Article on "Trolls" in the NYT -- anyone we know?

[Moochie]

I've said elsewhere on the forum that I don't believe in "trolls." I see those described as trolls as mildly to severely disturbed individuals who, thanks to the Internet, have found an avenue to anonymously express their particular affliction. Unfortunately, by doing so they often awaken dormant symptoms of similar afflictions in others, so that it's sometimes difficult to tell who is a "troll" and who isn't.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/magazine/03trolls-t.html?th&emc=th


M.

[Beerina]

an hero to take that shot


an hero? Is that like some mockney accent? Say, guvnuh. 'e's an 'ero!

I always thought the rule for the a/an was whether a consonant was pronounced. The "Huh" of "H-ero" is a pronounced consonant, hence one would use a, not an.

[Zygar]

an hero? Is that like some mockney accent? Say, guvnuh. 'e's an 'ero!

I always thought the rule for the a/an was whether a consonant was pronounced. The "Huh" of "H-ero" is a pronounced consonant, hence one would use a, not an.

You are very very late to the party.

[Solus]

an hero? Is that like some mockney accent? Say, guvnuh. 'e's an 'ero!


http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=an%20hero ;)

[Kilgore Trout]

Very good article. I think the particular subjects he spoke with are well on their way to disturbed and not really typical, but I do think a lot of people are mean (in a way that is humorous to themselves) just because they can get away with it.

And I definitely do agree with the quote by Dan Gillmor, “It should be even more so with anonymous comments. They shouldn’t start off with a credibility rating of, say, 0. It should be more like negative-30.” But then, I also subscribe to the idea of not putting anything (at all) on the Internet and think something like a myspace page is an invitation for trouble.

[casebro]

Sounds like those "trolls" are just malicious jerks, rationalizing their behavior. Sick people, behaving waaaay outside of society's normal definition for usual rudeness.

While the typical troll around here merely pedanticly picks on a person's grammar.

[Moochie]

Sounds like those "trolls" are just malicious jerks, rationalizing their behavior. Sick people, behaving waaaay outside of society's normal definition for usual rudeness.

While the typical troll around here merely pedanticly picks on a person's grammar.


Did you mean "pedantically"? :D


M.

[casebro]

Perdictable. Like response expected now...

[Moochie]

Perdictable. Like response expected now...


Nah, I only picked up on it because I once let "accidently" slip by in a job I was proofreading.

The thing with language is that it's quite flexible. If enough people use "pedanticly" or "accidently," those spellings may well become accepted usage.


M.

[senorpogo]

This book will tell you everything you need to know about trolls.

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/1112/mc1awo1.th.jpg (http://img257.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mc1awo1.jpg)

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Quite a good article. Now I would like to see one on Kooks. As a Usenet poster since 1995, I miss them. :sniff:

[Moochie]

Quite a good article. Now I would like to see one on Kooks. As a Usenet poster since 1995, I miss them. :sniff:


Ah, they'll be in vogue again.

I'm personally going to restart the "mullet" as a fashion statement.


M.

[blobru]

I've said elsewhere on the forum that I don't believe in "trolls." I see those described as trolls as mildly to severely disturbed individuals who, thanks to the Internet, have found an avenue to anonymously express their particular affliction. Unfortunately, by doing so they often awaken dormant symptoms of similar afflictions in others, so that it's sometimes difficult to tell who is a "troll" and who isn't.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/magazine/03trolls-t.html?th&emc=th


M.

Thx, Moochie; very nice piece (that pic of "Weev" with nerdish predatory grin in front the console should be a centerfold in TrollBoy).

As to their "particular affliction": I guess the temptation is to look for some common clue in their past or psyche, seemed to be the reporter's aim, but I didn't get a clear idea what it might be from reading the article. I wonder if the internet, cyber-society, isn't creating its own social pathologies. The arrested adolescents, hackers and hangers-on, Schwarz interviews seem to identify more with their onscreen personas than with whatever identity they have offline. That's probably not that uncommon. Trolling seems like a way to keep themselves hooked into the game of being someone else. I suspect the average troll, at least the sort that hang out at JREF, were kids who could only get attention by annoying anothers, and probably got beat up on a fairly regular basis. Trolling may be an irrational attempt to revisit that childhood failure and turn it into a success, from EPIC FAIL to WIN!, in an environment where they don't get beat up, just scolded, like naughty children. And scolding is a form of love, if you're pathetic enough.

Or that's my noob diagnosis, anyway. Still trying to figure out what the hell I'm doing here, never mind trolls. :p

[Moochie]

Thx, Moochie; very nice piece (that pic of "Weev" with nerdish predatory grin in front the console should be a centerfold in TrollBoy).

