Frequency of Trolls on social media

[gwand]

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-online-trolls-people.html

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I think a lot of people are really, really quick to get offended and assume they're the victim of an attack. The other day I told a fourth grade class that they needed to improve something about their singing, and one of the girls automatically replied, "How rude!"

We call these "teachable moments."

 

[GaryE]

I remember years ago, the best fish discussion group I was ever in was destroyed by trolls and weak moderation. There were only 3 trolls in a group of maybe 200-250 active members, but they were hard workers. The mods wouldn't deal with them. I met one years later, and he was a drunk who thought he'd been incredibly funny back in those glory days. I don't think he was malicious - it was substances in his blood but no substance in his brain.

I polled my 14 year olds at the height of the 'pwning' fad, and half of them had played the game, but most said they'd lost interest at 12.

The internet is just a large 1970s tavern. Most people are cool, but a few loud mouthed schnooks and rather fight than eat people can set the tone. We get spammers now, but very few trolls. They're yesterday's fad now. They seem to have bored even themselves.

 

[anewbie]

I'm a troll - you're a troll - everyone is a troll. That's life.

I do like @WhistlingBadger example - some people have very soft skin - others a little too tight.

 

[GaryE]

I'd define a troll as someone weak who tries to feel big by putting down smarter people, or who just wants to see people angry, and doesn't care about the subject or when someone tries to reason with them. They are out to destroy civil conversation.

It's trolling. You drop your line and see who bites. Why is complex, but it's a game.

I'm not a troll, you're not a troll, because it's a different thing from those moments when we're arrogant, or jerks or things we aren't allowed to express here. We may be those things on a bad day, but a troll is insincere at all times when we are sincere when we're jerks!

 

[gwand]

Anewbie is still a troll

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Just remember: It is never worth your time to try to reason someone out of a position that they obviously didn't reason themselves into.

(unless they're children. There's always hope for children)

 

[f_luxus]

How can anybody don't like them

 

[anewbie]

View attachment 375191
How can anybody don't like them

Shouldn't that be not like them ?

 

[f_luxus]

Shouldn't that be not like them ?

Yes, not like them captain obvious

 

[anewbie]

Yes, not like them captain obvious

Yes we not like them.

 

[f_luxus]

Yes we not like them.

How many people are you? Multiple personality or plurales majestates?

 

[anewbie]

How many people are you? Multiple personality or plurales majestates?

i have no clue how many people i might be - does it make a difference ?

 

[GaryE]

Shouldn't that be not like them ?

Wait, this from a guy who calls fry, an irregular English plural, "frys", a badly spelled fast food? Let he who is without or within a glass house throw the first decorative rock at the silicone.

I edit fish books, articles and descriptions. I can;t help it. Sometimes I feel like you're trolling me with that constantly repeated mistake.

 

[anewbie]

Wait, this from a guy who calls fry, an irregular English plural, "frys", a badly spelled fast food? Let he who is without or within a glass house throw the first decorative rock at the silicone.

I edit fish books, articles and descriptions. I can;t help it. Sometimes I feel like you're trolling me with that constantly repeated mistake.

All I gotta say is luckily I don't use decorative rocks near my silicone. Don't get me wrong I have a few rocks in my aquariums but every last one is a necessities for the well being of my critters.