Is trolling a sickness?

[dtaai-maai]

Over the years HHAD has been blessed by the absence of serious trolling. It tends to be a minor nuisance and over fairly quickly. At least for most members. Some individuals seem to delight in posting cleverly worded threads deliberately designed to provoke a controversial response. Some sections of this forum are now almost unusable, due to 'trolling' activity.

'Trolling' is such a common phenomenon, it's worth looking to see what is going on. There are several pieces about The PSYCHOLOGY OF TROLLING...

I've cherry-picked some excerpts. You may recognize some of these traits in certain members. Please maintain some brevity and not chuckle too loudly. This is a serious study...

“One website breaks trolls into categories: the hater, the moral crusader, the debunker, the defender. But trolls might not retain those qualities in real life.”

Like the Trolls of old, they seem to have great strength, given the kinds of trouble they can cause; but ultimately, also like the Trolls of old, they have little wit. They all use the same tactics, and they all resort to the same ways of provoking people. First insult members of the chatroom or board by calling them names, ridiculing their comments and questioning their intelligence. [...]
This is, of course, incredibly inflammatory behavior to any marginally civilized person, and a normal sense of justice and fair play naturally demands defense and protest.
Which is exactly what the Troll is hoping for, because they don't play fair. They don't care about the same things that brought the other participants to the site; they only want to get people riled up and see the trouble they created so they can feel big and strong and powerful because they created such a fuss. And while they're watching the outrage and anger fly, they're sitting under the bridge, laughing while they chew on the bones of their victims. All that public indignation has served only one purpose: it fed the Troll's hunger for power and made him happy. It certainly did nothing for the people who got upset. […]
Simply put, Trolls are bullies. […] Ignoring them isn't easy because it hurts to see them say and do things designed to make people feel upset and angry, but it's the only thing that will make them go away. Ignoring them completely creates an environment that simply does not give them what they're looking for.

There are many different types of troll, ranging from the truly nasty who disrupt tribute sites and the like to the relatively harmless, who just enjoy winding people up.

One of the factors that every definition of a troll has in common is “deliberately provocative”.
You start a thread on an obviously controversial topic that is bound to draw emotional and contradictory responses, and when someone doesn’t express themselves in the detached, objective way that meets some imaginary and unrealistic standard, you metaphorically pat them on the head and tell them to run off and play while the adults have a serious chat. Then you complain about being flamed when someone calls you a twat.

“Ignore me if you don’t like my threads!” the troll will cry. And he’s absolutely right. If only it were that easy!

One more quote: “As the studies suggest, seeing the person behind the avatar can make all the difference.”
Maybe.

[Siani]

Over the years HHAD has been blessed by the absence of serious trolling. It tends to be a minor nuisance and over fairly quickly. At least for most members. Some individuals seem to delight in posting cleverly worded threads deliberately designed to provoke a controversial response. Some sections of this forum are now almost unusable, due to 'trolling' activity.

'Trolling' is such a common phenomenon, it's worth looking to see what is going on. There are several pieces about The PSYCHOLOGY OF TROLLING...

I've cherry-picked some excerpts. You may recognize some of these traits in certain members. Please maintain some brevity and not chuckle too loudly. This is a serious study...

“One website breaks trolls into categories: the hater, the moral crusader, the debunker, the defender. But trolls might not retain those qualities in real life.”

Like the Trolls of old, they seem to have great strength, given the kinds of trouble they can cause; but ultimately, also like the Trolls of old, they have little wit. They all use the same tactics, and they all resort to the same ways of provoking people. First insult members of the chatroom or board by calling them names, ridiculing their comments and questioning their intelligence. [...]
This is, of course, incredibly inflammatory behavior to any marginally civilized person, and a normal sense of justice and fair play naturally demands defense and protest.
Which is exactly what the Troll is hoping for, because they don't play fair. They don't care about the same things that brought the other participants to the site; they only want to get people riled up and see the trouble they created so they can feel big and strong and powerful because they created such a fuss. And while they're watching the outrage and anger fly, they're sitting under the bridge, laughing while they chew on the bones of their victims. All that public indignation has served only one purpose: it fed the Troll's hunger for power and made him happy. It certainly did nothing for the people who got upset. […]
Simply put, Trolls are bullies. […] Ignoring them isn't easy because it hurts to see them say and do things designed to make people feel upset and angry, but it's the only thing that will make them go away. Ignoring them completely creates an environment that simply does not give them what they're looking for.

