don't feed the troll(s)

slang Do not engage with or pay attention to a person in an online forum, social media platform, etc., who intentionally attempts to antagonize or provoke others. A: "Can you believe this clown? Why are they writing such nasty stuff on this thread?" B: "Don't feed the troll, dude. They're just looking for attention." Just ignore the obnoxious messages and don't feed the troll—the mods will ban him sooner than later. All of us regulars know that that user can be a real troll. Our advice is always "don't feed the trolls."

troll

1. verb In an online platform such as a forum, message board, social media site, etc., to intentionally attempt to antagonize or provoke others by posting inflammatory, irrelevant, or inappropriate messages or other content. The same user kept trolling the message board by posting bizarre images, so we banned him.

2. verb To publicly target someone or some entity for ridicule or mockery, typically online, such as via social media, and often in a coy or indirect way. I love how fast food restaurants are now starting to troll each other on Twitter.

3. verb To stroll. Primarily heard in UK. We trolled around the park before lunch.

4. verb, slang To visit a public place for the purpose of finding a sexual partner. Often said of homosexual men. The days of guys trolling public bathrooms are mostly over.

5. noun A nasty and often ugly person. Likened to the legendary creature of the same name known for harassing people and having a grotesque appearance. That man is total troll—who yells at little kids like that?

6. noun In an online platform such as a forum, message board, social media site, etc., a person who intentionally attempts to antagonize or provoke others by posting inflammatory, irrelevant, or inappropriate messages or other content. Ugh, don't listen to anything that user has to say, he's a real troll.

7. noun An inflammatory, irrelevant, or inappropriate message or other content posted in an online platform such as a forum, message board, social media site, etc., as an intentional attempt to antagonize or provoke others. Don't even bother reading any trolls from that user. He's just trying to start a fight.

troll booth

informal A jocular name for a "tollbooth," a booth or kiosk at which a toll or fee is collected, especially at a bridge or on a highway. I've driven to and from work on this highway countless times, so I've given plenty of my hard-earned cash to those damned troll booths!

troll

1. n. an ugly person; a grouchy person. Gee, that dame is a real troll. What’s her problem?

2. n. an internet user who sends inflammatory or provocative messages designed to elicit negative responses or start a flame-war. (As a fisherman trolls for an unsuspecting fish.) Don’t answer those silly messages. Some troll is just looking for an argument.

3. n. a message sent by a troll (sense 2). Every time I get a troll, I just delete it.

troll booth

n. a (highway) toll booth. There’s another troll booth up ahead!