Trolling - We're All Experts Now

So let's discuss this phenomena known as trolling. Obviously with the advent of the internet and essentially the distribution of "free knowledge," we all became experts on everything. I mean hell, if I want to learn about quantum physics, or at least pretend like I know something on it, the information's out there. But this suddenly had a massive effect on our psyches, one, our trust levels have plummeted, I mean how many professionals do we even trust these days on a topic? We're very quick to jump and criticize and challenge someone's opinion and on what basis? The fact that we're now "experts" because of the internet? And obviously this leads us to the topic of trolling. It's pretty obvious that trolling is a form of narcism in a way, basically, I need attention so I'm going to be an idiot. But my question is though, who are these anonymous experts? Are they your classroom idiots that nobody likes? Or are they even as far up as respectable people?
Discuss!

Wikipédia, the Free Encyclopedia wrote:Definition of troll:
In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory,[2] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[3] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

Lets face it, wikipédia does help on trolling a little bit... For example, some dude, with no knowledge of Quantum Physics (your example), but start a discussion with a real scientist who is working on Quantum Computing or wormholes (example)... Regular dudes will just read it out of context, and think what they just read is an absolute truth, while the 'expert' will surelly interpret what is read and use it like a real argument...

Is the regular dude a troll? Maybe, if he continues to insist that he is absolutely right and even insults the expert who spent several years on university studying the subject...

But lets face it... Internet anonymousity does contribute a lot to Trolling...

Yeah, I'm just curious to know how many "good citizens" are actually trolls on the internet

Well, I think JPB is basically right in that it's the anonymity. Although the carrot is different to reality- any evidence of society being more fleeting, there is no longer any stick - social exclusion, punishment.

There appears to be a multitude of places on the internet that could provide a superficial rendition of acquaintances to be an audience, reducing the trepidation for someone to say what they want. Why be so guarded when those who you regard as your peers can be replaced so easily?

And of course there are many places where there is no sanction for bad behaviour. 4chan is a perfect example of such a place, and the behaviour there is notorious. On our sister site, vexxiang, the lack of an administrator has meant it is impossible to remove undesirables. In real life, there probably would be repercussions for your actions - they could provoke to the point of getting beaten up, and almost certainly being known within whichever community they frequent as a bad egg, excluded from discussion.

4chan is a website which thrieves around trolling... Vexxiang, unfortunatelly drifted in the wrong way, and I believe we should have DJ changing credentials to someone responsible again...

But what internet is missing is some limited censorship (at least create rules for the internet that go beyond the website development, search engines and protocols)...

Youtube is another place where trolls thrive due to lack of rules...

JPB18 wrote:Lets face it, wikipédia does help on trolling a little bit... For example, some dude, with no knowledge of Quantum Physics (your example), but start a discussion with a real scientist who is working on Quantum Computing or wormholes (example)... Regular dudes will just read it out of context, and think what they just read is an absolute truth, while the 'expert' will surelly interpret what is read and use it like a real argument...

Wikipedia on things such as Quantum Physics usually gives you information in contexts that cannot be understood, at least on first look by the normal human being. An argument between an actual Scientist working on it and a person who actually read the article would either make some weird remarks and quotes in an attempt to confuse the scientist or will just nod there head and agree with the scientist in an attempt to prove they know about the subject.

Or at the very least, give highly critical and inappropriate remarks on the subject and the more the scientist debates, the more the troller argues/attacks.

On that note, should trolling be considered harassment and therefore perhaps even criminal? This is of course ignoring that enforcement of such a thing would be next to impossible, but the principle of it, is it criminal?

Criminal, no, but people should recognize trolls and ignore them rather than argue with them. There may be so many because it's easier to troll than to try and reason with people. And yes, anonymity contributes a lot.
To answer your question DW, I believe that anyone can be a troll, as a lot of people keep their online lives seperate from their real life.

My View: If someone's on the Internet trolling, they're most likely doing it either for the "lulz" or because they are actually a dumbass IRL. If you can't ignore things that trolls say and you take trolls personally, then you shouldn't be on the Internet.

Also, Censorship on the internet would NOT be good. Many people consider the Internet the past place where you can have Free Speech(Sadly, they are mostly true) It's people's own problem if they get offended.

But on that argument, 20+ years ago we didn't have the internet. So what, is it such a big deal to be civilized and polite instead of wasting your time on trying to harass others on the internet? I know people don't want censorship, heck even I don't to a degree, but were things so bad before? Or have we just gotten all so lazy that it doesn't matter anymore?

People do it because they find it funny to annoy other people.

What about the bully argument? Does that psychology apply here? People are insecure with themselves, therefore with the anonymity of the internet, they find it easy to "bully" others online which in turn makes them feel better about themselves as they're lowering the rest of humanity beneath them, or at the very least, "on their level?"

Well that depends on who you're getting trolled by. If it's someone from school, work, ect. via Facebook, then perhaps you can be offended, but I personally go on the Internet to escape life, not to add on to it, and that's what the victim in the above case should be doing.

If you're getting trolled by someone who lives 10,000 miles away from you on a forum, then you should know that this person does not know you in real life, and what he says will not affect you in your life outside the Internet.

I think you underestimate the power of language though GS. It doesn't matter who says it really, if the right thing is said the right way, one phrase can be enough to change everything, whether it's legitimate or not.

Also, in my above post, I'm not so much referring to a consistent troller who picks on you personally, I'm talking more like you go on a blog or something, there's an article and everyone posts dumbass shit and then perhaps you post something that required an ounce of brain power and they just say more dumbass shit.

On 4chan? Yes. Most of them are lifeless basement dwelling losers with nothing better to do than troll people by h4x0r1ng them (hurrrr i 4r l3giun durrr) for their contact info and fucking around with them, and post ''buuhuuu I'm a 24 year old virgin never even hugged I have no friends and I'm fat why is that bawwwwwwwwwwww'' threads.

Darkwing wrote:What about the bully argument? Does that psychology apply here? People are insecure with themselves, therefore with the anonymity of the internet, they find it easy to "bully" others online which in turn makes them feel better about themselves as they're lowering the rest of humanity beneath them, or at the very least, "on their level?"

That usually works in reverse. I have been.. I wouldn't say cyber bullied but various idiots who start arguments for nothing. In the end it always ended up them 'losing' the battle, so to speak.

I think everyone who posted on here is weird . jk example troll

But also a truth in this instance

Everyone on this forum is weird.

Except me and DW. And black man.

awww yeah, not wierd.

Philly Homer wrote:Everyone on this forum is weird.

Except me and DW. And black man.

Yeah... Right... I believe you...

Correction: Every single person that has ever registered on this forum will always be weird until the end of time.

Pretty much. There's just something about us

WIERD!!!! *eye twitch* I'M NOT WIERD!!!!!!! LEAVE MY CATS ALONE!!!!!!!!!

Kitties, yum