For what it is worth, there are some studies of 'trolling' events on a mailing list and an explanation of trolling in terms of intensified failures of communication, and attempts to confirm one's own existence online, in my book Living on Cybermind: categories, communication and control. Peter Lang 2007 see in particular chaps 9 and 10 and chapter 5 for the stuff on presence. jon UTS CRICOS Provider Code: 00099F DISCLAIMER: This email message and any accompanying attachments may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate, distribute or copy this message or attachments. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete this message. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except where the sender expressly, and with authority, states them to be the views of the University of Technology Sydney. Before opening any attachments, please check them for viruses and defects. Think. Green. Do. Please consider the environment before printing this email.