Trolling people online.

[AspieOtaku]

It's mighty easy to retire from trolling here. This is a place where it doesn't exist. In the months I have been more active here there has only been a couple of times my aggressive side came out due to one well known WP troll starting his routine over here, and one person spamming and trolling nonsense about autism and his do it yourself cure (very much like another well known WP troll). Other than that it's all been pleasant folks and smooth sailing. This is a high class joint.

It a safe place, its strict at times but you do not constantly feel under attack having to to troll to defend your self to get attackers to back off, welcome home your safe here

 

[Ezra]

It a safe place, its strict at times but you do not constantly feel under attack having to to troll to defend your self to get attackers to back off, welcome home your safe here

Wanna get into a fight and call each other names for old times sake?

 

[Lemongrab]

Dude this stuff is so funny!

Man I feel sorry for the trolls. What sad sacks.

 

[Misery]

Man I feel sorry for the trolls. What sad sacks.

Exactly.

Trolls tend to think that they're on top of the world, they're powerful, they're in control.

But... the reality doesnt quite live up to that delusion. What you said pretty much describes how many people see trolls like that.

 

[BrokenBoy]

Ok I literally got my zoom class to end because my teacher didn't like it when I randomly posted a pornhub link in the chat. When this happened my stomach was on the very of exploding due to laughing about to kill me.

 

[tree]

That seems pretty childish.

Were you bored, or what?
Didn't like the teacher?
Didn't enjoy the class?

 

[BrokenBoy]

That seems pretty childish.

Were you bored, or what?
Didn't like the teacher?
Didn't enjoy the class?

I thought it would be funny.

 

[Lemongrab]

Exactly.

Trolls tend to think that they're on top of the world, they're powerful, they're in control.

But... the reality doesnt quite live up to that delusion. What you said pretty much describes how many people see trolls like that.

They must feel pretty impotent and unworthy of attention. What a pity.

 

[Greatshield17]

Wanna get into a fight and call each other names for old times sake?

Maybe we should have a Trolling Ring or Trolling Colosseum sub-forum.

 

[Progster]

I'm starting to wonder if this thread isn't the OP's way of trolling the forum.
Hilarious (not.)

 

[onlything]

I'm starting to wonder if this thread isn't the OP's way of trolling the forum.
Hilarious (not.)

I don't really believe so - although it does seem like it is a way to gather people's attention, even a negative one. I don't think he's doing it to mock us, as typical trolls are known to do. Sometimes even negative attention is better than none. He is a bit childish - but what 17 year old isn't at times?

There was a boy living two floors under me a few years back that would go outside the house and shout, and then proceed to throw rocks at pigeons. People would look at him and tell how awful of a child he is and he would laugh at them in turn. In the end he turned out that he did it because he was lonely. His parents were the neglectful type - never talking to him, at times forgetting to feed him. The boy must have felt awful, as if living in an invisible bubble - and wouldn't then even negative attention be better than none? In the end he was taken to an orphanage.

I'm not saying OP is the same, but we don't fully know his circumstances either - and he was never harmful in any way on the forum, so doesn't he deserve a benefit of a doubt at the least? There is always the part of the story unseen by a simple observer. Trolling is not a good thing and he shouldn't do it, but there is also no need for us to be too harsh.

 

[NothingToSeeHere]

I thought it would be funny.

It won't be funny when you get expelled for sexual harassment.

 

[Ezra]

Trolling gives the same satisfaction as pulling a prank. Remember Candid Camera? That was all about trolling people for laughs. That show ran for over 50 years in various reincarnations and spawned dozens of copycat shows. Turned trolling into a lucrative industry.

One of my favorite things in the morning is to listen to the daily "phone tap" on a radio show. Phone Tap PODCAST: So You Want Cheaper Rent, Huh? – MOViN 92.5. The whole point of those phone taps is to get someone upset over nothing, while those of us listing laugh our butts off.

 

[Ezra]

Ok I literally got my zoom class to end because my teacher didn't like it when I randomly posted a pornhub link in the chat. When this happened my stomach was on the very of exploding due to laughing about to kill me.

The internet is scary. This is the first video recommendation I got when I opened youtube. And I'm not even signed in

 

[Progster]

I'm not saying OP is the same, but we don't fully know his circumstances either - and he was never harmful in any way on the forum, so doesn't he deserve a benefit of a doubt at the least? There is always the part of the story unseen by a simple observer. Trolling is not a good thing and he shouldn't do it, but there is also no need for us to be too harsh.

This is just the thing, we don't know him. It may be true that he is depressed and/or lonely, but he doesn't tell us that in this thread, the only indication being that he says that his self-esteem can get low. What he is telling us here is that he loves trolling online, that he feels joy from hurting people and it's easy, it makes him feel omniscient. He seems aware that it's not a good thing to do, but he doesn't tell us (in this thread) that he wants to change, or wants to overcome this and stop, or to get help for whatever issue he may have, instead he tells us about how much he likes trolling and how it makes him feel. Now, I don't know him and indeed one can't know what his intentions are or what may be behind this, but I see these statements being made about getting pleasure out of trolling, and having been at the receiving end of bullying and mocking, and once instance of online trolling by a work colleague, I find this triggering and disturbing, and I can't help but react against it.

If there are underlying issues behind the trolling, then @BrokenBoy needs to try to address those issues, and find another less harmful means of getting his dopamine rush, one that won't cause harm to others or himself. Replace it with something more positive and constructive.

