As a data point, one thing I’ve noticed that seems to give a disproportionate amount of karma is arguing with someone who’s wrong and unwilling to listen. It’s easy to think they might come around eventually, and each point you make against them is worth a few points of karma from the amused onlookers or fellow arguers—which might tell you that you’re making a valuable contribution, and so encourage you to keep arguing with trolls. This is my impression, at least.
Edit: (The problem being—determining the point of diminishing returns.)
As a data point, one thing I’ve noticed that seems to give a disproportionate amount of karma is arguing with someone who’s wrong and unwilling to listen. It’s easy to think they might come around eventually, and each point you make against them is worth a few points of karma from the amused onlookers or fellow arguers—which might tell you that you’re making a valuable contribution, and so encourage you to keep arguing with trolls. This is my impression, at least.
Edit: (The problem being—determining the point of diminishing returns.)