We're all familiar with trolls. No, not those trolls, or those, or even those. We're talking about those people who antagonize others with hateful, violent, racist, misogynistic, and bilious comments on seemingly every single web page that allows comments. Their attempts to stir readers and garner a response are often quite obvious, which has led to the Internet refrain "Please don't feed the troll!" That simply means don't react to a clear attempt to get a reaction.
Trolling, and idiots posting to comment threads in general, has become so bad that Google, along with many, many other sites, now requires users to use their real - or at least G+ - names when commenting on YouTube videos, YouTube being the prime example of base-level Neanderthals provided with anonymity to say whatever they want. Many people went crazy about this requirement but I understand where they are coming from. In case you missed it, read this and prepare to be amazed. Rotten Tomatoes stopped allowing comments altogether because they became such a cesspool. CNN's story about the Affordable Care Act famously garnered ultra-violent comments as described in this article covering the phenomenon, and the YouTube channel featuring a Cheerios ad with an interracial couple had to close the comments altogether they were so atrocious. In fact, Go to any national news site, any one at all, pick a random story and start reading the comments. I dare you. Trolling can occur in other on-line domains as well, just head on over to fatuglyorslutty.com as proof.
Now, a team of researchers in Canada have discovered that online trolls are actually classifiable sadists! I personally prefer the term troll, but both are good. Either way, they showed all the personality traits - including Machiavellianism which I'll let slide because it sounds cool - of true sadists. I personally support the idea of discovering their identities and outing them, but I'll leave that up to the pros.
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| What? Stop the presses! |
I don't like the whole trolling thing. Too many people get off saying hurtful or mix information because they can. Site should create systems or process that prevents those who hide.from saying whatever they without any accountabilities for their actions.
ReplyDeleteIn his stand up special “Oh My God,” comedian Louis CK talks about the horrible violent things he says to other drivers while on the road; things he would never say if he wasn’t driving. He said, “I like to think I’m a good person, but I don’t know…put me behind the wheel of a car, and I have a different set of values.” There is a level of anonymity when driving, and the comments section provides an even greater amount of concealment.
ReplyDeleteAre people truly this cruel and hateful? Is it that people are like a children experimenting with cussing? Or is it that people are using the internet to channel their frustration with other parts of their life? Regardless of reasons why people behave this way, why would anyone want to hear these things? Why would anyone want to say them to another person? It’s pretty sad.
Shannon Vozar
I had never heard this term before, but knew right away to its meaning. It fits perfectly. It is crazy what people will say when they feel their identity is fully protected. Many of these people could be in your very community interacting with you and your children. An example that is much less serious, but is still frustrating all the same are the online game sites. I have to admit to loving the game of Spades. However, many people that go on these sites are so offensive they should be put in jail. For the record... I don't even feel like I am soft skinned, but the comments are over the top. Heaven forbid my children ever entered these sites for a little afternoon entertainment. On a daily basis lives are threatened, races are called out, and many other sadist remarks are made. Unfortunately, it ruins my fun and I just don't play in that format anymore. That shouldn't be the case though.
ReplyDeleteI cannot stand trolls, thank goodness that big companies are taking control and taking actions to out them. I just don't get the necessity of foul languages, unnecessary comments, and rude behaviors to something or especially someone that you don't even know. It's sad to think that there are people out there that does them for entertainment purposes or even for self satisfaction. I believe that they should do something more drastic to stop them because it is also those type of comments where people actually take their own lives or hurt themselves. They need to be stopped.
ReplyDeleteI have mixed emotions on this one; a part of me feels people need to keep their derogatory and demeaning opinions to themselves and the other part of me feels like it’s the internet, you don’t know these people, you’ve never seen them, they don’t even use a real name so why would you let them have control of your feelings like that? There is give and take on both sides. It do agree it’s getting out of hand; the internet should be purposeful as an advancement in communications, transferring of knowledge, not a forum for cyber bullying. I am happy to learn that users will no longer be allowed to register with inappropriate and ficticous names. As access to the internet expands to younger generations year after year, I don’t need my daughter seeing or reading those inappropriate things.
ReplyDeleteOn my Facebook feed, the news channels posts stories and then leave them open for comments; it gets frustrating to see the indecent comments from people who seem arrogant and inconsiderate of the human life in general. These conversations with the trolls carry on and on because there are people that “feed” them! If people are abusing the internet, I feel that access to is should be taken away. If you abuse the traffic laws, eventaully you will got caught and get a ticket. If you abuse the law, eventually you may find yourself in jail. When people abuse resources that impact mass amounts of people, there are consequences. Well, the internet should be no different as it’a a gateway to millions of people all over the world.
