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trolling and surfing

trolling and surfing

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A perspective on metaphor:

Do you surf with your computer? Do you use a surfboard?

“Surfing the net” has become the most widespread metaphor for online activities of discovery and inquiry. A quick google of the terms “web troller” and “web surfer” reveals approximately 37 times as many hits for surfer than for troller. Of course, most of the latter are concerned with web trolls, whose activities differ markedly from the sort of trolling I mean here.

There is some resistance against the dominant metaphor. Not everyone calls the work of his or her browsers surfing. I troll the web. Trolling the web reflects the life experiences of more people across wider spectrums of geography and socio-economic status. Fishing is less elitist; far more people have trolled while fishing than have surfed during a visit to the beach. Far more people live near lakes than the ocean. In short, it reflects better the democratic potential of the web.

Trolling is less hurried, and less superficial. Surfers ride the surface of the wave. Trollers search the depths. Surfing may be hip, but more of value is gained from trolling.

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Originally posted by Wulebgr
A perspective on metaphor:

Do you surf with your computer? Do you use a surfboard?

“Surfing the net” has become the most widespread metaphor for online activities of discovery and inquiry. A quick google of the terms “web troller” and “web surfer” reveals approximately 37 times as many hits for surfer than for troller. Of course ...[text shortened]... wave. Trollers search the depths. Surfing may be hip, but more of value is gained from trolling.
Well, just like the real life equivalent, I enjoy both.

Sometimes I enjoy the rush of the wave and go were it takes me.

Other times I delve deeply into the ocean of information.

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I think "trawling" is the correct fishing word.

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To me, "trolling" sounds derogatory, hence do not like to use the term much. 🙂

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Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
I think "trawling" is the correct fishing word.
lol, that would be correct.

but trolling is also correct, which is what we referred to it as in S. Florida

4. To angle for with a trolling line, or with a book drawn
along the surface of the water; hence, to allure.
1913 Webster

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I stroll. 🙂

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Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
I think "trawling" is the correct fishing word.
Perhaps the British meaning of trawl does a better job of expressing the thoroughness that I'm getting at.

My practice of trolling for fish, however, usually involves dragging a single fly behind a kick boat (pontoon) or belly boat (float tube). Trawling better expresses practices employed in commercial fishing, or the sorts of recreational fishing that I eschew.


trawl
n.
1 a large, baglike net dragged by a boat along the bottom of a fishing bank
2 a long line supported by buoys, from which many short fishing lines are hung: also trawl line
3 [Chiefly Brit.] a thorough search



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Well I found out I could surf with my computer. I strapped one
keyboard under each foot and attach a line to a power boat and
off we go. Then I catch waves coming back.

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