There are many different types of troll, ranging from the truly nasty who disrupt tribute sites and the like to the relatively harmless, who just enjoy winding people up.

One of the factors that every definition of a troll has in common is “deliberately provocative”.
You start a thread on an obviously controversial topic that is bound to draw emotional and contradictory responses, and when someone doesn’t express themselves in the detached, objective way that meets some imaginary and unrealistic standard, you metaphorically pat them on the head and tell them to run off and play while the adults have a serious chat. Then you complain about being flamed when someone calls you a twat.

“Ignore me if you don’t like my threads!” the troll will cry. And he’s absolutely right. If only it were that easy!

One more quote: “As the studies suggest, seeing the person behind the avatar can make all the difference.”
Maybe.

I think they lead sad lives There cannot be much going on in their world to get pleasure from upsetting people. The secret is not to be tempted to argue with them Seeing the person behind the avatar may make a difference DM!
[attachment=0]untitled.png[/attachment]

[Vital Spark]

There are many different types of troll, ranging from the truly nasty who disrupt tribute sites and the like to the relatively harmless, who just enjoy winding people up.

As much as I'm fond of you, DM (jub, jub) - do you think that you may fall into the latter category a teensy bit sometimes?

Oops! Have I just 'trolled'?

VS

[J.J.B.]

One person's terrorist is another person's freedom fighter. I think we all have different things to contribute, be it on the forum or in person. There will be views or beliefs that are entirely contrary to someone else's and what a dull and perhaps dangerous place the world would be if we all had the same views and opinions.

I agree that there are some areas of the forum that have become no-go areas due to the turgidity of interpersonal conflict although it can be heartening to see people in the autumn years of their lives puffing out their chests and imagining that they can take on all comers and still survive. I admire the restraint and latitude of the moderators, many of whom deserve a medal for patience if not good judgement.

Some members like to wind people up, others are naturally curious or naïve and opinions are, after all, like arseholes. It's a rare thing in life to find a person at a loss for one and sharing them can be risky in the wrong company too.

Are trolls also bullies and cowards? Possibly. My own test is how they respond to invites to step away from the screen and I met some tremendous people from the forum at the 10 year bash over New Year; not a bully or coward among them. We may have some difficult characters but I don't think we have any serious trolls.

[J.J.B.]

Oh, I see. How foolish I feel, I should have read the other thread before posting my innocent thoughts here. Excellent satire though, D-M, very much up-to-scratch and I laughed out loud at the evils of Internet Banking vs. Internet Bashing.

Ho-hum, that'll teach me to take my eye off the ball while on European time!

[sargeant]

: Edward Snowden. Hero or villain?
Stop Governments Spying on You
Russia Bans Homosexual Promotion
For The First Time in History, Mankind is Politically Awake
Conspiracy Theorists Sane. Government dupes crazy, hostile.
Cambodia heading for Civil War?
Obama called a 'War criminal' in the Irish Parliament
Angelina Jolie Breast Removal
The More Educated You Are The More Indoctrinated You Are'
Piers Morgan wake-up moment

China & Russia winning combination to counterweight US'
Alex Jones, Conspiracy Inc.
Turkey - Resistance by the People to Totalitarian Rule
A Real Teacher Resigns
Kids For Cash' shows Private Prisons Dark Side
Conspiracy Theorists of the World were Right - Rolling Stone
Cyprus Savings Grab. Run on The Banks on Monday Morning?
Any of you old fogeys have 'Untapped Potential'?
Australia Apologises for State Kidnapping of Children
Gangster Bankers: Too Big to Jail
Chavez - Vilified by corporate media. Loved by the Poor.
World War III Has Begun

