[jyl]

After some time on PPOT, I have developed some reliable tests to identify a troll.

1. A troll is obsessed with a handful of topics. He posts repeatedly, incessantly, on those topics. He seldom has anything to say on anything else.

2. A troll has no objective, balanced, analytical data. In fact, he seldom posts anything factual at all. For him, it is all about opinion, as loud as possible. His "signal to noise" ratio is very low.

3. A troll thinks that posting cartoons and photoshopped caricatures make his point. His thinking is roughly as deep as the dumber sort of editorial cartoon.

4. A troll can't spell. He even thinks that misspelling shows that he's smart.

5. A troll is someone you wouldn't invite back to the next dinner party. He talks loudly and constantly, sprays when he speaks, and drives rational people away.