Some people state that trolling is as old as the Internet. Well, as I have mentioned on this blog, I had encountered trolling on bulletin board systems here in Ottawa, on Fidonet and on the Usenet.
BUT it is even older that that. Here’s a quote from a well known book :
“He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness”
This was later translated to “he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain”
Can you guess where those quotes are from ?
The basic principals of trolling are found in one of the oldest books in recorded history, The Bible, in I Timothy 6:4-5.
The first quote is from the King James Version while the second quote is from the New International Version.
That’s how old trolling is.
