What is it with trolls?

[_beastie]

Are the personal lives of trolls so inadequate and depressing that the only way they can imagine getting the attention of people on the internet is by being deliberately provocative with no other point other than to stir the pot?

Are they a sort of “cipher in the snow”, largely invisible to other human beings in their real lives?

Do they not get any attention at all in real life, so even the predictably negative attention on the internet is rewarding?

I don’t expect to get any sort of meaningful response from actual trolls, but I’d like the opinion and observation of the rest of you. It’s always struck me as a bizarre phenomenon. It reminds me of a primary school child who has decided that the only way he/she can get the attention of his/her classmates is by teasing in order to provoke. In other words, even bad attention is better than no attention. It’s understandable behavior from an immature child who can’t quite figure out how to interact more productively with his/her peers, but in an adult???? Bizarre.

[_truth dancer]

Are the personal lives of trolls so inadequate and depressing that the only way they can imagine getting the attention of people on the internet is by being deliberately provocative with no other point other than to stir the pot?

Yeah, I think there are some mental health issues going on, no question. Not trying to analyze anyone but clearly there are some signs.

Are they a sort of “cipher in the snow”, largely invisible to other human beings in their real lives?

I think they do feel "invisible" to others, perhaps missing out on normal healthy interactions in real life.

Do they not get any attention at all in real life, so even the predictably negative attention on the internet is rewarding?

Most likely they feel they are not getting enough attention, which doesn't necessarily mean they aren't getting any but they may crave much more.

I don’t expect to get any sort of meaningful response from actual trolls, but I’d like the opinion and observation of the rest of you. It’s always struck me as a bizarre phenomenon. It reminds me of a primary school child who has decided that the only way he/she can get the attention of his/her classmates is by teasing in order to provoke. In other words, even bad attention is better than no attention. It’s understandable behavior from an immature child who can’t quite figure out how to interact more productively with his/her peers, but in an adult???? Bizarre.

It does seem strange, but humans have a way of taking care of their needs, and if someone craves attention and feels they are invisible this is their way of fulfilling their needs.

Think of a child continually poking and pulling a parent during an adult conversation... (smile)

My observation is that some trolls seem unable to "connect" to others in a normal healthy way. Almost like the normal ability for interaction may be thwarted. Responses are inappropriate and/or abnormal, there is a lack of sensitivity to others, extreme and/or unusual comments. Lots of disconnect going on.

~dancer~

[_antishock8]

Doesn't this thread and your responses put in you the place of Judge and Jury? Please define what a "troll" is in the first place, and then help someone like myself understand why you have the authority to figure out who is mired in an extended adolescence.

This reminds me of the website that defines the kinds of posters there are on the Internet, along with cartoons. Anyone have that link? It's pretty funny...

Nevermind... I found it...

http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/

[_beastie]

My observation is that some trolls seem unable to "connect" to others in a normal healthy way. Almost like the normal ability for interaction may be thwarted. Responses are inappropriate and/or abnormal, there is a lack of sensitivity to others, extreme and/or unusual comments. Lots of disconnect going on.

This is my observation, as well. One thing that makes me wonder if we're correct is the new studies on bullies - remember how it used to be conventional wisdom that bullies had low self-esteem, and bullied to compensate for that? Newer studies actually show that bullies have inflated self-esteem and feel entitled. (which, in my opinion, is more disturbing)

I'm not directly equating bullies to trolls, but wondering if the observations that feel right to us may be misguided. Part of the frustration behind this is the inability to get reliable responses from the "subject".

Antishock - I think I embedded the definition within my question. I'm using the word "troll" to designate someone whose primary intent in posting is to provoke, inflame, to "get things going". Often they admit this is their primary intent, because it's "fun". Does that make me the judge and jury? Maybe, but we have to identify something in order to discuss it. Does the act of identifying make one judge and jury, or does it mean we want to talk about one specific phenomenon, and hence, have to identify it?

[_solomarineris]

I'm a troll, you're a troll.
wherein lies the distinction, If you/I do not reveal our real names?
People who use their names (like DCP) are not trolls.
Regardless, we're all on this fishing expedition.

[_beastie]

solom -

Are you saying you think everyone posts with the primary intent to provoke, inflame, and "get things going"? I don't. Certainly we all post in order to provoke a response, but that is a different meaning of the word "provoke". We're all entertaining ourselves in a way, but is the primary form of entertainment to upset other posters? I don't think so.

[_The Nehor]

Wow! Now I have mental issues, am trapped in childhood, and have no healthy social interactions.

Ooops, I'm feeding trolls. Bye.

[_antishock8]

I would say Nehor and LoaP are probably the closest things to trolls we have on this board, since, if by wiki-definition a troll is somone who posts controversial and usually irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community... with the intention of baiting other users into an emotional response, or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion. * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet%5Ftroll

I think trolling is misunderstood by people who generally get frustrated with posters who don't always stay on topic, or stray into irrelevant behavior. To me, trolling is when someone consistently posts inane, irrelevant, and ad-hom attacks without ever really addressing, to any degree, what is being discussed.

One of the things I don't like, however, is people becoming psychologists and diagnosing a poster they don't like. That's silly.

[_The Nehor]

One of the things I don't like, however, is people becoming psychologists and diagnosing a poster they don't like. That's silly.

I don't know. I'm tempted to start a thread analyzing those who are convinced that their personal sensibilities should be respected at all times no matter how inane. I think it would be fun to discuss their need to be correct and feel vindicated when they lash out against those who offend them in any way and the sense of self-righteous satisfaction it brings them to do these things. Nah, sounds boring.

[_beastie]

a troll is somone who posts controversial and usually irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community... with the intention of baiting other users into an emotional response, or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion.

Yes, that's the definition I had in mind.

One of the things I don't like, however, is people becoming psychologists and diagnosing a poster they don't like. That's silly.

Then let's not talk about specific people, but instead, talk about the phenomenon. It clearly exists. Why?

It's also possible that certain types of trolls have the primary intent of disrupting the on-topic discussion more than upsetting posters. Upsetting posters is just one way to do that. Is it possible that some trolls deliberately disrupt discussions that they believe are damaging to their own cause in some way? Maybe that's their perceived contribution to protecting their personal sacred cow - if they're not up to actually presenting a logical, persuasive argument that protects that belief, the next best thing is to disrupt the entire conversation so that the damaging topic is no longer being analyzed and being found wanting?