Support NeoGAF

[FreddieQuell]

Why can't they have two different selves? Why does it have to be their internet self is their true self?

Because you're still interacting with real people on the internet? That would be like saying some sadistic person in real life isn't sadistic because they treat their family nicely.

 

[AlimNassor]

Some trolls can be. I knew a troll who eStalked his victims and anytime you posted he would bring up something you did to discredit you. He was a real fucking jackass, we all suspected who he really was and outed him. Sadly, he wasn't a fat neckbeard, he was rich and successful and had a disturbing lack of empathy towards people.

 

[HalfBakedProphet]

Why can't they have two different selves? Why does it have to be their internet self is their true self?

I'm saying there isn't as big of a separation between the two "selves" as those people claim. "I'm an asshole on the internet but I'm a great person in real life!". In terms of people with multiple personalities and their use of the internet, that a something I'm far from qualified to try and discuss.

 

[CornBurrito]

I'm saying there isn't as big of a separation between the two "selves" as those people claim. "I'm an asshole on the internet but I'm a great person in real life!". In terms of people with multiple personalities and their use of the internet, that a something I'm far from qualified to try and discuss.

I'm not talking of multiple personalities either. Behavior is contextual. That's the biggest take away from basic psychology. Why is one context (online) of behavior considered by you to be "their true self" but not the other? I think your claim isn't accurate, or at least you've provided no real backing.

 

[HalfBakedProphet]

I'm not talking of multiple personalities either. Behavior is contextual. That's the biggest take away from basic psychology. Why is one context (online) of behavior considered by you to be "their true self" but not the other? I think your claim isn't accurate, or at least you've provided no real backing.

If I understand what you're saying, I'm not sure I ever made that claim to begin with.

 

[freenudemacusers]

while trolls obviously have issues, are there any studies about internet forum moderators?

 

[CornBurrito]

If I understand what you're saying, I'm not sure I ever made that claim to begin with.

This shit either bleeds over into real life or is showing who they really are underneath

Someone who trolls online, but is a genuinely nice person when interacting face-to-face with people in meatspace is not "really an asshole underneath" in my opinion. Instead they are an asshole online, and a nice person when not online.

Because you're still interacting with real people on the internet? That would be like saying some sadistic person in real life isn't sadistic because they treat their family nicely.

I can be very open and energetic with friends, but extremely timid and shy with strangers. Please tell me which one is my "true self." Am I truly open and energetic, or truly shy and timid? Or maybe, just maybe my behavior is context dependent.

 

[WARCOCK]

I feel bad now.

 

[jay]

no it wouldn't be, because it's all about intent. I presume the 'favourite activity when posting online' is self determined. So, to be completely correct, it isn't people who troll that have these traits, but people for who trolling is their *favorite* online communication.

that isn't really surprising at all.

But I kind of get a kick out of it when people don't understand and get mad, even though that wasn't my original intent. I once made a sarcastic comment in a thread about an iOS game that cloned Mario and had like 50 people reply to tell me I was an idiot. Probably the highlight of my life.

 

[stupei]

Someone who trolls online, but is a genuinely nice person when interacting face-to-face with people in meatspace is not "really an asshole underneath" in my opinion. Instead they are an asshole online, and a nice person when not online.


I can be very open and energetic with friends, but extremely timid and shy with strangers. Please tell me which one is my "true self." Am I truly open and energetic, or truly shy and timid? Or maybe, just maybe my behavior is context dependent.

This is silly.

You are someone who is likely to become shy when anxious. The more you get to know people, the less anxious they will make you, and so the more you are likely to open up around them. But your "true self" is still someone who behaves shyly when anxious, even when you are interacting energetically with people who no longer make you anxious.

Similarly someone who is an asshole when there are fewer consequences is still likely to be an asshole, even if they choose to obey the mores of social etiquette when face-to-face for the sake of self-preservation.

 

[hipbabboom]

Trolls are filth! As a society we think bannings and shaming are the solutions but the problem keeps getting worse. A zero tolerance against trolling regardless of the offence punishable by death to be carried out by hand picked deputies of low enforcement at the community level is probably the most sensible options. Trolls bring frustration, stress and violence. How many billions of collective life times are lost each year because of their antics. These things aren't like cancers in the human bodies that are hard to treat. These miasma are detectable and isolatable impurities in society we can isolate and purge with extreme prejudice. We may even have the technology, given the recent advances in human genome mapping, to detect and purge these impurities at birth and use that data to go up the bloodline and free society. Does this seem a little extreme? Not really, Healthcare companies are even translating simple acts to reduce stress to hundreds of billions per year in savings. These small savings can be applied to meaningful research such as curing cancer and perpetual energy so imagine how much more advancement in human civilization we channel resources into if we deal with big stress causers like trolls. I'm no parent but I'd be quick to terminate life if a troll gene was detected. That's perhaps the best part of this, if we make it a legislation, we wouldn't have to deal with the details. It gets even better, the money we save on trolls can not only fund the extermination programs indefinitely but we may also be able to receive tax credits.

