Poll: Can trolling ever go too far?

[Kmadden2004]

Yes, trolling can go too far.

I've been on the receiving end of a troll and it's pretty f--king annoying when they decide their purpose in life is to try and ruin yours in their own little way.

 

[AuronFtw]

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.

Ehhh... it's been mentioned earlier in the thread, but there are levels of trolling. Not all of them are even enjoyable for the troll. But I do detest the petty and childish label - humans have been trolling since the dawn of recorded history. Shakespeare even has it in several of his plays. People have trolled religion in particular many times over the years, partly because organized religions were never capable of rational debate and thus trolling was the only option.

Trolling "for fun" is dangerous and disruptive, but even that has levels. People "troll" their friends all the time, by telling good-natured but still biting insults just to get a rise. Is that just a childish way of deriving enjoyment from etc? No, it's just fucking around with friends. Sitting around on the internet trolling random people is pretty depraved, and most of the time is utterly pointless. But it's a multifaceted issue that can't really be explained away with one-size-fits-all judgments that don't take the whole picture into account.

 

[Smeatza]

That comment on G. I. Joe is hilarious. You're supposed to laugh at it, not with it.

And of course trolling can go too far, anything can go too far.

People who are avidly against trolls know nothing of them. Or are letting past experiences of people claiming to be trolls skew their view.

I hear people saying "it's not okay in real life" but it is, it really bloody is.
Practical jokes have been around for at least centuries, trolling.
Teasing and taking the piss with friends is common, trolling.
Satire is a highly respected form of comedy and social commentary, trolling.

It's exactly the same deal as humour.
A good troll (comedian) will troll (tell jokes) for a purpose, and people might be offended depending on the subject matter.
A bad troll (comedian) will troll (tell jokes) specifically to offend others.

Just because you've encountered the Daniel Tosh of trolling doesn't mean the Bill Hicks' of trolling aren't out there,

 

[hazabaza1]

Jesus christ you people get offended so fucking easy.
Seriously, trolls are "vile people?" It's just a name people came up with for "internet pranks." Get over yourselves, seriously.

Jesus.

 

[Bocaj2000]

There's a fine line between trolling and cyber-bullying. Telling someone to kill themself is simply bullying. Writing a satirical post about how G.I. Joe wasn't racist enough is trolling (and hilarious).

A lot of people don't understand what trolling is and equate it to bullying. This is mostly because both trolling and bullying are a common place on 4chan and most people equate one with the other. This is commonly misunderstood among self-proclaimed trolls and used the word "trolling" as a excuse to treat others poorly. The difference between trolling and bullying is simple: it's the same as the difference between pranking and vandalism/abuse/harassment.

 

[Spacefrog]

In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as a forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion. The noun troll may also refer to the provocative message itself, as in: "That was an excellent troll you posted."

Trolling is, in essence, the act of going 'too far.'

Too bad you can't +1/thumbs up on this forum, because this need to to highlighted.

Apparently too many people on these boards have either forgotten or never learned the proper meaning of trolling I.E. being a troll.

As for the quote in the opening, that is not trolling, it is a sarcastic comment on an, apparently, unfortunate review

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

There is subtle trolling (where the victim doesn't realize their chain is being yanked and it's just for everyone's laughs) and abusive trolling, but I wouldn't consider either to be worthwhile unless a subtle one really knows what he or she is doing and kindly explains the joke after.

The internet is not a 24/7 improv comedy night. Or at least should not be.

 

[Angie7F]

i think trolling and having people knowingly have a playful banter is ok.
But anything beyond that is too far.
What happens online must stay online and not effect the real lifes of people.

 

[Longstreet]

Man, the concept of trolling lately has been going down the drain.

I mean really, these days trolling goes like this.

'troll'; you are a fucking asshole fucking ****** fuck fuck. (and a few more of those)
'victim'; kid, why dont you shut up and let the grown ups play.
'troll'; u mad bro? u mad bro? i trolled you sooooo hard!111one!!! u mad?

That shit aint trolling, its being a mouthy prick.

I hear people saying "it's not okay in real life" but it is, it really bloody is.

As long as you don;t use the word troll / trolling. That just makes that person sound like an idiot.

 

[Jenvas1306]

its the internet! everything goes! throw away the social restrictions and common sense or basic human decency! why do we need that stuff anyways, just be a horrible moster on the outside like on the inside!

 

[Mikeyfell]

Well yeah, I mean look at the Republican party.

OOH Burn.

Nope. People who get offended by trolls are thin skinned and they need to grow up.

 

[MightyRabbit]

I think trolling in-and-of-itself is too far. Winding up somebody you know who'll either take it in good humour or you can later explain and apologise to is one thing. But harassing, bullying, arguing with or otherwise trolling strangers at best makes a completely innocent person have a bad time and at worst can lead to the recipient of the trolling developing mental health problems like paranoia or depression, or even commit suicide. Getting your "lols" is not worth hurting a person like that.

On the subject of "hacktivism" and other similar ventures that's a different matter. I'm mixed on hacktivism in general, but there's a distinct difference between attacking a political or corporate entity to make a point in the name of activism and messing with people for shits and giggles.

 

[Scrustle]

Some definitely do, but to some people that's exactly what the point is.

I think it's too much when it actually affects someone, especially in a serious way. Like when someone ends up killing themselves or committing a serious crime.

But for the sociopaths that encourage it, that's what they are actually aiming for. They're trying to break the boundaries of common decency and shock people, and they don't care if it hurts anyone. To them it's all just an internet game. These people they hurt aren't "real". They're just trying to get a reaction from these characters they see through their monitor.

 

[waj9876]

Yes. Yes it can. Sonichu. 'Nuff said.

That's not trolling, by the way. That was blatant mocking of the review.

 

[Xukog]

Yes trolling can be taken to far,just like many things. I've seen stories of people encouraging suicidal people to kill themselves.

 

[FalloutJack]

How shall I put this? No trolling is acceptable ever. People who need to feel good about themselves by acting that way should be found beaten up in an alley thanks to a group of guys who can't stand their shit.

 

[sirtommygunn]

"Can intentionally trying to make people mad ever go too far?"

 

[EHKOS]

I'm pretty sure it's caused suicides before, so yeah. Hmm, suicides looks weird with and without an apostrophe. Screw it.

 

[crimson sickle2]

Trolling, like all good comedy, requires a small degree of ethics. Ethics the size of a fish eye's molecules. A good trolling should either leave the victim in an agitated mess or have the victim admit the trolls mental superiority. I don't think the quoted example is very good, just sort of gross, mostly the Jew thing at the end out from the left field. However, if that's what the commenter finds funny, I can't really say their wrong, just sick in the head.