I think it's fair to say that is a major objective, or at least "winding up people" if not 'upset'.
Granted, in this case, this subthread, it's more of some sort of interlectual tug of war, so that's not always the case... but maybe the lines have been merged to much between 'debate' and 'trolling' ?

Incidently, I'm reminded of a website idea I had when I first left school called "NetFued", I didn't have the technical capacity to fill it out at the time, but the idea was someone could set up a "debate" with rules (# replies, yes/no personal insults, links to sources for information, # time to reply...etc). And then, once the 'debate' of some kind happened, the public get to vote on 'who won'.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Fri 20 May 2011, 14:56, 1 reply)

No no no no no no no.
Picking a fight with somebody on the internet is about as hard as picking your own nose. Trolling is (or at least was) a far more subtle art of manipulating people's responses. It's better judged by smallest input for maximum output, rather than how FURIOUS you can make somebody. Thick people become FURIOUS at the drop of a hat. Real trolling is sowing a tiny seed that turns into a giant tree of chain-reactions.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Fri 20 May 2011, 15:32, closed)

Although I think you're all right, it sounds a bit to poncy "I AM THE BLOKE FROM INCEPTION" to me.
Think more matrix than inception, should come effortlessly.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Fri 20 May 2011, 15:41, closed)

Anybody who thinks there is anything deep or complex in either of those films is an utter moron.
A statement that is both true and would make a crude but effective troll.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Fri 20 May 2011, 16:04, closed)