Sadist Behind the Screen: The 'Internet Troll' Personality

[Liberty]

Radish Rose: I wondered what trolls were and WHY they would do that! You explained it beautifully! Thank you!

Its like the old saying "misery loves company". Personally, think these kind of people are usually incapable of experiencing extended periods of
serenity.

 

[JaniceM]

I sort'a understand trolling, but I have to understand the 'why'?
What purpose is archived by intentionally angering another?
Obviously, we do not know, consequently the sitiutation will continue.
I have yet to see what I can define as a 'trolling' post.
I seen 'snits' where two people 'go at it,
but that is not trolling-is it?

Some individuals simply enjoy harming others- especially when they know they can get away with it. They seem to enjoy it even more when they can turn a wrong into their targets' fault.

Let me give you an example, although it didn't involve an actual forum:
When seniorforums.com was at its previous location (what's the word- server, service?), I posted about a local news story:
individuals go around the city and take unflattering pictures of people without their knowledge.
They then post the pictures on a Facebook page- with nasty comments like "You're so fat and ugly, if I looked like you I'd kill myself, maybe you should commit suicide."
And considering it not enough to publicly embarrass/humiliate these folks, they then fault the folks they targeted: 'Take your sensitive butt-hurt out of here."

When I posted this on seniorforums, members used words like psychopaths and sadistic- and they were right.
But although it was considered awful enough to make the local news a few years ago, the Facebook page is still there. Only difference: it's set to 'private' so the creeps can continue to have their 'fun.'

 

[Gaer]

I've been attacked a few times on this Forum but that aweet man, Jerry Old, came to my rescue. Then they started attacking HIM!

 

[JaniceM]

I've been attacked a few times on this Forum but that aweet man, Jerry Old, came to my rescue. Then they started attacking HIM!

That sucks. You're cool- Jerry's cool, too.

 

[Em in Ohio]

I agree with this.
It is natural, and even a good thing, that we have differing opinions about any thread topic . As long as a person is discussing the topic, that is just conversation, or maybe even debate.
When you can only defend your position by attacking another PERSON, then you are being abusive, and trolling. It means that you have no worthwhile facts or opinions to add to the discussion, so you divert off-topic by attacking the person instead.

As far as why it is called “trolling”, I had trouble with understanding that, too; since I thought of the old fairy tale about the Three Billygoats Gruff, and the trolls under the bridge.

However, fishermen also troll for fish, and this means that they put out bait and then go slowly in the boat, dragging the bait and waiting for a fish to come along and bite.
When you think of it this way, this is actually a lot like what a forum troll does, too.

Ah, that definition of trolling makes sense - Thanks!

 

[fmdog44]

A long time go I got on a political forum that had no rules as to content and language. I was amazed at what those people were posting and the majority of the posters appeared to be females. I watched it for about a month and gave it up. I don't recall the name of the forum.

 

[RadishRose]

I've tried to avoid that, despite the fact that some replies have frustrated me. I don't personally want to write-off folks completely using ignore, because we might have common ground in other topics. Of course, if this 'trolling' is all they do, they would get ignored big-time!

Em, you are still given the option to look at the ignored post if you want to.

 

[RadishRose]

I was thinking the same thing, @Aunt Bea. I've been known to be argumentative and have offered my share of counter points. Does that make me a troll, or merely someone with a different perspective?

Merely someone with a different perspective. LOL you are not a troll!

 

[Sassycakes]

A long time go I got on a political forum that had no rules as to content and language. I was amazed at what those people were posting and the majority of the posters appeared to be females. I watched it for about a month and gave it up. I don't recall the name of the forum.

I was on a forum that I really enjoyed and supposedly made a lot of friends. Then one day I posted in a Political thread. That was the end of my staying in that forum. I thought everyone was entitled to their own view and that as adults we could politely disagree. It wasn't that way there. One person said I probably rode on the bus for dumb people when I was in school. Needless to say after I said I remembered seeing him on there.I left that forum.

 

[Gardenlover]

I've tried to avoid that, despite the fact that some replies have frustrated me. I don't personally want to write-off folks completely using ignore, because we might have common ground in other topics. Of course, if this 'trolling' is all they do, they would get ignored big-time!

I don't ignore often, only one person on my list.

When someone you're ignoring posts you will see "You are ignoring content by this member. "

 

[gamboolman]

Internet Trolls are just aggravating - that is for sure.

This is more what I think of with Trolls.....

 

[Robert59]

I have a cousin that is bad about starting fight's on Facebook about this virus not real and just made up by the news networks. He in past said he thinks smoking doesn't cause cancer which he is a heavy smoker.

 

[Camper6]

Em, you are still given the option to look at the ignored post if you want to.

You shouldn't do that. To ignore, is to ignore. I voted to eliminate politics here when it was first discussed. If you want to discuss politics, join a politics forum.