Trolling is a form of mental illness

[BC_chick]

http://www.news.com.au/national/it-just-makes-me-happy-when-i-can-make-someone-angry-a-special-investigation-into-the-dark-world-of-trolling/story-fndo4eg9-1226283852843

Evidently extreme trolling is a sign of serious mental illness, where the troll is lacking the faculties of empathy.

What do you think? Trolling: mental illness or innocuous past-time?

I read somewhere a while ago that trolls are the equivalent of prank-callers. They get a thrill out of getting people riled up and they've been around way before the internet.

Even though I don't remotely understand the desire to anger strangers for no apparent reason, I agree that most trolls are harmless. Somewhat of a frat-boy mentality which many people (mostly men) unfortunately never outgrow.

However, I agree that for some it would be problematic and indicative of a social disorder. Just like anything else in life, if the focus is obsessive, it's usually a good indicator of other issues that are going on.

In this particular case, yes, it would be a lack of empathy.

[cybercoma]

I read somewhere a while ago that trolls are the equivalent of prank-callers. They get a thrill out of getting people riled up and they've been around way before the internet.

Even though I don't remotely understand the desire to anger strangers for no apparent reason, I agree that most trolls are harmless. Somewhat of a frat-boy mentality which many people (mostly men) unfortunately never outgrow.

However, I agree that for some it would be problematic and indicative of a social disorder. Just like anything else in life, if the focus is obsessive, it's usually a good indicator of other issues that are going on.

In this particular case, yes, it would be a lack of empathy.

Great response, BC_chick.

I never thought of comparing them to prank callers, but that's such an apt comparison.

Also you rightfully picked upon the article's focus that I think others missed. It's about obsessive trolling and harassment. If people are compelled to harass strangers on forums, social media sites, and message boards, then they certainly lack social empathy.

[BC_chick]

Great response, BC_chick.

I never thought of comparing them to prank callers, but that's such an apt comparison.

Also you rightfully picked upon the article's focus that I think others missed. It's about obsessive trolling and harassment. If people are compelled to harass strangers on forums, social media sites, and message boards, then they certainly lack social empathy.

There was a poster on Yahoo Message Boards who went by the handle Ann_Tagonize (I can't believe I'm carrying the infamy all these years later).

Every day s/he would race-bait or post something completely ridiculous and there would be long threads with people throwing every name in the book at him. There would never be any responses though, just that lone opening post and the pages of responses that it would get.

A little while later one of the trolls started a site called yahootrolls.com. Trolls were giving away a lot of their secrets and sharing knowledge.

It turns out that getting the large number of responses without actually saying anything after the first post was the object of the game.

So to me that's a troll. Someone who seldom or never has anything to contribute; their sole purpose is to make people angry. They're the ones with social-issues.

Otherwise most of us have at some point or another said things that we knew would anger another poster.

[Guest American Woman]

It turns out that getting the large number of responses without actually saying anything after the first post was the object of the game.

So to me that's a troll. Someone who seldom or never has anything to contribute; their sole purpose is to make people angry. They're the ones with social-issues.

I have to wonder about the people who keep responding to them, too. Why would such a post consistently get so many responses, time and time again?

[BC_chick]

I have to wonder about the people who keep responding to them, too. Why would such a post consistently get so many responses, time and time again?

The regulars knew better, obviously, but that site was very fast moving. At any given minute dozens of people were posting on an article.

Plus, it was years ago, people weren't really familiar with trolling yet.

[Guest American Woman]

The regulars knew better, obviously, but that site was very fast moving. At any given minute dozens of people were posting on an article.

Plus, it was years ago, people weren't really familiar with trolling yet.

Oh, ok. That makes more sense. We see it here sometimes, too, though - and I always wonder why people respond; although in retrospect, it doesn't happen all that often.

[DogOnPorch]

There's trolling - and then there are those who accuse everyone who doesn't agree with them of trolling. Is that a form of mental illness too?

Indeed...lol. I think I just did 60 days due to that one.

[Guest Manny]

Indeed...lol. I think I just did 60 days due to that one.

No doubt you can write a book on it, sensei

[socialist]

Indeed...lol. I think I just did 60 days due to that one.

You're a veteran of many forums, aren't you?

[Mr.Canada]

There's trolling - and then there are those who accuse everyone who doesn't agree with them of trolling. Is that a form of mental illness too?

Yep this is how it works. A lot of the socialists scream troll or they scream racist to try to end a conversation they cannot win or they don't have an answer for.

[DogOnPorch]

You're a veteran of many forums, aren't you?

Nope. This is what I call home. However, I can be found on some game development forums such as Orbiter Forum, but we won't be talking politics...lol.

[cybercoma]

Yep this is how it works. A lot of the socialists scream troll or they scream racist to try to end a conversation they cannot win or they don't have an answer for.

kraychik called. He wants his post back.

[Mr.Canada]

kraychik called. He wants his post back.

Lol. Kraychik is out there, even for me.