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> On Usenet it always seemed to be a fishing metaphor, which is why people talk about taking the bait or spitting the hook. This is why I'm certain it started
by emmelaich 8y ago
> On Usenet it always seemed to be a fishing metaphor, which is why people talk about taking the bait or spitting the hook.
This is why I'm certain it started out as 'trawling'. The conversion to 'troll' was a result of misspelling or misunderstanding the spoken word. Or perhaps just standard punning - one who trawls is a troll.
"trawling for opinions" is a well-known and still often used phrase.
- DanBC 8y agoBut trolling is a type of fishing. Trawling uses long nets, trolling uses long lines with hooks. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolling_(fishing) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolling_(fishing)
- emmelaich 8y agoThanks. TIL. I'd still guess that it comes from the phrase "trawling for opinions" - everyone has heard of that phrase and knows what a "fishing trawler" is.