From an article on trolling and flaming on the internet:

"One motive (of trolls and flamers) is the desire for attention and for self-entertainment derived at the expense of others. Posted flame-bait can provide the poster with a controlled trigger-and-response setting in which to anonymously engage in conflicts and indulge in aggressive behavior without facing the consequences that such behavior might bring in a face-to-face encounter.

"In other instances, flame-bait may be used to reduce a forum's use by angering the forum users."

The article goes into considerable detail as to the kind of techniques that trolls and flamers are prone to, but it concludes with the best way to handle trolls and flamers.

"Follow the oft-given but rarely taken advice, 'Don't feed the troll!' No matter how outrageous or insulting they are being, don't respond.

"Ignore them."

Works for me. Why don't we all give it a shot?

Don Firth