Ask HN: What’s the origin of the phrase “Don’t feed the trolls?”

#1

Post by jcolman » Mon, Jan 03, 2022, 7:49 AM UTC

It’s one of the best things that’s ever come out of the internet. But where was it first stated and how did it propagate through communities to become common wisdom?

From what I can tell, it seems to come from an Oscar Wilde quote. But I’m curious about where and how it was first applied to online discourse?

Re: Ask HN: What’s the origin of the phrase “Don’t feed the trolls?”

#2

Post by garmaine » Mon, Jan 03, 2022, 7:52 AM UTC

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Billy_Goats_Gruff

Re: Ask HN: What’s the origin of the phrase “Don’t feed the trolls?”

#3

Post by dredmorbius » Mon, Jan 03, 2022, 8:09 AM UTC

garmaine wrote: post #2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Billy_Goats_Gruff

Howso?

Re: Ask HN: What’s the origin of the phrase “Don’t feed the trolls?”

#4

Post by dredmorbius » Mon, Jan 03, 2022, 8:10 AM UTC

I know this from Usenet days. It's difficult to search early archives these days, though this 2005 verion of the net.abuse FAQ contains a reference. If you can trace that document back earlier you'll likely get closer to the source.

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/net-abuse-faq/troll-faq/

Re: Ask HN: What’s the origin of the phrase “Don’t feed the trolls?”

#5

Post by maxrf » Mon, Jan 03, 2022, 9:23 AM UTC

garmaine wrote: post #2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Billy_Goats_Gruff

That was my thought too - on the origin of troll imagery, but not "don't feed" (or at least it's not explicit in the story which is more 'my brother is bigger' as I recall)

Re: Ask HN: What’s the origin of the phrase “Don’t feed the trolls?”

#6

Post by wrp » Mon, Jan 03, 2022, 9:48 AM UTC

I always assumed it was inspired by the warning signs posted at national parks, "Don't feed the bears."

Re: Ask HN: What’s the origin of the phrase “Don’t feed the trolls?”

#7

Post by weare138 » Mon, Jan 03, 2022, 11:50 AM UTC

dredmorbius wrote: post #4

I know this from Usenet days. It's difficult to search early archives these days, though this 2005 verion of the net.abuse FAQ contains a reference. If you can trace that document back earlier you'll likely get closer to the source. http://www.faqs.org/faqs/net-abuse-faq/troll-faq/

That's where I always thought it came from.