Shinjidude said:
So if one intentionally takes a troll's bait, and politely gives him a thoughtful and useful response to his trolling without striking back, does that make one a meta-troll?
In the case this wasn't trolling, I apologize, but "walks & talks like a duck", etc.
Trolling is really no different, if its a true troll, than acting like an idiot. I guess some view it as a Socratic type of attempt to mock fools using their own reasoning, or something, or pointing out the absurditity in a community but its basically acting like an idiot to provoke a response.
Its kind of like the law related to advanced science, advanced trolling is indistinguishable from stupidity.
Some trolls want idiots to respond, others feel that any response, especially thoughtful ones, grants him the desired victory.