Study: Internet trolls are drunk with power

"Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely"
But it also rules absolutely.
 
crankyboy: Let's just go with, "takes one to know one", shall we?

You've made six comments from 7.30 to 10.00pm. If that's not a troll, I don't know what is.
 
Cranky Update!

I spoke too soon when I saw six posts... i forgot there was another page! D'oh! It is now thirteen posts from the cranky one starting at 7.30pm Thursday to 1.00AM Friday. Do you even visit any other websites? Could I interest you in a browser extension called StumbleUpon by chance?
 
Time to grow up!

The best answer is to silence to a troll, not out-wit him. Its a endless battle and usually bringouts the troll in yourself. Im starting to witness a non-techspot admin in this pointless fight to quite the guest.

Remember what your parents did when you cried for something irrelevant?

What are you names trying to accomplish? hopefully not the currently obvious.
Look, if you want to rewrite the New Testament, do it on your own time.

My suggestion would be to use, "spread the other cheek", in place of, "turn the other cheek". Personally, I intend to do neither.

This touchy-feely crap would work out all the better for you, since you'd have the last word. Not today.

As to remembering my parents, I'm sure you're much closer to the source than myself.

Next time, if you want to try and float this idealistic nonsense past us, try logging in as Jesus.

Then there's "takes one to know one":
Cranky Update!

I spoke too soon when I saw six posts... i forgot there was another page! D'oh! It is now thirteen posts from the cranky one starting at 7.30pm Thursday to 1.00AM Friday. Do you even visit any other websites? Could I interest you in a browser extension called StumbleUpon by chance?
Why would I? I want to be right here with you.
crankyboy: Let's just go with, "takes one to know one", shall we?

You've made six comments from 7.30 to 10.00pm. If that's not a troll, I don't know what is.
"Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely"
But it also rules absolutely.
The first sign of realizing a lack of knowledge means there is a lack knowledge. Stop embarrassing yourself ...
It doesnt work
Five posts already cranky? Damn.
In case anyone hadn't guessed already, AJ_the_kid, Captain Cranky, Gwailo247, Archean and Guest are all ME!

I take a bow :applause:
If I've missed any of your stupid comments, or given you credit for another's, no matter.
 
So we're being encouraged to pretend that our grandma is looking over our shoulder all the time? I guess I'd better avoid having sex, because that's too primal, or "raw."

News flash: Humans are mean and horrible. For example, I'm amazed that now, finally, people are starting to notice that bullying is pretty bad among schoolchildren. This has been going on for decades, and the kids didn't need anonymity or the internet. Oh wait, now we have "cyberbullying." I guess things aren't relevant until the internet is involved. We can just blame that instead of our own society.

Poll:

Which is worse, the internet being full of trolls, or the internet being full of whiny crybabies who weep and moan until we can't send an email without a license?
 
Anonymous posting is useful when used responsibly.

It can allow for views against the grain without as much risk of having an identity compromised due to over-attachment of others to their collective common-ground views and one-of-the-club peer pressure mentalities.

When a relatively non-personal subject becomes "personal" then the discussion can quickly lose its efficacy.

In this particular discussion we can see evidence of this. Even the "Guest"'s have become "Guest" for some posters in their mind. A telling delusion.

We have to be very cautious to not mistakenly dismiss a dissenting view for a Troll. For many, the fragility of our ego will want to marginalize strongly opposing views by attempting to apply a label as such.

In a brighter world we would welcome any efforts to broaden, clarify or correct our own views which can only serve to lessen our collective ignorance.
 
Anonymous posting is useful when used responsibly.

It can allow for views against the grain without as much risk of having an identity compromised due to over-attachment of others to their collective common-ground views and one-of-the-club peer pressure mentalities.

When a relatively non-personal subject becomes "personal" then the discussion can quickly lose its efficacy.

In this particular discussion we can see evidence of this. Even the "Guest"'s have become "Guest" for some posters in their mind. A telling delusion.

We have to be very cautious to not mistakenly dismiss a dissenting view for a Troll. For many, the fragility of our ego will want to marginalize strongly opposing views by attempting to apply a label as such.

