What do trolls get out of trolling?
- Thread starter FairlyFrightenedFeline
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The complete answer:
All comedy involves people doing stupid things. Humans find this entertaining, given the right timing.
Succesful trolls make stupid people, look stupid and thus we have entertainment.
Trolls don't just do it for themselves but also for an appreciative audience. People often confuse trolls with flamers, but these are different beasts entirely, though a troll can masquerade as a flamer. Aslong as the victim (often a clueless flamer) looks more stupid than the troll, it's still a good troll.
All comedy involves people doing stupid things. Humans find this entertaining, given the right timing.
Succesful trolls make stupid people, look stupid and thus we have entertainment.
Trolls don't just do it for themselves but also for an appreciative audience. People often confuse trolls with flamers, but these are different beasts entirely, though a troll can masquerade as a flamer. Aslong as the victim (often a clueless flamer) looks more stupid than the troll, it's still a good troll.
They get experience points, with which they can level up and attain more abilities, and the undying adoration and respect of the entire internets.
Haha. I jest. They get entertainment. Whether it be a bit of a giggle from a silly prank, or stirring someone up, or they enjoy making others get angry or upset. Its entertainment. When you log onto a forum, you come seeking information and entertainment, do you not? So do they, they just have different tastes then you.
Haha. I jest. They get entertainment. Whether it be a bit of a giggle from a silly prank, or stirring someone up, or they enjoy making others get angry or upset. Its entertainment. When you log onto a forum, you come seeking information and entertainment, do you not? So do they, they just have different tastes then you.
Like said before, it's human nature: We find pleasure in the misfortune of others, but usually when we know nobody's getting actually hurt.
That's why lots of people like movies like Kill Bill: it's amusing to see one woman with a katana dismember around 60 masked guards who all apparently have ridiculously high blood pressure. We know nobody is actually getting hurt, therefore, it's fun (unless you don't like movies like that).
Same with trolling: seeing people cause others extreme rage is very funny. Now, some people mistake "Trolling" with "Insulting people over the mic". It's a lot funnier when the troll in question is much wittier than the person being trolled.
Or, if you want to understand where I'm coming from, someone posted Duke Nukem Ventrilo Harassment earlier, which is a perfect example. In fact, I'll post it again, because it's just so freaking amusing.
That's why lots of people like movies like Kill Bill: it's amusing to see one woman with a katana dismember around 60 masked guards who all apparently have ridiculously high blood pressure. We know nobody is actually getting hurt, therefore, it's fun (unless you don't like movies like that).
Same with trolling: seeing people cause others extreme rage is very funny. Now, some people mistake "Trolling" with "Insulting people over the mic". It's a lot funnier when the troll in question is much wittier than the person being trolled.
Or, if you want to understand where I'm coming from, someone posted Duke Nukem Ventrilo Harassment earlier, which is a perfect example. In fact, I'll post it again, because it's just so freaking amusing.
I know I'm about to be flame bait here, but people on the internet need to stop being such sissies. there are only two ways to defeat a troll. either don't get upset by anything he says, and just have a good laugh, like he probably is, or agree with him. both require people to stop being such wimps, and not get all pissed off about what people say.
here is an example about how to defeat a troll. if a troll were to post this on a feminist website:
"Women belong in the kitchen because they are too weak to do anything else."
the correct response is not to get all mad, which feeds him, but to say something like:
"As a female I totally agree. sometimes I'm too weak to even get out of bed. we should all just stay in the kitchen like you said."
anyone with any sense can tell she is being sarcastic, but the troll is hella confused. I've seen this done, it works every time...
here is an example about how to defeat a troll. if a troll were to post this on a feminist website:
"Women belong in the kitchen because they are too weak to do anything else."
the correct response is not to get all mad, which feeds him, but to say something like:
"As a female I totally agree. sometimes I'm too weak to even get out of bed. we should all just stay in the kitchen like you said."
anyone with any sense can tell she is being sarcastic, but the troll is hella confused. I've seen this done, it works every time...
I don't see the appeal in acting like a total douche online, but if they get creative and fool people into thinking they are dumb, xenophobic, elitist, deluded, or some other wacky persona, then people's reactions may be entertaining.FairlyFrightenedFeline said:
Pretending to be someone completely unrealistic anonymously sounds like fun.
The protected and entitled meet the defensive and harsh people with, justly or otherwise, a persecution complex. One of those groups is broken from living in a dream world, one is broken from living in the real one.chiefohara said:
Edit: Not really a good example anyway, that's more bullying than trolling. There is a difference. Like suicide bombers compared to a normal Muslim, there's a link but they're not the same.
Attention, attention, attention
They get to act like they're smarter than others and you likely will never know who they are. There's a nice picture explaining this on page 1.
They get to act like they're smarter than others and you likely will never know who they are. There's a nice picture explaining this on page 1.
The easiest way to get attention is by being an ass. If one lacks the personality to stand out in a crowd, they'll take the easiest way out.
You can either be a work of art or wear a work of art. Their wear being a mask filled with pathetic need to be heard.
Oh yeah. It's also easier to be an ass when you have a distance, like say a computer.
Of all te rude remarks and comments I've gotten on the internet, I wonder how many of them would dare to say it in my face.
You can either be a work of art or wear a work of art. Their wear being a mask filled with pathetic need to be heard.
Oh yeah. It's also easier to be an ass when you have a distance, like say a computer.
