Troll

2013-03-29T23:08:21Z

NealK:

A '''troll''' is a mythical creature, like a giant but mostly portrayed as a dwarf.

== Internet troll ==

A troll, in [[Internet]] parlance, is an entity or character that purposely disrupts a conversation via discussion [[forum]] or [[email]], a comment thread on a [[blog]], or another sort of website. For example, on [[Wiki | Wikis]], users who purposely make disruptive edits are considered trolls. Many people consider this type of activity to be merely childish, while others consider it symptomatic of deviant minds of opposition whereby infiltration by deceit is normal practice. Trolls pretend to be of common thinking, at the same time plotting anti-social crimes. The troll can otherwise be known as a [[frenemy]] or as a [[hoax plant]] lurking for an opportunity to create trouble. Many trolls are also liberals and atheists wanting to make a splash in the Internet community. Do not mistake real atheists or liberals for trolls, even though their debating tactics are similar, the difference lies in that trolls sometimes do not believe what they post. If the person seems sincere about what they say and prolong the conversation to a single hot-button issue, such as abortion, they are probably a real leftist. If their posts are short but random and prolong the conversation to various random unrelated subjects, they are probably a troll, although sometimes it is hard to tell.

The term originated in the early 1990s, an abbreviation of the term "trolling for suckers" (trolling being an angling technique to seek fish). An [[Internet]] troll will lock their target, bait the line and spread the net to catch their goal (unwitting victim). Sites such as [[YouTube]], [[Yahoo!]] and the Internet Movie Database are known for their lax (laid back) and sometimes negative enforcement of community guidelines on their forums and comment sections. The effects of trolling on children who use the internet have been linked to a number of well documented suicides among youth in years past. The reason most trolls act the way they do online is because they either have nothing better to do, suffer from low self esteem as a result of a number of factors, or are anonymous children who have been, or are being [[bullying|bullied]] in real life and turn to the Internet to vent their anger. Many users have been banned from web forums or social networking sites as a result of using foul language or abusive replies to defend themselves against trolls, mostly due to corrupt and one-sided web masters. This is the basis that most trolls operate on. Luring their victims in, getting them stirred up, and then using their reactions against them and pretending that the victim is the bad guy. Anybody who expresses their viewpoints freely and/or touches on divisive and/or sensitive issues is a potential target for trolls. Trolling is a common weapon used against conservative speech in feeble attempts at silencing them. Most trolls are kids between the ages of 10 and 16 who have no other agenda than amusing themselves with other people's frustration.

===Do not feed the troll===
'''Do Not Feed the Troll''', or '''DNFT''' is a common internet term for ignoring trolls, and allowing them to become bored. The same tactic can be used on liberals and atheists, for different reasons. Generally, it is seen as the best way to deal with trolls. The key motive behind trolling is to cause a reaction. Trolls do not care how well reasoned your argument is, they simply want you to react. By failing to give them a response, they will get bored, and leave.

== External Links ==
*[http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=troll Troll] -- Dictionary definition
*[http://www.teamtechnology.co.uk/troll.htm Beware The Troll]
*[http://www.teamtechnology.co.uk/troll-tactics.html Recognising and Dealing with Trolls]
*[http://www.alternet.org/media/why-online-comments-are-so-toxic?ak_proof=1&akid=9147.47561.Ez0FIj&rd=1&src=newsletter683851&t=3&paging=off Why Online Comments Are So Toxic]

[[Category:Mythical Beasts]]
[[Category:Internet slang]]
[[Category:Deceit]]
[[Category:Liberals]]
{{liberalism}}

Hobbit

2013-03-29T23:01:58Z

NealK:

:''This article is about the fictional race. For the book by Tolkien, see [[The Hobbit]]. For the hominid species, see [[Homo floresiensis]].''

'''Hobbits''' are a fictional speicies in [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s [[Middle-earth]] stories. They appear prominently in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', whose main characters are the hobbits [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] and [[Frodo Baggins]], [[Samwise Gamgee]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]], and [[Peregrin Took]].

== Creation ==
Hobbits first appeared in Tolkien's book ''The Hobbit'', which at that time was not yet part of his older stories. When Tolkien, upon writing the sequel, moved its setting to [[Middle-earth]], the Hobbits were incorporated into the Middle-earth mythology.

== Appearance ==
Hobbits appear as small humans, between two and four foot tall. They have furry hair on the top of their feet and leathery soles, making shoes unnecessary. They also have slightly pointed ears. Male hobbits do not grow beards. Hobbits have a longer lifespan than humans, many hobbits reaching the age of 100.<ref name="prologue">J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Prologue: Concerning Hobbits, and other matters</ref>

== Life and Culture ==
Hobbits are a peaceful people and lead a simple, pre-industrial lifestyle. They live in the land which they call [[Shire (Middle-earth)|The Shire]], and also in [[Breeland]], both situated in Eriador in northwestern Middle-earth.

The traditional housing of Hobbits is the "hobbit-hole", or '''''smial''''', which is made up of a long hallway with rooms on both sides, built into a hill. Late in the Third Age these were mostly replaced in favour of single-story houses above ground; only the richer classes and the poor kept living in the traditional ''smials''. A notable feature of hobbit architecture are the round doors and windows.<ref name="prologue" />

Hobbits use the [[Shire Calendar]], and the [[Shire Reckoning]] to count the years, beginning with the colonisation of the Shire in [[Third Age (Middle-earth)|T.A.]] 1601.<ref>J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Appendix D</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|1}}

{{Middle-earth}}
[[Category:Middle-earth]]

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Troll

Hobbit