Why do you think so many discussions on A2K end up...

Trolling culture has become increasingly mainstream. Try as you might, there is no way you can ignore trolls. If you can't beat them, join them or disconnect from the internet. And this discussion on trolls is relevant to the OT, so I don't know what you're rambling about. As to the part on mental health, I had no part in initiating it (or did I?), and was a natural extension of conversation between members without trollish intent.

He just has a bit of the genecktecessoink. No big whoop. Go on.

Actually this behavior (the subtle art of trolling rather than flamers) is favored by mainstream media sites. Trolls bring attention to topics discussed, which otherwise would be ignored or be not given any interest by the average viewers or newcomers.
It's not just an online activity in 4chan or reddit, or even by the group anonymous anymore. Now it's hedge fund analysts, political consultants, and even a lot of journalists. They really don't bother with fact checking as greatly in the past and purely looking to produce sensation stories to provoke a reaction.
And yes, verbal harassment can sometimes be classified as trolling, but for the most part, it is 100% ignorable. If you decide to listen to it, get upset and rage, that's your fault. It's a thin line between making jokes and harassment with the trolling phenomenon. I personally don't like to cross the line. I think the mainstream of this phenomenon has to do with the fact that as a more intelligent, well informed society, the majority of people can juggle reality and sadistic fantasies quite well - and with the support of what free speech protects in the end, more power to anyone who wants to create, view and acknowledge any form of opinions, real or fake.