Psychiatry Goes Insane
Obama's Inauguration Speech
The 'Fiscal Cliff'
Instagram seeks right to sell access to photos
Gaza. A Decent Politician Utters Rarely Heard Words...
Ron Paul's Final Speech to Congress
CNN Bashes the Growing Numbers That Question Mass Media
Goldfinger Strikes again?
'Too Easy To Kill'
General health check-ups 'offer no benefit'
Big Tobacco Lawyers Target Food Industry
Farcical Nobel Peace Prize
Will Israel Strike Iran?
U.S. expands its secret war in Africa
The American People Are Angry
POLL: Do you vote in Elections?
The Speculative Scum Driving up Food Prices'

Just three pages of threads started by you know who on current affairs and all the red highlighted received zero replies

I will let the reader judge if he is a troll or not

[Pleng]

Just three pages of threads started by you know who on current affairs and all the red highlighted received zero replies

And if the rest of the threads had received zero replies he would have soon gotten bored.
And if the rest of the threads had received zero replies, they would have spent less time with higher rankings in google results, therefore less opportunities to attract the interest of people who might be sympathetic to his causes.


Think before you bite.

[sateeb]

Once ignored the protagonist will move to pastures new.

[dtaai-maai]

Sarge, since this is Foo, let me be frank, hopefully without causing offence.
In reality, Mr Plum is probably no more of a troll than you or me. Maybe. Perhaps.

He asks for the negative reactions he provokes, not so much for the opinions he expresses, but for the way he tries to belittle those who get upset by what he writes.
He tells people to ignore him if they don't like his views, but refuses to ignore those same people himself.

You ask for most of what you get because you overreact and take an unnecessarily aggressive attitude.

In your case, Sarge, Mr P knows exactly which buttons to press and seems to enjoy doing so with monotonous regularity. You respond in your own eccentric manner with equally monotonous regularity. It's a never-ending cycle that is verging on the absurd.

In the 'bashing' thread, Richard said:
"Sarge mentioned other forums had closed down through boredom. Thought you didn't visit other forums Sarge."
And you replied:
"Couldn't resist the pathetic little dig to back up your mate could you"

In reality, I would be very surprised if Richard was remotely interested in most of Mr Plum's threads, but he doesn't like you and you don't like him, and you both seem to enjoy seeing the other taking a metaphorical slap.

It's all a bit silly, really, if you look at it objectively.

I wasn't trying to start a serious debate with this thread, and I'm certainly not trying to start some sort of 'ban the Plum' campaign. When he left the forum a while back because he felt threatened, if I remember rightly, some of the colour went too.
I was merely using this thread to illustrate that if you accuse half the forum of being a pack of trained attack dogs responding to the commands of some spurious master, then throw in a few bizarre homoerotic references without a trace of irony in evidence, you're not exactly encouraging people to take you seriously.

I don't know what Mr Plum's views are, but we are all entitled to draw conclusions from what someone writes over a period of time.
I believe that some of his posts are completely fictional scenarios designed as a vehicle for a "What would you do?" question, and sometimes I wonder if we are all the subjects of some weird cyber-sociological research project that will one day be published on an obscure website.

Is he a troll? I don't know. If there is such a thing as a Machiavellian troll, then perhaps.
Am I a troll? I've never really considered that question! (thanks, VS)

One thing I can be sure of is that neither Sarge nor Mr Plum, and the same goes for many of us on the forum, would say some of the things we say in the same words if we were talking face to face (thinking about it, I'm not so sure about Sarge! ).

The accusations of 'hiding behind a keyboard' and being a 'keyboard warrior' are a bit silly really, given how we are communicating, and without looking at it too deeply seem to come mostly from members who don't go to the forum's occasional social gatherings.

Maybe we should have another one soon? Banning 2x4s, naturally...
(Or should that be 4x2s for Mr P?)

[sargeant]

I wish that that would be true unfortunately their are new members joining all the time and because they do not know the troll he always has new fuel for his fire.

As i have said on numerous occasions i am more than prepared to debate and i believe (and practice what i preach) i always answer any questions that my posts may engender.
When i am proved to be wrong i apologize and am grateful to be better informed.

This is a million light years from the behavior of the fore mentioned troll.

