As long as you set the right multibyte string encoding in PHP via the multibyte string functions (specifically, the
mb_internal_encoding
function), the parser will catch the invalid multibyte sequence and fix it.
Before analyzing what can and cannot be considered a "troll" post, we must
first precisely define the meaning of the word troll. From
Wikipedia:
In Internet terminology, a troll is someone who comes into an
established community such as an online discussion forum, and posts
inflammatory, rude, or offensive messages designed to annoy and
antagonize the existing members or disrupt the flow of discussion
In simplified terms, a troll post must consist of one or more of the following
criteria (numbered for convenience):
An obvious flame, preferably one with an angry attitude and/or written
to include profanity.
A rude post that blatently disregards an opinion without proper
defense.
An offensive post solely meant to express one's anger, typically
containing words or phrases with an extreme political slant.
A post meant to annoy and anger fellow posters.
A post whose sole purpose is to disrupt the reading of other posts.
Now that we've got a proper definition of the term troll, we can start
determining exactly what is and what isn't a "troll post":
"Netcraft confirms it"
This common Slashdottism falls under criterion #5, as it disrupts the flow
of discussion, and has never added any insightful or interesting
information to any comment on Slashdot. This is a troll post.
"Can you
imagine a Beowulf cluster of these?"
Another common Slashdottism that falls under criterion #5. Not
surprisingly, it's mutated from a cheap (and unfunny) joke to a full-blown
article by one of Slashdot's most hated (former) editors,
Michael.
This is a troll post.
"Microsoft in all its power and glory is unwilling to be compatible with the rest of
the world"
It should be fairly obvious that this is nothing but a flame dressed in
insight's clothing. The first paragraph is generic Slashdot astroturf, but
the last paragraph is nothing but blind criticism against Microsoft. For
the most part, many of those criticisms can only apply to the most hateful
of the Microsoft opponents. Check criterion #4. This is a troll
post.
"Until the next Hitler comes along."
This poster compares George W. Bush to Adolf Hitler. That consitutes being
a troll under criterion #4 as it is, but the fact that they give no real
reason for criticising Bush or comparing him to Hitler also puts the post
under criteria #1, #2, and #3. This is a troll post.
"Yet global warming is a fact, no-one disputes that..."
This post gives absolutely no reason for agreeing or disagreeing with the
theory of global warming. Rather than expressing a logical viewpoint, the
poster claims Americans are in "denial... so they don't have to feel
guilty for driving their SUV's and Minivans over an hour to work [sic]."
Criteria #2 is in question, but criteria #3 is obviously there. This is
a troll post.
Slashdot Mirror
As long as you set the right multibyte string encoding in PHP via the multibyte string functions (specifically, the mb_internal_encoding function), the parser will catch the invalid multibyte sequence and fix it.
Move along, folks. No need to panic.
Before analyzing what can and cannot be considered a "troll" post, we must first precisely define the meaning of the word troll. From Wikipedia:
In simplified terms, a troll post must consist of one or more of the following criteria (numbered for convenience):
Now that we've got a proper definition of the term troll, we can start determining exactly what is and what isn't a "troll post":
This common Slashdottism falls under criterion #5, as it disrupts the flow of discussion, and has never added any insightful or interesting information to any comment on Slashdot. This is a troll post.
Another common Slashdottism that falls under criterion #5. Not surprisingly, it's mutated from a cheap (and unfunny) joke to a full-blown article by one of Slashdot's most hated (former) editors, Michael. This is a troll post.
It should be fairly obvious that this is nothing but a flame dressed in insight's clothing. The first paragraph is generic Slashdot astroturf, but the last paragraph is nothing but blind criticism against Microsoft. For the most part, many of those criticisms can only apply to the most hateful of the Microsoft opponents. Check criterion #4. This is a troll post.
This poster compares George W. Bush to Adolf Hitler. That consitutes being a troll under criterion #4 as it is, but the fact that they give no real reason for criticising Bush or comparing him to Hitler also puts the post under criteria #1, #2, and #3. This is a troll post.
This post gives absolutely no reason for agreeing or disagreeing with the theory of global warming. Rather than expressing a logical viewpoint, the poster claims Americans are in "denial... so they don't have to feel guilty for driving their SUV's and Minivans over an hour to work [sic]." Criteria #2 is in question, but criteria #3 is obviously there. This is a troll post.
At first, you might consider this a troll post.