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Re:Disproportionate amount of bad online behaviour stems fro... by droopyEyelids on Friday June 25, 2021 @03:42PM (#27635359)
The article's actual title is "Are Twitter trolls mentally ill?"

It makes me want to talk about how the concept of the troll has evolved from something specific to something very general. I glanced through the article and none of the behaviors it listed are what I'd consider troll behaviors. They're just the patterns of mild mental illness.

Trolls, in my old-man's definition, are almost a type of hunter, looking to bait and confuse their victims.

Trolls wouldn't be the hoards suffering from "sanctimony, emotional aridity and ideological orthodoxy", and exhibiting BPD/DID behaviors. Trolls would be the people trying to provoke the above.

Re:Disproportionate amount of bad online behaviour stems fro... by frumper on Friday June 25, 2021 @03:51PM (#27635444)
I'd agree with that. I view a troll as having no ideals they cling to. They have a goal to provoke and incite with the least amount of effort and that usually involves taking a controversial stance for that given audience. It's what makes arguing with trolls, or feeding trolls, so pointless.
Re:Disproportionate amount of bad online behaviour stems fro... by nullc on Friday June 25, 2021 @07:39PM (#27637569)
Exactly.

The troll is someone who notices someone who is vulnerable and triggers them.

I do wonder though if there isn't more than a little reinforcement between the groups. Someone with BPD leaning behavior doesn't need someone giving a push to keep their emotional roller coaster going but someone provoking them can't help.

And, of course, trolls are in it for the reaction and the least well adjusted people give a rather strong reaction.

Re:Disproportionate amount of bad online behaviour stems fro... by kingsuper20 on Friday June 25, 2021 @04:37PM (#27635949)
A troll is it doing it for fun and as an art form, I'd say that the horrid people on twitter are another thing.

As mentioned in an earlier thread, I see a close relationship between the Twitter People and That Guy who goes to all the city council meetings to yell. They don't make up a majority of the population, but they sure can burn up some bandwidth.

Re:Disproportionate amount of bad online behaviour stems fro... by jandrese on Friday June 25, 2021 @04:18PM (#27635747)
I've seen news articles about "internet trolls" who followed a neighbor around and sat outside of her window but also looked at her Facebook page. The term has already lost its meaning.
Re:Disproportionate amount of bad online behaviour stems fro... by hogFeast on Friday June 25, 2021 @03:45PM (#27635384)
Would you call Sacha Baron Cohen a troll?
Re:Disproportionate amount of bad online behaviour stems fro... by ben_w on Friday June 25, 2021 @03:52PM (#27635451)
Speaking for myself and not @droopyEyelids, absolutely.
Re:Disproportionate amount of bad online behaviour stems fro... by loudtieblahblah on Friday June 25, 2021 @03:48PM (#27635415)
Absolutely