 

[BrokenBoy]

This is just the thing, we don't know him. It may be true that he is depressed and/or lonely, but he doesn't tell us that in this thread, the only indication being that he says that his self-esteem can get low. What he is telling us here is that he loves trolling online, that he feels joy from hurting people and it's easy, it makes him feel omniscient. He seems aware that it's not a good thing to do, but he doesn't tell us (in this thread) that he wants to change, or wants to overcome this and stop, or to get help for whatever issue he may have, instead he tells us about how much he likes trolling and how it makes him feel. Now, I don't know him and indeed one can't know what his intentions are or what may be behind this, but I see these statements being made about getting pleasure out of trolling, and having been at the receiving end of bullying and mocking, and once instance of online trolling by a work colleague, I find this triggering and disturbing, and I can't help but react against it.

If there are underlying issues behind the trolling, then @BrokenBoy needs to try to address those issues, and find another less harmful means of getting his dopamine rush, one that won't cause harm to others or himself. Replace it with something more positive and constructive.

Well how can I find the means to feel joy without harming others?

 

[onlything]

This is just the thing, we don't know him. It may be true that he is depressed and/or lonely, but he doesn't tell us that in this thread, the only indication being that he says that his self-esteem can get low. What he is telling us here is that he loves trolling online, that he feels joy from hurting people and it's easy, it makes him feel omniscient. He seems aware that it's not a good thing to do, but he doesn't tell us (in this thread) that he wants to change, or wants to overcome this and stop, or to get help for whatever issue he may have, instead he tells us about how much he likes trolling and how it makes him feel. Now, I don't know him and indeed one can't know what his intentions are or what may be behind this, but I see these statements being made about getting pleasure out of trolling, and having been at the receiving end of bullying and mocking, and once instance of online trolling by a work colleague, I find this triggering and disturbing, and I can't help but react against it.

If there are underlying issues behind the trolling, then @BrokenBoy needs to try to address those issues, and find another less harmful means of getting his dopamine rush, one that won't cause harm to others or himself. Replace it with something more positive and constructive.

Having been bullied as well, I agree and never claimed his is the right way to find joy - but I base my views on him due to his previous threads and posts, and I can't help but find him simply a lost and depressed teenager, not a malicious bully. Some of the others in the thread clearly condemned the behaviour and through that condemned him - but it will not help in the process and it won't make him understand the situation. Honesty is necessary, yes, but too harsh of an honesty will only lead the person addressed to becoming defensive and angry, feeling as if ganged up upon - or, in some cases, can even lead to suicide (not saying this is the situation).

We all know that shaming is not a proficient way at teaching - in some ways, we have all experienced it and found it unfair and difficult. I don't call for allowance of his behaviour or for agreeing with it - simply for the benefit of doubt and an attempt at leading him in the issue. Everyone has a specific programming due to our upbringing - but also with effort this kind of programming can be changed. It's a long way, but a doable one. Isn't it more efficient to believe a person to be able to understand and choose to improve than to judge them to be a lost case?

(To clarify, this answer is a message addressed towards the context of the whole thread, not at your posts specifically.)

 

[onlything]

Well how can I find the means to feel joy without harming others?

What are all of the things that bring you joy, even a very slight one, or a feeling of satisfaction, even if a small one? We're not counting trolling/hurting others/animals here, but we are counting other external/internal activities, likes and dislikes of foods/drinks/views/things. Try to write down as many as you can and spend at least a few minutes thinking - better yet, go through your day and try to observe during the time if there is anything that made you feel a little bit better at all, even small things like eating a bar of chocolate or seeing a bird doing something silly. If you don't find anything, it's not wrong and we can go from there, but it's good to observe your feelings first.

As a side question, do you currently have a therapist, @BrokenBoy ? If you do, then mentioning the joy you take from trolling can be beneficial and lead to a discussion of potential solutions. Trolling is a bad habit like any other, comparable to smoking or drinking alcohol in a way, and like any bad habit with effort it can be replaced with a good one. The most important thing is to realise that it won't lead you anywhere in the end and that there are ways that achieve similar results - and to decide that you want to try something else.

If you don't have a therapist and can't get one, physical or online, I can recommend you some self-help books. Simply remember - it is possible to find something else, possible to get better (both emotionally and in behaviour as behaviour is influenced by emotions), although it will take much effort, insight and observation on your part. Positive change always takes time - my journey so far has been one of the last five years for example, although especially pronounced in the last year - but I assure you, in the end it's really worth it.

At the end of the day, the decision is yours. It's your life, after all - only you can change it.

 

[Progster]

but I base my views on him due to his previous threads and posts,

This is the thing, I haven't seen or followed his other threads - my posts are purely my reactions to what is going on in this thread. To my mind, to give benefit of the doubt, he needs to show an awareness of it not being a good thing to do, and then a willingness to change - or try to change, which, to give him credit, I see he is now doing.

Well how can I find the means to feel joy without harming others?

Competitive games perhaps, where a certain amount of banter, teasing and jesting is expected and the norm?

Impulse control: you mention in your opening post that there are other things that you are often around enjoyable things, but choose trolling over those things. What are those things that you enjoy? Perhaps it's a matter of impulse control and having the self-discipline to make the choice between one thing that might give you joy but it not going to cause harm, and another thing that is going to bring you even more joy, but may cause harm to others or to you.

Distraction: when you see a trolling opportunity, distract yourself from this temptation with something else until the impulse passes - go and get a snack, for example. I think this might help.

 

[BrokenBoy]

Impulse control: you mention in your opening post that there are other things that you are often around enjoyable things, but choose trolling over those things. What are those things that you enjoy?

Thrills and adrenaline are what make me feel alive. I have other hobbies but they don't often have me feel alive like when I hurt people so they don't feel as furfilling and I felt feel that I'm just "killing time".