Complex motivations and mediums of expression

The devil's advocate advocates for the devil, a creature known in myth to be eloquent and able even to twist god's words to mean anything or nothing. (Which is not that big a stretch, holy books are full of holes). That the devil has any use for an advocate implies other speaking arrangements. The implication being that the advocate for the devil will adequately fill the role of the devil in any discussion.

A troll provides a similar service. In rare cases even illuminating new areas of intellectual ground over which to be fought.

Motivation is irrelevant, in these situations the only way to differentiate an advocate of the devil from a mere troll is via aesthetic.

Thus in attempting to distinguish a troll from an advocate of the devil, we are left with the tricky Latin phrase: De gustibus non est disputandum.



And a picture of my brother graduating.