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blunder1983
Joined: 12 Apr 2005
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 Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:31 pm Post subject: The Psychology of Trolls |
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I'm curious, like any other forum board we have plenty of trolls on Daves. I'm not talking about people who have set beliefs and get into a heated debate , but the people who comeon and post just rude and utterly useless posts.
But why do they do it? The ones who just do it as a windup I can kinda see where there coming from, its funny to those "in" on it. But those doing it simply to get attention... why bother?
The best reason I can think of is that they cant differentiate between "good" and "bad" attention and just crave any form of attention. But what are your theories? I think it'd be a well interesting study for psychologists  |
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Newbie
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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What might be seen as a troll to some, might be a seen as a good point by others.
I've seen people come on and talk about how shocking it is to see the way Korean men treat Korean women. Some people have called this trolling, but to lots of us it is something we see every day.
Trolling is a matter of opinion. And it is usually just overly sensitive people that point out trolls. |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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Trolling has been a phenomenon for as long as I can remember using online message boards (about 13 years). Here is a standard definition, from Wikipedia:
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| In Internet terminology, a troll is a person who posts inflammatory messages on the internet, such as on online discussion forums, to disrupt the discussion or to upset its participants. The word, or its derivative, "trolling", is also used to describe such messages or the act of posting them. |
And more information, relating to the OP inquiry:
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Various users have different motivations for trolling. A common factor to most of them is the desire to draw attention to the troll. Inflammatory, sarcastic, disruptive or humorous content is posted, meant to draw other users into engaging the troll in a fruitless confrontation. The more attention the troll's activities draw from users, the more persistent the troll's behavior in the forum. This gives rise to the often repeated protocol in internet culture: "Do not feed the trolls."
Often, a person will post a sincere message about which they are emotionally sensitive. Skillful trolls know that an easy way to upset them is to disingenuously claim that the person is a "troll". On other occasions, a person may not instantly understand, or fit into the social norms of a forum where most users are the same. As a result, their acting just slightly out of the norms (often unintentionally, and for legitimate reasons) garners the label "troll". It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between a user who is merely unfamiliar with the social protocols of a forum, and a user who is intentionally trolling; unfortunately, many users react aggressively on a first impression to a perceived troll, which sometimes leads disgruntled new users to become legitimate trolls. |
At another board I frequent, there are a couple of in-house, master trolls. Any attempts to engage in a normal conversation will fail, without exception, as the only things a troll desires are flame wars and attention. They seem to get off on making people lose their cool.
It's actually quite funny, in my opinion. Message boards aren't sacred temples that must be revered and assuaged. The purpose, usually, is for people to vent. If someone has overarching emotional needs to gain attention via an anonymous, inconsequential protocol, that's their perogative. No one forces you to read or respond to troll posts.
Btw, that Wikipedia page on trolls is interesting. Very in-depth and entertaining.
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itaewonguy
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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troll  |
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skconqueror
Joined: 31 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 5:32 am Post subject: |
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| Do you have nothing better to do than troll blunder1983? I for one am a bit disappointed with your behaviour on this board. You really need to get a life, and get out of the apartment. |
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just because
Joined: 01 Aug 2003
Location: Changwon - 4964
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| Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 8:21 am Post subject: |
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Here are a couple of trolls i saw earlier
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Mashimaro
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: location, location
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| Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 11:00 am Post subject: |
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| just because wrote: |
Here are a couple of trolls i saw earlier
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They look like the nubile young woman in your avatar |
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BigBuds
Joined: 15 Sep 2005
Location: Changwon
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| Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 12:00 pm Post subject: |
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Thats's because it's his family. His Mom, Dad, and brother. You should see what he looks like. It explains why the women all run for the hills when we go out. Luckily, I'm married so it doesn't bother me but I feel sorry for the poor guy.......he must be lonely.
See you on Thursday night at poker 'Just Because'.
Hahahaha Bahahahahaha.lol |
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Babayaga
Joined: 28 May 2005
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| Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 12:43 pm Post subject: |
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So what's wrong with trolling? If a person needs attention, so what? He just gets the attention or gets things off his chest. If it does involve people in a useless discussion, I can think of lots of other useless things that people do. Like gossipping. Or watching stupid shows on TV.
Internet trolling is in many ways like gossipping and silly enyertainment combined. And actually a lot more fun and a much better mental exercise.
Last edited by Babayaga on Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:31 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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| I think trolling is a sign of emotional instability. I don't find it funny or entertaining or anything positive. |
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magicwolfman
Joined: 01 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
| I think trolling is a sign of emotional instability. I don't find it funny or entertaining or anything positive. |
That my friend is a troll post. You seeing a shrink? |
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EFLtrainer
Joined: 04 May 2005
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 12:15 am Post subject: |
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| I think trolling is a good way to catch fish. Etymology. Mmmm, yum. |
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Rteacher
Joined: 23 May 2005
Location: Western MA, USA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 12:50 am Post subject: |
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| Older trolls should get together and channel their aggressions musically by forming a hard rock group: The Trolling Stones. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:51 am Post subject: |
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That my friend is a troll post. You seeing a shrink?
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Was that a little too close to home? |
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magicwolfman
Joined: 01 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
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That my friend is a troll post. You seeing a shrink?
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Was that a little too close to home? |
Not at all, so is that a yes? |
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