In the old days, at least according to the stories my mother read to me as a boy, the trolls lived under the bridge and required everyone to pay tribute. My favorite was "The Billy Goats Gruff," and I remember that the troll came to a bad end.

Nowadays, the trolls wear business suits and work the internet. They still get their tribute, but their tactics are more subtle. A few years ago, in Basket of Figs, I wrote an article about a biblical character that fell among thieves. I modernized it somewhat, and you might find it interesting. Click here.