion or Politics forums here at HubPages, but when I do, I'm hooked for hours! It's addictive! I'm amused and shocked and dumbfounded, minute after minute! It's just like watching television!

I've never starred in a television series (I've never starred in anything outside my own private drama!), and I try to stay out of the troll expeditions. For that reason, I'm still pretty grounded about what HubPages offers and how I can benefit from it. I like writing what I want to write, and watching affiliate pennies add up, and getting to know the non-Troll and non-Troll-Bait community, and shaking my head now and then at some of the forum topics.