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you were right > The basic difference between these two similar terms is that trawling involves a net and is typically done for commercial fishing purposes, wh
by fnord77 6y ago
you were right
> The basic difference between these two similar terms is that trawling involves a net and is typically done for commercial fishing purposes, while trolling involves a rod, reel, and a bait or lure," and is typically done by recreational fishermen.
- lostlogin 6y agoThe definition misses a common usage - to antagonize (others) online by deliberately posting inflammatory, irrelevant, or offensive comments or other disruptive content. I wonder though, based on the professional/enthusiast fishing definition, could you call someone who is paid for (digital) trolling, a trawler? https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/troll https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/troll
- Stratoscope 6y agoAs lostlogin noted, words have different meaning in different contexts, and the fishing definitions do not apply to online discussions - except perhaps on a fishing forum! Here's an example: I went trawling through your HN comments to find something I didn't like so I could downvote it. Naw, I didn't really do that, I'm just trolling you!
- fnord77 6y agoTheir used all the time as metaphors outside of fishing. I've seen "trolling" in the metaphorical fishing sense used in the context of online forums before.