 

[victreeb3l]

I'm not surprised.

 

[FreddieQuell]

This is silly.

You are someone who is likely to become shy when anxious. The more you get to know people, the less anxious they will make you, and so the more you are likely to open up around them. But your "true self" is still someone who behaves shyly when anxious, even when you are interacting energetically with people who no longer make you anxious.

Similarly someone who is an asshole when there are fewer consequences is still likely to be an asshole, even if they choose to obey the mores of social etiquette when face-to-face for the sake of self-preservation.

Put it better than I would have.

 

[HalfBakedProphet]

Someone who trolls online, but is a genuinely nice person when interacting face-to-face with people in meatspace is not "really an asshole underneath" in my opinion. Instead they are an asshole online, and a nice person when not online.

what I'm saying is the "online asshole persona" isnt completely disconnected from the person behind the computer. To pretend they are eternally seperate is an excuse to avoid repercussions for acting like a d-bag. "Its only the internet...who cares?" I'm not claiming someone who is an asshole online acts like an asshole in real life. I'm claiming someone who acts like an asshole on the internet probably has suppressed or antisocial feelings they don't display in real life, which is what I meant by "underneath".

 

[NEOPARADIGM]

Trolls are filth!

Meh. It's contextual. I troll boards/threads that are full of trollish bs, but remain cordial on cordial boards/threads. I think I'm pretty normal in this.

 

[saelz8]

Basically, people that post more often on GAF are more likely to have psychological issues than those that don't?

Would Forum Posts qualify as Commenting or Chatting?

Non-Commenters/Posters/Lurkers seem to be the most sane.

 

[freenudemacusers]

Meh. It's contextual. I troll boards/threads that are full of trollish bs, but remain cordial on cordial boards/threads. I think I'm pretty normal in this.

so on top of all your other personality disorders you have dissociative identity disorder, too.

 

[theprodigy]

i just like to post "Amir0x Sucks" on any youtube video I come across. Like most people.

LOL
10/10

 

[wildfire]

And why shouldn't they? I mean, really, if someone acted like a lot of the trolls act online but in real life, people would definitely think they have some kind of mental problems and should seek help. Why is it that just because it is done in the Internet then it's not a "real problem" that should be treated?

I'm not objecting to the idea of people with these conditions be treated. I'm questioning that half of these things were obvious (narcissism and to an extent psychopathy and Machiavellian behavior.)

I think there are definitely varying degrees of trolling that should be taken into consideration. I think it is a bit dangerous for these types of studies to say, "If you've trolled on the internet, you're psychopathic, narcissistic, etc" since that will cause people to label themselves as such things. there's definitely a difference between going on a Xbox forum and talking trash about the Xbox and creating a fake ad like this and sharing it around the internet:

Essentially this is my train of thought on the matter.


To be more elaborate there are variations of psychopathy one type are the fearless versions that are typified in media as the dangerous and most common one. The other version is far more reactionary and is more like a hornets nest you should leave alone once you identify it. They require different approaches when interacting with them and it would be immoral to treat them the same.

 

[Zaptruder]

Someone who trolls online, but is a genuinely nice person when interacting face-to-face with people in meatspace is not "really an asshole underneath" in my opinion. Instead they are an asshole online, and a nice person when not online.



I can be very open and energetic with friends, but extremely timid and shy with strangers. Please tell me which one is my "true self." Am I truly open and energetic, or truly shy and timid? Or maybe, just maybe my behavior is context dependent.

No, they're assholes, albeit to a lesser degree than a full blown asshole - assholes in their inability to appreciate the humanity behind interactions that are veiled by the nature of the internet.

To be fair, that would apply to most people in regards to most things that increase the cognitive distance between the other party and themselves - such is frail and faulty nature of the human mind.

As for you, sound sound like a classical introvert. Take time to open up, and you probably only act lively in a smaller more intimate group.

 

[Lord Ghirahim]

It's the ultimate academic troll. I hope they got lots of funding for this study.

First thing I thought too. The study itself sounds like a troll.

 

[Dead Man]

Why can't they have two different selves? Why does it have to be their internet self is their true self?

Persona is often a reflection of personality.

Someone who trolls online, but is a genuinely nice person when interacting face-to-face with people in meatspace is not "really an asshole underneath" in my opinion. Instead they are an asshole online, and a nice person when not online.



I can be very open and energetic with friends, but extremely timid and shy with strangers. Please tell me which one is my "true self." Am I truly open and energetic, or truly shy and timid? Or maybe, just maybe my behavior is context dependent.

Nah, they are an arsehole who hides it sometimes. As for your question, it is both. It is just about the definition of shyness.

 

[dapperbandit]

Some men just want to watch the world burn.