In a brighter world we would welcome any efforts to broaden, clarify or correct our own views which can only serve to lessen our collective ignorance.
I honest to God don't know which is worse, the trolls "drunk with power", or the goody, goody reformers, "drunk on sociology or psychology survey courses". Get over yourself, everybody speaketh great b*** s*** when the chapter on "social dynamics" and "the ideal internet template" hath been placed freshly in thy mind.

I know that I have been placed firmly upon this earth, with a godly manifest destiny, to be nice to others on the web, and to help juvenile delinquent video game addicts, with building some crappola computer in furtherance of their addiction. And for free. Like hell, I'd rather be labeled a "troll".

"Man is perfectible". No he isn't. Get over it.

Go read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia_(book) That should keep you busy for a few hours.
 
Wow that last 3 pages of this was somewhat entertaining....going back to Bad Company 2 now.

Keep fighting the good fight boys :)
 
Sometimes ignoring the trolls is best! They are only satisfied by creating misery and just want to get a rise out of you. This being said they couldnt get it up anyway, Notice they didn`t have limp *ick or *ickhead on the poster
 
Anyone can criticize, condemn, and complain. And most fools do.

It takes a person of great character and strength to be understanding and forgiving.

-Dale Carnegie

"How to Win Friends and Influence People"

And by the way, you can't fight fire with fire. Or more OIL which is what most people do.

You fight fires with water.

I hope you can read between the lines here folks.

I hate power mongering hedonistic bastards too.

:)
 
The term "troll" is increasingly just being thrown around to describe anyone annoying or disliked on an Internet forum. It's a misuse. I know the graphic used in the article was for humour, but it's a prime example of what isn't a troll, that's just an obnoxious, angry Internet user; the difference with a troll is that they have absolutely no conviction of their arguments and no interest in winning a debate, they're purely in it for the "lolz". Once you've identified a troll, they've lost their ability to troll as their posts are recognised a intentionally inflammatory, not requiring a serious response. Because of this however falsely labelling someone as a troll is a quick shortcut to get out of a losing argument - TechSpot is rife with it; anytime there's a clash of opinions between a guest and a registered member the registered member will often say something along the lines of "typical guest troll lolol" to dismiss the argument.
 
I suspect one of the reasons people find the act of trolling so much fun is the fact that the real world has evolved to the point that there is little room for socially acceptable ways to vent. I mean you wouldn't dare tell the incompetent guy in the cubical next to you that he is an affirmative action employee and you are having to do your work as well as his too. Even if it is true it is politically incorrect and you will get fired as well as sued. You can't tell the prick in management that he is a stuffed shirt that wouldn't even have a job if not for the fact that his brother owns the company because once again you would be fired. You can't tell your formally slim wife, that has gained ten pounds for every year you have been married, that since she seems determined to put the entire con tense of the fridge down her throat why doesn't she try your *ock for a change. If you do you will get divorced and your life will go from low grade to high grade *hit. So the internet provides a harmless outlet. If trolls bother you too much there is a simple solution. It's called the "off" switch.
 
I suspect one of the reasons people find the act of trolling so much fun is the fact that the real world has evolved to the point that there is little room for socially acceptable ways to vent. I mean you wouldn't dare tell the incompetent guy in the cubical next to you that he is an affirmative action employee and you are having to do your work as well as his too. Even if it is true it is politically incorrect and you will get fired as well as sued. You can't tell the prick in management that he is a stuffed shirt that wouldn't even have a job if not for the fact that his brother owns the company because once again you would be fired. You can't tell your formally slim wife, that has gained ten pounds for every year you have been married, that since she seems determined to put the entire con tense of the fridge down her throat why doesn't she try your *ock for a change. If you do you will get divorced and your life will go from low grade to high grade *hit. So the internet provides a harmless outlet. If trolls bother you too much there is a simple solution. It's called the "off" switch.
OK, this is great, (and sadly, oh so true), stuff. LMAO

What's wrong with your off button idea, is that after you press it, you have to deal with all the other s*** you just finished complaining about...:rolleyes: You know, that which we call a "reality check".

As to the fat wife issue, 10 lbs a year could turn out not to be such a bad thing. If you ever forget her birthday, you could saw her in half and count the rings, to find out how old she is. :haha:
 
CaptainCranky
You're right about my off button idea. I think this falls under the sad but true dept.
 
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