[PorscheGAL]

VINMAN thanks for posting the article. I think all forum readers and posters should be aware of this behavior and who is doing it. The troubling issue around their behavior is how much harm "trolls" do to a forum and, possible, to the business of a forum. For example, if the forum is part of an online business and the trolls constantly argue against business then the business will suffer. It is like the "broken-window theory" in urban areas.

Definition from Wikipedia:
"The broken windows theory is a criminological theory of the norm setting and signaling effect of urban disorder and vandalism on additional crime and anti-social behavior."

I believe this same event is happening on forums with too many trolls. In fact, it may only be a couple of trolls with multiple sign-in names. These online trolls then set the norms and the site is no longer acceptable to people the forum is trying to attract.

For example:
I raise chickens for eggs and routinely visit chicken raising forums. The forum sites sells chicken supplies. If a troll enters the forum and post negative statements about raising chickens then forum readers visit less often. This is a negative event for the online store. They most likely lose out on sales and their company image is tarnished.

I don't know how to solve the problem of trolls. I do know it is a serious issue to me and the problem causes me to move away from negative forums. I guess if the business doesn't care about their image then they most likely don't care about their product.