#linux was a troll channel, so that's a poor example. #e (The Enlightenment Window Manager) had people very eager to help.
So did #redhat, #mandrake, #debian #stampede, #slackware, and even #linux-users. All were quite active from '98-2002, before freenode swallowed everything.
source: I got trolled by swedes in #linux before abandoning that wasteland for greener pastures listed above.
It's depressing that your question is downvoted to grey. I consider it a sign that people think it's better to be a coincidence theorist rather than a conspiracy theorist.