OT:Identifying Internet Trolls

[40 Winks]

In a continued effort to help the decent people on this board in dealing with the substantial amount of despicable behavior that occurs, I'm going to write about Internet Trolls, what are they, who and why they are, and how best to deal with them.

What is an Internet Troll? (taken from Wikipedia and its as good as any definition out there and good for my purposes here):

In Internet slang, a troll is a person who starts quarrels or upsets people on the Internet to distract and sow discord by posting inflammatory and digressive, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the intent of provoking readers into displaying emotional responses and normalizing tangential discussion, whether for the troll's amusement or a specific gain. ( Please note the "normalizing tangential discussion" which so often occurs on cpaptalk.com )

Who and why are they?

From an article published in Psychology Today titled Internet Trolls Are Narcissists, Psychopaths, and Sadists by Jennifer Golbeck Ph.D. she claims

Internet trolls are horrible people.; ... there is no real purpose behind their comments except to upset everyone else involved.; Trolls truly enjoy making you feel bad.

In the article Dr. Golbeck sites a Canadian study that indicates Internet Trolls exhibit

personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism.

And,

online trolls are prototypical everyday sadists.

Another article by Traci Stein Ph.D., MPH also published in Psychology Today, where she is not as kind, titled Psychopaths, Sadists, and the Lure of Internet Aggression postulates that Internet Trolls active in the Facebook environment are psychopaths and sadists. Further, she writes

Psychopaths generally have a disregard for the distress they cause others, while sadists derive significant pleasure from inflicting emotional pain.

How to deal with them?

1. Remember, these trolls are some truly difficult people.
2. It is your suffering that brings them pleasure, so the best thing you can do is ignore them.
3. Its been said many times - Don't feed the trolls.

Finally, and this is a serious suggestion - Maybe a study should be done on the propensity of trolling by grouchy old people due to lack of sleep.

[jimbud]

Finally, and this is a serious suggestion - Maybe a study should be done on the propensity of trolling by grouchy old people due to lack of sleep.

After reading your closing sentence, perhaps ignoring your thread would be applicable.
JPB

[palerider]

> Identifying Internet Trolls

Helpful guide:
People that come into forums and repeatedly post offtopic things that do nothing to help advance the purposes of the forum, and only strive to cause dissent....

THOSE PEOPLE ARE TROLLS.

[Goofproof]

> Identifying Internet Trolls

Helpful guide:
People that come into forums and repeatedly post offtopic things that do nothing to help advance the purposes of the forum, and only strive to cause dissent....

THOSE PEOPLE ARE TROLLS.

Quit that, you know how I hate to have to agree with you.... Jim

[babydinosnoreless]

In a continued effort to help the decent people on this board in dealing with the substantial amount of despicable behavior that occurs, I'm going to write about Internet Trolls, what are they, who and why they are, and how best to deal with them.

What is an Internet Troll? (taken from Wikipedia and its as good as any definition out there and good for my purposes here):

In Internet slang, a troll is a person who starts quarrels or upsets people on the Internet to distract and sow discord by posting inflammatory and digressive, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the intent of provoking readers into displaying emotional responses and normalizing tangential discussion, whether for the troll's amusement or a specific gain. ( Please note the "normalizing tangential discussion" which so often occurs on cpaptalk.com )

Who and why are they?

From an article published in Psychology Today titled Internet Trolls Are Narcissists, Psychopaths, and Sadists by Jennifer Golbeck Ph.D. she claims

Internet trolls are horrible people.; ... there is no real purpose behind their comments except to upset everyone else involved.; Trolls truly enjoy making you feel bad.

In the article Dr. Golbeck sites a Canadian study that indicates Internet Trolls exhibit

personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism.

And,

online trolls are prototypical everyday sadists.

Another article by Traci Stein Ph.D., MPH also published in Psychology Today, where she is not as kind, titled Psychopaths, Sadists, and the Lure of Internet Aggression postulates that Internet Trolls active in the Facebook environment are psychopaths and sadists. Further, she writes

Psychopaths generally have a disregard for the distress they cause others, while sadists derive significant pleasure from inflicting emotional pain.

How to deal with them?

1. Remember, these trolls are some truly difficult people.
2. It is your suffering that brings them pleasure, so the best thing you can do is ignore them.
3. Its been said many times - Don't feed the trolls.

