There was a time when Dave Winer was not accepting comments on his blog and I remember his reaction being a recommendation by commenting via their own blog post.

I get the concept that you think Loren is a troll. I don’t see anything new though in the follow on comments.

So thank you for coming by Robert and giving your opinion. I’m glad you took time to state your opinion. In this case, we agree to disagree.

@loiclemeur @robsafuto I commented on the post. Loren could add value, but not sure he *really* wants to add any. Another attention seeker?

and then followed by

oh, and to @loiclemeur @robsafuto … if trolling is innovation … we’re all in trouble ;o)

So, I was hardly hiding … rather, I was reaching out to you with an opinion.
I don’t consider Loren to be either a menace or innovator.

Take care.

Rob, you asked for comments. I obliged. I’ll gladly stop commenting here, if you wish. No problem.

Now, what if he was getting traffic just for his own thoughts? his own ideas? Funny thing is, what Loren is saying isn’t new. Many people have said the same thing about so-called Web 2.0 innovations & startups. The difference? The others say it without being vile.

No, he’s a troll … baiting others to gain attention. Oh, I watch him … I laugh at him … and how sheep follow and praise him. They are biting the bait just as much as the a-listers that engage him.

I think Loren couldn’t care less about “guiding the community to a better place”. He is not Abraham or Jesus. He just expressed his opinion and he deserves the attention he gets.

An internet troll, to me (and others), is someone who travels the Web posting with the intention of baiting other users into responding emotionally. A troll likes trouble. A troll likes to see a furor started and takes pride in starting that furor.

There is also a definition of troll referring to “someone whose posts have the primary goal of disrupting or de-railing an internet community.” See Wikidpedia, for instance: http://tinyurl.com/28o42

My view is that Loren was rejoicinig in the furor he started. He baited and baited. Look at his long string of posts on his blog, and in seesmic. Those posts reflect a guy having a jolly ol’ time stirring the pot, and with what intention? Do you really think he sought to improve or guide the community to a better place?

A troll is typically defined as someone who goes onto other people’s sites and posts derogatory comments, usually anonymously.

Loren has his own web presence. And you know who he is. So how can he be defined as an internet troll?

I think that a troll to you is anyone whose commentary you don’t like.

re: New Yorkers being a bunch of chop busters-whaddya gotta problem?? Huh? When friends of mine start wanting to do a smack down on Loren for the “race card” issue I can easily imagine what it must have been like when Lenny Bruce was still here.

In essence, whether Loren is your cup of tea or Cel-Ray Tonic he is causing some good dialog in this incestuous bubblesphere. Good thing too, before him Seesmic was as interesting as watching paint dry.

Sadly, Loren doesn’t seem to see a line (or maybe he doesn’t want to see it).

Gadflies serve a purpose. But, the good ones - the valuable ones - seem to know how to *not* persistently annoy while still offering useful criticism. I think Loren can do that, but not sure he wants to do that.

I fear he’s just one more attention seeker *claiming* to have valuable critical commentary.