Oldschool 2o4f
Shared on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 06:12I've been knocking around online way longer than I care to admit and I've seen the internet "troll" phenomena many a time. I don't claim to understand why the exist, but I do see what their goals are.
What I don't understand is the lesser acknowledged entity that seems to find they've been assaulted, insulted or in some way their morals, goals, sensibilities or, I don't know, their pet cats been affronted. And it would seem this problem, real or imagined lurks around every corner. And you may say I exaggerate, but again, I've been online forever, and I have to tell you, as many of this personality type as I've encountered online, I have to wonder how many are walking around me and simply don't speak up because there isn't a monitor between us?
Am I imagining it? Maybe, but I'm reasonably sure I'm not paranoid, surely someone would've mentioned it if I were by now?
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Submitted by CrypticCat on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 07:32
Heh, I don't need a internet-connection to be abrasive. I generally don't give a rat's ass. That aside though, people throw the troll-defense around too easily, anyone who doesn't agree with something is a troll, anyone with a different opinion is a troll and this post in reply to your blog will quite probably be seen as troll-post too.
Though the legion of internet tough guys is rather large. Being he-man in the safety of your living-room, who wouldn't jump at the chance?
Submitted by Oldschool 2o4f on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 07:58
You think that's it? I'm anonymous, or at least no one knows where I'm at so I'm going to rail against affrontery real or imagined? Rage at society that insults me IRL but I'm not going to do it in person because that might involve, I dunno, personal risk, or maybe a backbone?
Keep in mind I'm not talking about the regular garden variety troll that simply lives to stir crap and sit back and watch, but the one that seems to see people against them even when they don't exist.
Sounds similar to the guy who got insulted at work, and has a few drinks and is ready to whip the world, you know, later where no one really knows him.
Submitted by CrypticCat on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 09:14
It all comes back to being safe in the knowledge that all the people one's reeling against can't sock one in the teeth, and more often than not, the people you describe have the moderators on their side too.
It's the main reason why where it pertains me zero fucks are given. I see no reason to stay friendly or mince my words in an environment that empowers the meek, bolstered by faceless stupid who are given a modicrum of internet-powah through moderation.
Besides that, it's human nature to see lions and bears instead of fluffy bunnies. Without that defense-mechanism, the human race would've turned extinct centuries ago. The internet magnifies that, especially were it comes to the written word. If it's hard to see context, the worst is assumed. It won't change, because it can't change. It's how we're wired.
Submitted by Oldschool 2o4f on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 10:15
Nah. I learned a long time ago that that kind of behavior does nothing but raise one's blood pressure and accomplishes little else.
Besides the worst thing I've found that you can do to those types is simply ignore them...
Submitted by GUL74 on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 13:21
also those same people could be moderators and abuse their powers cause
A- people don't want to get involved and rock the boat and cause problems for themselves
B- people just don't care
C-It's easier to shut up the small fry
D-All of the above
Now here's another way of looking at things take some of those same people that "internet power" and you realize they meek little people, yeah you might have 1 or 2 of them that can back themselves up but those numbers are small
But I think people see fluffy bunnies first and then when they see the lions & bears thats how thing's become offensive and we get what's going on in the world now which is a bunch people we moist tampons. I believe we changed from being hardned to soft cause if you look our history and how people started it wasn't easy at all man.
Submitted by CrypticCat on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 19:42
[also those same people could be moderators and abuse their powers...]
More often than not, those moderators are also defended with 'they're all volunteers'.
@Oldschool,
I agree that taking up arms against the Internet-culture is fighting at windmills. The global village is fundamentally flawed and it is in no way a mirror of the world, or a window into utopia. Everyone can be a keyboard-warrior and have their voice heard, which from a libertarian point of view should be wicked awesome.
It gets funny for me when I'm in a situation where people try to be like that in the world. They deflate at the first sign of an impending beating. At the very least, it is amazing how quick people are to apologize when you catch them face to face...
Submitted by Oldschool 2o4f on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 21:18
Yeah, generally speaking, most people simply won't speak up, or feel it isn't worth the trouble or risk, or maybe it simply isn't important enough to warrant any of the above.
I find it humorous when the occasion person does speak up expecting the "Right to Free Speech" to protect them out on the sidewalk, when it only protects you from the government silencing you. If you insult me, the Constitution/Bill of Rights's not much help.
I recall Perez Hilton getting in Will I AM's face out on the street about something, and speaking as if he was , you know, behind his keyboard. Not to crack a pun, but he got bitch slapped and was stunned it happened.
But I'm straying off the mark. I see too many that seem to be looking for someone trying to diss or offend them and sometimes it's just not there.
As for the moderators, I've been one, I get it, I generally don't have an issue with any of them, and if they really know me, I'm never truly serious or even mildy tiffed 99% of the time. Life's too short, and if I do seem that way, I'm probably pulling someone's leg...