Poll: Can trolling ever go too far?

[Agayek]

I'm of two minds on this question, to be honest.

On the one hand, trolling is just being a dick for the lulz, by definition something one should not do, nor have any aspirations of doing. It's a pointless waste of time and mental energy that could be better spent on practically anything else.

On the other, if someone is honestly and truly offended by the words of a complete stranger on the internet, they really need to rethink their priorities. It's the words of a complete stranger. They have no more power than what you ascribe to them. Being truly bothered by it is as much a waste of time and effort as the act of posting it is. Suck it up, recognize that the idiot is being an idiot and paying attention to them only fuels their idiocy, then move on with your life. Your blood pressure will thank you.

TL;DR version: Yes trolling can go too far, but anyone that gets pissed off about it is doing something wrong in the first place.

 

[AuronFtw]

As a troll... yes, definitely.

A certain level of trolling is good for keeping standards high - some comments/ideas are so ridiculously stupid they just need to be pointed out as such, and doing so is more effective than trying to debunk some idiot point by point (which... pretty much never works, if they're that dumb).

It can go too far, though. Pretty much any trolling without benefit (i.e., just ridicule for ridicule's sake) is unhealthy and brings a community down, and Anonymous has provided great examples over the years of how destructive and dangerous uninhibited trolling can be. Yeah, it's "the internet" and all, and a certain level of thick skin is required, but not everyone has it, and trolls tend to go after those people viciously simply because they're easy marks. Again, pointless and destructive.

 

[Bertylicious]

I don't think it's possible to go too far with subject matter. To say otherwise smacks of censorship.

Where it can go to far is where a line is crossed into bullying, victimisation and harrasment.

 

[the clockmaker]

Trolling is dicking over other people for the sake of being a dick, of course it can go to far, it is going too far.

 

[Boris Goodenough]

It seems I have a slightly different definition of trolling than a lot of people here.

Stating something that you know will incite a strong response, it can be a lie or just something controversial like saying "women don't enjoy sex anyway." or something like creationism etc.
It can go from playful to downright destructive if done "right".


captcha: deep thought, thank you captcha!

 

[TacticalAssassin1]

We've all seen extreme trolling and I'm pretty sure we've all trolled someone at some point. But is it ever too much? For example, do you guys remember the Amada Todd story? For those of you that don't remember, she was constantly bullied and lots of pages went up to "support her killing herself". Some of these still get posts today. I don't know if these people are kidding, and I don't know if anyone else does. Maybe they're just terrible people.

Then, there's stuff like this. Normally, I just say, "It's just the bigots and morons over at IGN" but it's one that has seriously pissed me off. For the record, this is a comment on the movie G.I. Joe: Retaliation.

Spoiler: It's disgustingly racist

User: greenbilly87
This movie had way too many minorities. More directors need to learn from icons like Herr M. Night Shyamalan and cast white people in all the important roles (shout-out to Jackson Rathbone who got snubbed in his supporting actor role as Sokka by the Academy). More minorities lead to a worse film. Yes the movie has ninjas, but hell people that?s what eyeliner is for, draw some lines to the outside of Mel Gibson?s eyes and boom you?ve got a samurai. Anyone see Man with the Iron Fists? Russell Crowe looks Chinese as sh*t in that movie. Eyeliner. That?s all it takes. This review got one thing right, and that?s the author?s response to RZA being cast in the movie: ?Just no.? Exactly, IGN, you guys get it. Just No. If you need musical talent in a movie, there is a plethora of non-minority artists to draw from like the kids in One Direction, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Justin Timberlake, and Will.I.am. It?s time to take cinema back to the silver screen era, back when you know you could go to movies without having all sorts of races shoved in your face like you?re in line at a Subway on Thanksgiving. Also, why does not one person point a finger at the Jews for 9/11? Oh, that?s right, because they run the media.
Upvotes: 1577 Downvotes: 39

Is this too far? I certainly think so.

Oh my god that man is a master troll. I hope he keeps it up.

 

[lord canti]

He changed the comment to make everybody who upvoted look like racist ass holes. Brilliant maneuver if you ask me.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

No, trolling has such inherent beauty and noble intent that it cannot be held responsible for any consequences it may bring about, including - no, especially - suicide.

Use your brain. Of f***ing course it can go too far.

But as to the comment you quote, I think that's a brilliant piece of satire actually.

 

[Odbarc]

He didn't take things too far. You're being too overly sensitive.
On the same note, he's also wrong. As I recall from GI-Joe from the show as a kid, there was one of every race in it. Most kids shows then (and likely now) always had at least three of the white/black/girl/asian.

 

[Phishfood]

Personally, and this is a pretty technical line, I know:
When nobody but the troll finds it funny, that's too far.
Once the people who would normally be on the trolls side go "Dude, c'mon..."
we're past the point of no return.

Nah, it's way before then. It's when the victim stops finding it funny.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Yes especially when there have been people who commit sucides from trolling. Choosing to commit sucide over a written abuse/ bullying is NOT a ok in my book.