As to their "particular affliction": I guess the temptation is to look for some common clue in their past or psyche, seemed to be the reporter's aim, but I didn't get a clear idea what it might be from reading the article. I wonder if the internet, cyber-society, isn't creating its own social pathologies. The arrested adolescents, hackers and hangers-on, Schwarz interviews seem to identify more with their onscreen personas than with whatever identity they have offline. That's probably not that uncommon. Trolling seems like a way to keep themselves hooked into the game of being someone else. I suspect the average troll, at least the sort that hang out at JREF, were kids who could only get attention by annoying anothers, and probably got beat up on a fairly regular basis. Trolling may be an irrational attempt to revisit that childhood failure and turn it into a success, from EPIC FAIL to WIN!, in an environment where they don't get beat up, just scolded, like naughty children. And scolding is a form of love, if you're pathetic enough.

Or that's my noob diagnosis, anyway. Still trying to figure out what the hell I'm doing here, never mind trolls. :p

Interesting take on the subject, blobru. I think there is much material for sociologists and psychologists to work with, especially in light of that case of the woman who pretended to be a teenaged boy -- a case that ended tragically for all concerned.


M.

[Beerina]

You are very very late to the party.

Yikes! Here's more than I want to know (http://encyclopediadramatica.com/An_hero).

[Kilgore Trout]

That might deserve a 'not safe for work' mention...

[luchog]

Quite a good article. Now I would like to see one on Kooks. As a Usenet poster since 1995, I miss them. :sniff:
Lurkder since '94, poster since '95. How I miss the old days, when nutjobs on the net were interesting. Not one of these modern trolls are are worth a tiny fraction of a good John Grubor, "Speedbump" Boursey, or Steve Winter when they really got going. It's making me all nostalgic and stuff.

Kibo Uber Alles!

[GreyICE]

That might deserve a 'not safe for work' mention...

ED. Redundant. It's not safe for life.

Overall its not as bad as some of their pages. The only really objectionable thing I saw was the gif of the guy blowing his brains out, and that's not even really apparent if you don't know the incident.

[Kilgore Trout]

ED. Redundant. It's not safe for life.


There are some that may have no idea what ED is and while it might be tame compared to other ED pages, that's not really saying much. :p

[Whiplash]

This book will tell you everything you need to know about trolls.

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/1112/mc1awo1.th.jpg (http://img257.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mc1awo1.jpg)


While this was humorous, I often wonder why more people do not realize that the term trolling actually originated from the fishing activity?

Maybe it's just a stupid pet peeve, but it bothers me whenever I see stuff regarding the bridge dwelling mythical creatures.

I guess it's just morphed into what it is now and nothing can be done about it. Like Frankenstein's monster being refered to as Frankenstein. It's just commonplace now, and pointing out the mistake makes one look petty and pedantic.

[Delvo]

It's not a mistake; it's a derivation!

[GreyICE]

There are some that may have no idea what ED is and while it might be tame compared to other ED pages, that's not really saying much. :p

It's saying pretty much nothing, since ED takes pride in the fact that their pages are the most objectionable things in the known universe. Look up any of their sensitive treatment of various racial issues some time if you have any doubt. In any case, if you're on the internet, you should probably know who they are, and that's a tame an introduction as any you'll get.

[Kilgore Trout]

It's saying pretty much nothing, since ED takes pride in the fact that their pages are the most objectionable things in the known universe. Look up any of their sensitive treatment of various racial issues some time if you have any doubt.

I'm familiar with ED. And that's precisely why a link from here should have a not-safe-for-work tag. I don't often look for filth on the internet and didn't know about ED until the business with Anonymous and Scientology came about.

In any case, if you're on the internet, you should probably know who they are, and that's a tame an introduction as any you'll get.

So the teacher that wanted to bring up internet trolling in class and finds this thread just should have known about ED? Look at even how this discussion got going, not knowing what "an hero" meant.

[deadrose]

Usenet kooks, my favorite! Luchog, how could you forget our sweet Redmond Rose (Joan Brewer)? I had to change my online nick at one point partly because it was too close to her nick.

As to the modern versions, my sons hang around 4chan, so they usually keep me somewhat informed on what the /b/tards are up to. I'm getting too worn out to put up with them directly, after years of Usenet and IRC back in the 90s.

[GreyICE]

I'm familiar with ED. And that's precisely why a link from here should have a not-safe-for-work tag. I don't often look for filth on the internet and didn't know about ED until the business with Anonymous and Scientology came about. Oh, hai. Wellcom to teh internetz.

[Darth Rotor]

ED. Redundant. It's not safe for life.

Overall its not as bad as some of their pages. The only really objectionable thing I saw was the gif of the guy blowing his brains out, and that's not even really apparent if you don't know the incident.
So I learn of another corner of the internet . . .
But thou complying with thy princely wrath, Hast shamed an Hero whom themselves the Gods Delight to honour ... [Cowper's translation of Homer, about 1790]

Clearly, this implies that Mitchell Henderson and his friends are time travelers from the 16th century, and killed himself over a perceived decline in the English language. More of teh gay than 1000 William Safires.
Why did that make me laugh?

Now that I know about ED, I can send its denizens Viagra. This may induce them to fap to furry porn, and thus expire.

Or not.

DR