: This page is about an internet trolling technique, for the fraud method see bait and switch.

On the Internet, baiting is similar to Internet troll, in that baiters, like trolls, try to elicit a response from other users. The difference is that the response is supposed to be embarrassing to the user in question, and humorous to others. Baiters frequently concentrate on groups they do not like, such as pedophilia, Fraud (often Advance fee fraud), religious fundamentalists, or homosexuals. What the baiter says does not need to make sense, it is often simply written to baffle the bait, and to produce an interesting result. In that respect, baiting is similar to telephone prank calls, but often much more elaborate.

Baiting frequently takes place on Internet_relay_chat or instant messaging. The chat logs are then typically posted on the world wide web.

So called scam baiting has become popular in the last two years, with several thousand people taking part, attempting to either put a stop to advance fee scams, or at least having fun at the scammers expense. This has given rise to several websites filled with transcripts, funny pictures and other trophies. 419eater.com is one of the largest and best known of these sites.

Some of these pranks have grown into Internet phenomena. For example, Rich Lowtax Kyanka from the popular Something Awful site engaged in a long ICQ session (titled Space Robot Bonanza ) where he talked to a gullible user about space robots who supposedly protected humans from the terrible secret of space by pushing them down stairs. This was later turned into a song by The Laziest Men on Mars, with lyrics such as:

: We are the space robots : We are here to protect you : We are here to protect you : From the terrible secret of space

Baiters are sometimes long time residents of a comment posting arena. They see a newbie visit, and toss a question or comment at some remark the newbie posted. It may be hostile, challenging, aggressive, just to see what the newbie is made of, if he or she has conviction, or knows the subject well.

Thus, baiting can be a sort of hazing or humiliation prior to initiation into a posting club.

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