Of all te rude remarks and comments I've gotten on the internet, I wonder how many of them would dare to say it in my face.
This basically sums up trolling, direct all relevant trolling questions to bringer of illumination.bringer of illumination said:
I don't really have much of an issue with those who troll, its quite funny to watch somebodies OTT reactions to something when they realise they'te the victim but I suppose its all down to a persons ability to ignore insults and the like. Also it sepencd on the amount of actual harm done, as long as its harmless fun then I have no problem with it but when it borders on bullying an harassment I think a troll should be conscientious and move on.
Reform a troll? Again as stated above, give them something more entertaining to do. The internet makes it all but impossible to truly make someone stop doing what they like unless they choose to do so themselves
But some people class trolling as merely disagreement with the prevailing mood. You can make the most intelligent, pertinent and measured criticism of a subject and you get labelled a troll by unimaginative fucktards.
Entertainment value they get when someone expresses their frustration or anger.
Or they just don't like you and want you to be annoyed or angry for the sake of you being annoyed or angry.
The best troll deterrent would be to recognize when someone is doing it, and give them no reply so they get no satisfaction, get bored and move on to someone/ somewhere else, and don't just assume anyone who disagrees with you a troll.
The obvious ones will probably just do something along the lines of going onto a forum where everyone is a fan of inserthere and saying that inserthere sucks while saying titleofsomethinghere is awesome even though everyone one the forum hates titleofsomethinghere and saying stuff like "lol inserthere is for fagz", but even then for all you know it could just be someone who just really doesn't like the thing you like and decides to go the rude method of expressing it.
The more subtle ones will be the ones who honestly just look like they're expressing their unpopular opinion on a subject which just happens to make people aggravated, and you can't be certain weather they're trolling or not...
Or they just don't like you and want you to be annoyed or angry for the sake of you being annoyed or angry.
The best troll deterrent would be to recognize when someone is doing it, and give them no reply so they get no satisfaction, get bored and move on to someone/ somewhere else, and don't just assume anyone who disagrees with you a troll.
The obvious ones will probably just do something along the lines of going onto a forum where everyone is a fan of inserthere and saying that inserthere sucks while saying titleofsomethinghere is awesome even though everyone one the forum hates titleofsomethinghere and saying stuff like "lol inserthere is for fagz", but even then for all you know it could just be someone who just really doesn't like the thing you like and decides to go the rude method of expressing it.
The more subtle ones will be the ones who honestly just look like they're expressing their unpopular opinion on a subject which just happens to make people aggravated, and you can't be certain weather they're trolling or not...
With regard to gaming sites, it's very tempting to drop incendiary statements every now and then, because watching people in their twenties get extremely uppity about the Autobots or console exclusives makes you feel better about yourself. You know, for not being them.
This happens alot, butAlphavillain said:
1. don't get upset over it, because people are stupid and
2. there's nothing you should do.
Those people who mistake for a troll, but STILL continue to argue are some of the biggest dumbfucks on the net. Just laugh and move on.
This. Trolls do it to make you fell bad and to make themselves feel better. I personally think that's a bit of a mental problem that other people have to suffer for your day to be nice but that's a broad statement to make.ArBeater said:
I think the crux of the problem is right there, it's not some beast creature out to ruin your day, it's another person, a human being, one other asshole who probably has problems and gets relief by trolling people, hell, I'm an IRL troll but I only go after people too stupid to realise what is going on. (That or just assholes)Zenode said:
They think they get something out of it, but their payoff is so flimsy that it is meaningless. Let me explain...
Trolls have really poor self-esteem. They think their self-worth is equal to how many people they can make miserable. When they can't do that, their venomous minds turn in on themselves and (to borrow a term from 8-Bit Theater) they turn into an impotent singilarity of hatred. If they had any real self-esteem, this would not be their double-edged sword. So, they have to live and die by the troll, so to speak.
Unfortunately for them, they fail to realize that their entire everything they do has a sharper and nastier sting to themselves than anyone if they fail. Trolls need some sort of negative reaction when they do things, because that's all they can understand. When somebody actually starts talking rings around them and making everything that they say look ridiculous, or refuses to be pissed off in any way that they like, basically...tantrum time.
I've seen these sorts of people come and go. They're not bright, and their temper is rather short. And the more they jump and shout to aggravate you, the more the modship takes a look and says "Found one!" and the Banhammer falls. When a troll badly exposes himself and gets splattered by the powers that be, it is most cathartic.
Trolls have really poor self-esteem. They think their self-worth is equal to how many people they can make miserable. When they can't do that, their venomous minds turn in on themselves and (to borrow a term from 8-Bit Theater) they turn into an impotent singilarity of hatred. If they had any real self-esteem, this would not be their double-edged sword. So, they have to live and die by the troll, so to speak.
Unfortunately for them, they fail to realize that their entire everything they do has a sharper and nastier sting to themselves than anyone if they fail. Trolls need some sort of negative reaction when they do things, because that's all they can understand. When somebody actually starts talking rings around them and making everything that they say look ridiculous, or refuses to be pissed off in any way that they like, basically...tantrum time.
I've seen these sorts of people come and go. They're not bright, and their temper is rather short. And the more they jump and shout to aggravate you, the more the modship takes a look and says "Found one!" and the Banhammer falls. When a troll badly exposes himself and gets splattered by the powers that be, it is most cathartic.