Why do people troll?

Shayper · 31 Dec 2011 at 12:51

Hi guys

For the last couple of days I've been helping out with advice in the GFX forums, because one of my NY resolutions is to be more helpful (rubbish I know

)

However I've noticed that there seem to be some people there who not only give bad advice, they insult and make derogatory comments about the advice of others. I've seen this happen in other subforums (notably GD you horrible lot

) as well as places like youtube, and was just wondering: what on earth do they get out of it? I really don't see the point of acting like a ****** for no good reason. It seems half the people who comment on youtube are there for the sole purpose of insulting others, and it's a mite depressing.

So yeah, my questions are: do you ever troll on purpose? If so, why? And if not, what do you think of people that do, and why do you think they do it?

(Expects instant trolling of thread

)

Thanks guys

Tephnos · 31 Dec 2011 at 12:52

I troll on purpose when it's actually funny and people get a laugh out of it.

For other people, they just show their true colours on the internet when behind a screen.

Biohazard · 31 Dec 2011 at 12:52

troll thread

Tephnos · 31 Dec 2011 at 12:54

is troll thread.

Shayper · 31 Dec 2011 at 12:54

Celestial Nostos said:
I troll on purpose when it's actually funny and people get a laugh out of it.

For other people, they just show their true colours on the internet when behind a screen.

Yeah, sometimes it can be funny, but I'm talking more about just acting like a **** for no reason, when it isn't even funny.

Biohazard said:
troll thread

Only took till post 3

Jay794 · 31 Dec 2011 at 12:55

I know a few people will disagree but I've never intentionally trolled, the instances I'm referring to were a result of a personal attack and me trying to defend/justify myself, I then got called a troll lol

DBT85 · 31 Dec 2011 at 12:55

Trollin is a art.

And it's because they can. Internet anonymity has a tendency to make people who want to be douches but can't irl into online douches.

slinxy · 31 Dec 2011 at 12:55

it really doesn't bother me as they tend only to right a few words or lines which can skip read away. There's no point in reacting on their troll-ish comments as that's what they want to make them feel important.

Happy New Year all...

EDIT: I have felt like revenge Trolling on their threads to see how they feel... but I'm above all that.

MANFACE · 31 Dec 2011 at 12:56

I don't troll.

People who sit behind their screens who are fat ugly weaklings - troll.

Shayper · 31 Dec 2011 at 12:57

Todge said:
Trollin is a art.

And it's because they can. Internet anonymity has a tendency to make people who want to be douches but can't irl into online douches.

But why do they act like douches? What do they achieve by doing so? This is what I'm stuck on

Biohazard · 31 Dec 2011 at 12:58

Shayper said:
Yeah, sometimes it can be funny, but I'm talking more about just acting like a **** for no reason, when it isn't even funny.

Only took till post 3

Troll.

I like heated debates from time to time, but I never purposefully troll people unless I feel they have unfairly wronged me.

Then I do it subtly - sometimes not so subtly- over a long protracted period of time in order to wage a war of mental attrition to wear them down to teach them them a lesson that I am utterly unassailable.

Edit: I'll play with racists like the idiots they are, and generally dislike to see people getting bullied - yes even online - so I'll attempt to troll everyone else to give them an escape. I'm nice that way.

Cosimo · 31 Dec 2011 at 12:59

Todge said:
Trollin is a art.

Can you recommend a book?

Shayper · 31 Dec 2011 at 13:00

simulatorman said:
Can you recommend a book?

And Biohazard, you do it more for revenge then? Rather than doing it "just because"?

Tephnos · 31 Dec 2011 at 13:01

Shayper said:
But why do they act like douches? What do they achieve by doing so? This is what I'm stuck on

They feel like having some sort of superiority. It's not a hard concept to grasp. People, when you remove the fear of consequence, are dicks.

Dano · 31 Dec 2011 at 13:02

Celestial Nostos said:
They feel like having some sort of superiority. It's not a hard concept to grasp. People, when you remove the fear of consequence, are dicks.

Indeed, even more so when they then make a big thing out of it.

kbc · 31 Dec 2011 at 13:04

Biohazard · 31 Dec 2011 at 13:04

Shayper said:
And Biohazard, you do it more for revenge then? Rather than doing it "just because"?

Absolutely.

I'm actually a polite easy going guy. Believe it or not.

Nitefly · 31 Dec 2011 at 13:07

In short, because they are giant nobs.

Shayper · 31 Dec 2011 at 13:09

Celestial Nostos said:
They feel like having some sort of superiority. It's not a hard concept to grasp. People, when you remove the fear of consequence, are dicks.

You have a fair point

although I'd like to think if there was no consequences to my actions I'd still live by my morals

kbc said:

We need this picture used more often

Biohazard said:
Absolutely.

I'm actually a polite easy going guy. Believe it or not.

Don't worry I believe you

. Doing this sort of thing for revenge I can understand

I think the worse thing I ever did for revenge was headbutt someone. They were about to punch having nearly broken my leg though

Tute · 31 Dec 2011 at 13:12

You think that's bad? Go spend a week posting in the Football forum.