I have had first hand experience with this trolling that goes on. When a friend of mine had a really close friend pass away from being in a car with a drunk driver there was a website in honor of that girl. On that website there was trolling that occured. I was sick by the horrible things some people were saying that didn't even know her or the situation. I was wondering how and why so many people were commenting rude things and then someone brought it to my attention that it was called trolling. I don't understand how or why anyone would want to just go on the internet in such a rude and gross way and say mean things to hurt people. It is cyberbulling in a way. The effect it has on some people is not good. I wish there was a way to know exactly who post things at any given time so they can get some kind of punishment but that will never happen because anything can be posted anonymously.
ReplyDelete-Kristen Lalli
I am not a troll and would never be a troll. Who has that much time on their hands, that they feel as though they need to insult others or cause a conflict? They need to do something more productive with their life as far as I am concerned. I am all for putting a stop to this. It is a form of bullying and should not be tolerated. What ever happened to that saying, if you don't have nothing nice to say then don't say nothing?
ReplyDeleteTrolls are attention-seekers. But what they don't understand is how much trouble "trolling" can get you into. For example, that British man who threatened 200 children's lives after the Sandy Hook tragedy! He deserved what he got for his sadistic attitude and pure disregard/disrespect to the children's families. Do any of you think trolling is just a "fad" or is it here to stay?
ReplyDeleteI have seen these comments everywhere but I did not imagine that they actually had a name for it. Trolling are for people that have nothing to do and just like to cause trouble I agree with the above comment that they are attention-seekers. I do not easily get offended thus when I read those comments I just ignore them when people do the counter reply this is what they want. By people replaying to the trolls is pretty much feeding the fire. My advice is just ignore them there is no need to break a sweat with these kind of people.
ReplyDeleteTrolls are pretty much attention seekers, that would like to say or do anything to get someone's reactions. I do not think I am considered a troll, nor do I post things as shown on fatuglyorslutty.com. I really do believe that the internet is kind of to blame. It allows us to say things behind a computer screen things that we would normally not say in person or public to others. In a local forum that I visit frequently we call people who are considered trolls " keyboard warriors " who would go to great lengths to pick a long meaningless conversation. There are trolls not only in the inter net but in our everyday life as well. I for one certainly do not want to end up like that British man..
ReplyDeleteI found this article to be interesting and I agree, these trolls are CRAZY!! When I am reading an article online I always scroll down to read the comments, and somethings that people say is just jaw dropping. I understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinion but it's not what you say it's how you say it. It is a great thing that these sites are making people log in under their name to post comments, let's weed these people out. Its ridiculous on some people just get on there to argue and say obscene things, instead of voicing their opinion and move on as a person should on a disscussion post.
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ReplyDeleteIt's interesting considering the fact that I've been playing games online since the sixth grade. People have no filters behind the anonymous nature of the online community. I generally post comments with my google account now. I will admit that in my youth I was more "aggressive" and on the side of the troll. Especially in online gaming, it's easy to say hurtful things to opponents, especially when rubbing it in their face. It makes me wonder if the account requirement is even necessary because people will bypass this by creating spam accounts. I think a valid solution is just to flag posts that bring nothing constructive to conversation, and remove them to keep topics focused.
ReplyDeleteSometimes after watching a video maybe on youtube I scroll down to the comments just to see what people are saying. It is "interesting" how people are so passionate about meaningless things and are willing to just insult or make rude unnecessary comment about other people in public. I think we can get our point across without having to use hateful and hurtful words. I believe the term sadists is being used because they enjoy saying those things, maybe even get a rush from knowing the other person doesn't know who they are because they have a user name. I think comments like those should be constantly flagged. Maybe a system can be created to "scan" or "analyze" the comments before hitting the submit button and without doing it, not being able to post a comment.
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ReplyDeleteI can't stand trolls. I think they are looking to get attention from others and that's what they feed on. In gaming, it is very common for people to troll. They make fun of you while putting you down and sometimes blame you for things that you don't do so you get kicked off of servers. For example, in the game Minecraft, a game which you basically build your own world, has server groups that you can be apart of. These server groups have people that have seniority over others, and if they don't want to lose their seniority, they will troll you to get you kicked off. It goes for any online game really. If someone wants to troll they will, we just report them if it gets too serious.
ReplyDeleteI have heard this term before and online bullying is one of the reasons why I do not do social networking. Not only can someone find "trolls" through online games and websites like youtube but when I was on facebook, it seemed as if every other post was something disrespectful or negative toward someone else. I do not understand why so many people out there feel the need to hurt anyone for no reason other than they just want to be violent. Being the fact that I have dealt with bullying for years from not only my personal experiences but from dealing with it with my daughter, I really wish people would take into consideration that words can and will affect people and the way they go about their everyday lives.
ReplyDeleteI think that we have become a hidden society. Everyone is on the internet and blogs with a alternate name and no one is aware of who the person is. This just fans the fire of these people who want to rant endlessly about nothing to get a rise out of others. People need to respect each other even in cyberspace as we would in the real world as if we were meeting face-to-face.
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