 

[Strazdas]

Well played escapist, this thread is such a troll.
unless you actually all mean that, in which case i dont want to live on this planet anymore.

Nah, it's way before then. It's when the victim stops finding it funny.

the whole point of trolling is that the victim does not actually know hes being trolled.....

 

[Varrdy]

Trolls are scum! I do like it when they get their just desserts though!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/professional-boxer-tracks-down-twitter-troll-in-real-life

When some mealy-mouthed onanist gobbed off on Twitter at him, pro-boxer Curtis Woodhouse lost his rag and tracked down the little scrote, going so far as to drive to the guy's street after getting a tip-off. On the way, he kept up progress updates to the point the troll began crapping himself (Oh come-on, you KNOW he was!) and trying to say sorry - too late for that, matey!

Luckily for "The Master", Woodhouse realised that the troll was just a wimp with a chip on his shoulder, access to a Twitter account and no idea what a girl feels like, so he left for home and ended the saga with a jokey post about wishing he knew about the "block" function.

Troll had a lucky escape - shame. Some people just need a good kick up the arse!

 

[the darknees abyss]

Trolling is for people with no life and yes it can go to far tolls can get to people and hurt them deeply.

 

[Strazdas]

snip

awesome, more people should support "punch everyone i dont like" solutions right?

 

[Combustion Kevin]

It'd probably help if "trolling" had the same meaning with everyone else.

calling someone names or telling them to kill themselves is not trolling, that's harrasment.
saying rascist or bigoted bullshit for the sake of getting a rise out of someone, I'd call that trolling, albeit patheticly done.

Gabe newell consistently not saying anything about HL3 when we KNOW they're working on it and just don't wanna say anything, thats some good trolling, he knows that gets to us.

Yes it can, but still I enjoy a bit of trolling, like today my friend got his Dark souls CD key, he has never played the game before and knows nothing about it. So I directed him to new londo ruins... :3

"ok now kill the ghosts, they are easy mate" Oh that made me laugh. :3

this too, but smaller and harmless.

 

[Cette]

Trolls are scum! I do like it when they get their just desserts though!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/professional-boxer-tracks-down-twitter-troll-in-real-life

When some mealy-mouthed onanist gobbed off on Twitter at him, pro-boxer Curtis Woodhouse lost his rag and tracked down the little scrote, going so far as to drive to the guy's street after getting a tip-off. On the way, he kept up progress updates to the point the troll began crapping himself (Oh come-on, you KNOW he was!) and trying to say sorry - too late for that, matey!

Luckily for "The Master", Woodhouse realised that the troll was just a wimp with a chip on his shoulder, access to a Twitter account and no idea what a girl feels like, so he left for home and ended the saga with a jokey post about wishing he knew about the "block" function.

Troll had a lucky escape - shame. Some people just need a good kick up the arse!

Good example right here I have no idea if this is satire, an honest opinion, or blatant trolling. Well played.

I'm going to go with honest but I'm not even bothering getting slightly worked up about it regardless.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

Trolling is fine. But it crosses the line when it causes emotional distress and is in bad taste. For instance there was a few instances where people were trolling facebook pages set up by parents for recently killed children. Thats wrong. Troll and get a rise by insulting games or whatever to get a rise out of people, but dont purposely insult dead children. You wouldnt do that at a funeral so why do it online?

 

[Mr F.]

Well, I will say this. And then I will get trolled.

I hate trolls. I hate trolling. I never find it funny, nor clever. I hate the idea that "Its OK to be a vile human, its the internet! Its just trolling!". Its not OK. I just cannot be bothered with it.

I hate the idea of people who refer to themselves as trolls. I hate the idea of people who enjoy trolling, I hate trolls in general. The internet is an interesting enough place with interesting discussions going on, people being pricks doesn't make the internet "Better", it doesn't contribute to anything bar annoying people. Bar creating posts like this, which I can guarantee someone will read and go "Oh, look, he just got trolled". Which is probably true.

Every single time someone tries to have a discussion, someone tries to ruin it. End it. Because they have nothing interesting to add. Or worse, because they find it more fun to just fuck things up for other people.

Some people like to think of themselves as "Intelligent trolls", hell people call trolling an "Art". People seem to forget, though, that there is no such thing as an intelligent troll. Sure, your attempt to annoy others might be more inventive, more interesting, but the moment you make it your aim to just fuck others off?

You are the lesser. You cannot both be intelligent and an arsehole who exists to fuck things up. Being a troll is simply the sign of a weak mind, an idiot, a man or a woman who is fucking immature and refuses to grow up.

Fuck trolls. Fuck trolling. Trolling has gone too far the moment it has begun.

 

[The Selkie]

It's a petty, childish way of deriving enjoyment from deliberately upsetting/angering others. It's not ok in real life but some people seem to think that because it's on the internet then belittling other people is alright. It's not.