I have had spats with others but i have never even vaguely been in as many and varied spats as the troll

The most important point is how many members are criticizing the troll

One member has a saying no matter how you dress up a monkey it is still a monkey
The same can be said an insult is an insult no matter what flowery BS you dress it up in
and it should be seen for what it is
and should be dealt with appropriately
and if i am guilty i will apologise

our posts crossed

(thinking about it, I'm not so sure about Sarge! ).

I think you will find you are absolutely correct
and remember i have offered numerous rounds of golf but never anything from the other side
he is the one with the problem not me and i have met him on three occasions and not a word said

[richard]

DTM wrote

In reality, I would be very surprised if Richard was remotely interested in most of Mr Plum's threads, but he doesn't like you and you don't like him, and you both seem to enjoy seeing the other taking a metaphorical slap.

Firstly, I am interested in any thread that poses an interesting topic which promotes discussion and as an open minded person gives me food for thought from the responses from other members. I must admit I do get irritated when the bashing starts and as is my nature I sometimes (often without thinking) react.

Secondly, I have known both Sarge and Mr. Plum for a long time. I don't dislike Sarge. In fact we used to have a beer or three at the top of the night market on Friday lunchtimes and put the world to rights. Mr. Plum and I occasionally bump into each other at MV and have a brief chat. I have also met them both at forum get-togethers which I used to promote as good ground to air views face to face and agree to disagree.

Forums are kept alive by the interesting discussions on a wide range of subjects. The other local forum is stagnant (not dead) through the lack of interesting and varied topics. HHF is well managed, well moderated, a good source of information and advice and above all, INTERESTING and entertaining. Long may it be so

[sargeant]

I have also met them both at forum get-togethers which I used to promote as good ground to air views face to face and agree to disagree.

I wonder why i dont have the same recollection as you Richard would you like to explain why

[kendo]

DM , personally I don't wish to wind up anyone or cause offence to anyone but I will have my opinion the same as anyone else and I don't take sides.

I think Richard is right agree to disagree shake hands and have a beer

As for Sarge he does back up everything he writes so I respect that. He made a trip into town to meet me one afternoon and I would say he is a very strong person with views and opinions to match, but I would expect nothing less from a career army engineer. I would also say his keyboard pasona is no different to his in real life a genuine person but what you see is what you get.

Now with Mr Plum,yes an intelligent man but he seriously lacks common sense and can't back up or answer questions how can you respect that where is the real substance.
I also think it's almost a obsessive trolling issue because of other underlying issues in a personal level maybe to do with his son or maybe he's just bored shitless in Thailand and needs that extra little kick to stimulate his mind.
I also think his comment about using a piece of 2-4 between the eyes was a little bit insensitive in lite of events two years ago enough said on that one.!

I can't believe he refuses to meet up to debate in person I thought that would be right up his soi to do so is he a man of little substance and hiding behind his keyboard like a paranoid weakling just waiting for the next attack to come reigning in who knows.

Mr Plum when I am next in town I will PM you come out of you're man cave and have a beer I don't hold grudges just would like to put a name to you're face but please leave your lump of wood with your Mrs because the rest of the world doesn't have a conspiracy to get you Mr P .

Kendo.

[sargeant]

I became good friends with Sarge. Best mates, the Brits would say, though we are vastly different people. His bluster and loudness didn't really bother me. I grew up in Texas, where bluster and loudness are the norm. I could see through the anger and see a very decent man trying to live by the moral code he'd lived by his entire life. Whatever problems he was facing, he wasn't a hypocrite and he wasn't a liar. Someone once wrote, “Choose your friends here very carefully.” I'd rather have a friend I can trust than one I can't, and this was someone I could trust.

As for Sarge he does back up everything he writes so I respect that. He made a trip into town to meet me one afternoon and I would say he is a very strong person with views and opinions to match, but I would expect nothing less from a career army engineer. I would also say his keyboard pasona is no different to his in real life a genuine person but what you see is what you get.

That is two people that came to the same conclusion about me

Is this a description of the deranged person of Mr Ps imagination

I do not suffer fools gladly and i call a spade a spade I DO NOT LIE

[Farang]

Trolling probably is a sickness offering many a delightful analysis for every bar stool analyst.
Trolling, however, is something the sane ones around the patient can cure.

Just put the troll on ignore list. Do not come when he calls.

Do not dance to his pipes.