Finally, and this is a serious suggestion - Maybe a study should be done on the propensity of trolling by grouchy old people due to lack of sleep.

Except all the grouchy old sleep deprived people are here because they have been helped. They are helping others, therefore they don't fit the definition of trolls. The people complaining, are just complaining and not helping people, they are in fact the trolls, which I am probably feeding by replying.

[jimbud]

The KnightCreeper lives!
JPB

Ever see the movie Fallen?

[jnk...]

All posters in medical-issue forums are human beings who deserve to be treated with respect. This includes so-called "trolls" and "bullies." If you can't bring yourself to speak respectfully to someone ("troll," bully," or neither), then the best way to be helpful in that instant may indeed be to remain silent.

After all, if you refuse to fight with any posters, then you don't have to worry about ever having to throw around useless labels such as "troll" or "bully."

People who enjoy upsetting other people move on when they find they can't make anyone in a location upset. Posting "don't feed the troll" in a thread is an indication that you are upset and have resorted to name-calling, which thrills and rewards the person trying to cause others to be upset.

Continuing to be silent or to post with respect when someone else is attempting to upset others can be a way to uphold one's own reputation and to make it clear to those with authority in the forum who it is that is attempting (ideally, unsuccessfully) to cause disruption.

The old adage of "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything" applies equally in all threads and with all posters, not just threads in which someone seems to be exhibiting what you consider to be trolling behavior.

The point is, if you do post, Don't feed disrespect. Don't feed disruption. Do your best to be helpful. To all. Then you can simply go about focusing on your business here while safely ignoring all labels others tend to put on other human beings, such as "bully" or "troll."

These principles can work equally well inside OR outside Internet forums and makes "identifying trolls" or "calling out bullies" a completely irrelevant waste of time. These skills are taught to those in responsible positions who are held responsible for how they interact with members of the public. Those skills can save lives.

In my opinion. Which is not posted to cause disruption. And, as always, I welcome calm disagreement with my positions.

[Goofproof]

All posters in medical-issue forums are human beings who deserve to be treated with respect.

False! Respect it is earned, not a Right! Jim

[jnk...]

All posters in medical-issue forums are human beings who deserve to be treated with respect.

False! Respect it is earned, not a Right! Jim

Nice try at trolling, Jim. I respect you for it.

Newborn infants come into the world with the right to be respected and loved before they have done anything to earn it.

If a serial killer wants advice on how to adjust his CPAP, I consider it his right to be respected as a human being in this forum by receiving an answer.

My position. Doesn't have to be anyone else's.

[Goofproof]

I didn't see in the "Bill of Rights", where respect was automatic.

As far as Serial Killers go, the only Right I would afford them was the Right to Die, painfully and slowly! But I may be the last person to think that way! Jim

[jnk...]

It is ever true that basic respect and regard for fellow humans cannot effectively be legislated and enforced. But I nevertheless consider it of great personal importance that I not choose to adopt any approach to life that resembles a psychopathic/sociopathic one.

Law enforcement and medical personnel are accountable if they let criminals bleed-out on the street.

A surgeon does not ask himself, "Has this patient earned my respect?" before being as helpful as possible to a fellow human being.

[palerider]

All posters in medical-issue forums are human beings who deserve to be treated with respect.

False! Respect it is earned, not a Right! Jim

A shining jewel, as always.

[Zomby Woof]

Internet Troll personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism.

So now I feel a bit uncomfortable...

If we purge CpapTalk of posters with these traits,
where will I, I mean THEY, go?

And will there be anyone left in the forum?

IRONY ALERT***IRONY ALERT
Texans should be aware that the above comment contains
ironic content intended to be humorous. Some Texas residents will be triggered by this,
and, should seek treatment immediately!
IRONY ALERT*** IRONY ALERT

[Pugsy]

And will there be anyone left in the forum?

Since perception of who/what makes up a troll can vary so much between the individual we probably wouldn't have very many forum members here hanging around that someone somewhere was pissed off at for some reason or other and be wanting to use the Troll word to describe them if everyone that someone somewhere deemed them to be a troll got booted...wouldn't be many people here.
Hell...I have been called a troll myself. And some other not so nice adjectives.
Someone is always pissed off at someone for something here...deserved or imagined.

[Zomby Woof]

Maybe we should create an online troll support group, Pugsy.

" My name's Dennis, and I'm a Troll..."

I'll be working on what, exactly, the 12 Steps should be. Get back to you later...