Article on internet trolls

[PennLady]

http://www.salon.com/2012/08/01/online_comments_are_toxic_salpart/

Not a thorough study, and probably nothing that will surprise anyone, but I found it interesting.

 

[estragon]

SA Penn Lady, proves what most of us suspected all along.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Naaah. The perfessers got it wrong. That is, ordinary people act worse around strangers OR people they know: Katrina Mob or Flash Mob/Lynch Mob. Trolls, so-called, act alone, therefore theyre more socio-pathic.

 

[lovecraft68]

I still hold that the average internet bully/troll is the person who has been picked on as a kid and most likely still is now.

Can't stand up to the wife(I believe that most are male) the job, the guys at the bar. spineless, mealy mouthed, in person

But put that keyboard in front of them where there s no way they can be held accountable for their words then the bravado comes out.

 

[emap]

I'm calling false on connecting this with mob mentality. This is closer to thievery than anything else. Think about it, put spray paint on a walkway that doesn't get used much and watch from a hidden spot. Many will walk right on by it, probably thinking someone is going to do a mural or paint over what is already there. The rest, will use the spray paint because it's there and no one else is.

Internet is the same way, it's there and free for use. The way it's supposed to be according to US law. The problem comes in well a simple little thing, nobody can see what you do. There are ways of tracking a computer down and everything, just nobody bothers most of the time.

So with a perceived freedom of being found out, no telling if it's truly a freedom or not, then people will act out how they see fit. Now the older the person the less likely they are to react as a troll. Think about it this way, to them a forum or email is the same as a letter. A letter can be traced back so they won't be obnoxious since to them they are basically standing there talking to people.

A younger person on the other hand won't remember what it was like when it's phone or letters to communicate. They feel there is nothing wrong with attacking another person for no other reason than they are there. It's a way to feel better about their own life. Same reason so many people watch celebrity news, or the reality shows.

Granted it's more the reality shows, like Jersey Shore where they can say I'm better than those fuckwaffles. Same reason people do drugs, feel better about their life. Instead of saying if I do better at work and get promoted I'll have more money, or getting a job means I'll have more money and can get away from those people, they turn to drugs, or trolling.

Think about it, belittling someone can make you feel better because they are suddenly at or lower than you are. Reality stars do that themselves so suddenly their fucked up life doesn't sound so bad and they just keep right on with it. Similar to the hate feedback, things like you deserve to die from aids or what have you.

Course in that case it's closer to I came really fucking hard reading this and feel guilty so it's your fault. Not real sure what happened to taking personal responsibility. Somebody will probably say it's Obama's fault though.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I'm calling false on connecting this with mob mentality. This is closer to thievery than anything else. Think about it, put spray paint on a walkway that doesn't get used much and watch from a hidden spot. Many will walk right on by it, probably thinking someone is going to do a mural or paint over what is already there. The rest, will use the spray paint because it's there and no one else is.

Internet is the same way, it's there and free for use. The way it's supposed to be according to US law. The problem comes in well a simple little thing, nobody can see what you do. There are ways of tracking a computer down and everything, just nobody bothers most of the time.

So with a perceived freedom of being found out, no telling if it's truly a freedom or not, then people will act out how they see fit. Now the older the person the less likely they are to react as a troll. Think about it this way, to them a forum or email is the same as a letter. A letter can be traced back so they won't be obnoxious since to them they are basically standing there talking to people.

A younger person on the other hand won't remember what it was like when it's phone or letters to communicate. They feel there is nothing wrong with attacking another person for no other reason than they are there. It's a way to feel better about their own life. Same reason so many people watch celebrity news, or the reality shows.

Granted it's more the reality shows, like Jersey Shore where they can say I'm better than those fuckwaffles. Same reason people do drugs, feel better about their life. Instead of saying if I do better at work and get promoted I'll have more money, or getting a job means I'll have more money and can get away from those people, they turn to drugs, or trolling.

Think about it, belittling someone can make you feel better because they are suddenly at or lower than you are. Reality stars do that themselves so suddenly their fucked up life doesn't sound so bad and they just keep right on with it. Similar to the hate feedback, things like you deserve to die from aids or what have you.

Course in that case it's closer to I came really fucking hard reading this and feel guilty so it's your fault. Not real sure what happened to taking personal responsibility. Somebody will probably say it's Obama's fault though.

Graffitti artists dont lynch people or flashmob or loot alone. Mobs are impossible to discipline, cuz they intimidate via their mass and fluid motion. The other thing is there's no specifications for trolling. Generally speaking the troll is the individual who annoys the group for any reason.