I was disgusted to read Susan Lee’s misrepresentation of “trolls” in the Echo (It’s time the ‘trolls’ were silenced, Oct 28).
As a recognised authority in online communities and founder of the Trolling Academy, I have had research published on trolling for a number of years.
Susan’s representations of trolls being vitriolic is in itself vitriolic and misinformed. She should learn to differ trolls from trolling. When a troll does trolling, it is for the entertainment of others with humorous effect. On the other side of trolling is what is done by Snerts (Snotty Nosed Egotistical Rude Twits), as they post to harm others for their own sick entertainment only.
So instead of tarring trolls with the same brush as one should the Snerts, perhaps Susan should look at finding ways in which Internet users can become better at the humorous side of trolling, while protecting themselves against the dark side. Susan could always enrol at the Trolling Academy – she might learn something!