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[Ioric Kittencuddler]

So the recent revelation that the serial killer RL was an unusually involved troll has got me thinking.  What's wrong with these people's brains?

There's a subset of people on the internet who seem to take great pleasure in trying to invoke negative emotions in others.  I've always found this kind of thing outside my comprehension, and it's not for lack of trying.  From Goonsswarm in EVE whose stated goal is something along the lines of "We're not here to destroy the game, we're here to destroy your game." or something along those lines to this SKRL thing I often wonder what kind of mental problems could cause someone to expend such effort just to get a negative emotional response from people.

I know I'm opening myself up to trolling simply by discussing this openly, but I know there are enough relatively sane people on this board that it might be possible to get some actually meaningful discussion done as well.  Obviously asking the actual trolls directly is pointless.  They'll either give some dismissive response like "Because I can" or "I was bored", or attempt to turn it into another one of their deceptions.

The definition of 'troll' itself seems kind of vague at times.  In this case I'm just using it to refer to people on the internet who enjoy inspiring negative emotions in others.

I've developed a vague sort of theory on this.  It seems likely that at least some of them use this as a way to feel powerful.  For whatever reason they feel impotent in real life, so causing others to feel negative emotions gives them some small sense of empowerment.

[Itnetlolor]

Sounds similar to the concept for the game we were hoaxed with.

We need to make a roguelike of this. ...Wait.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I think it boils down to Schadenfreude. The pointless enjoyment of other's suffering in a non-sexual way, no matter how minor. Some people enjoy it alot. Everyone indulges in it to a point. The effects of puberty seem to bring it out in people more, but that's just my non-scientific observation.

[smigenboger]

Some people become so hellbent on one idea or action that they blind themselves from the general, impartial perspective. This happens with passions and specific interests, along with ignorant viewpoints. It is honestly fun to expose people in the act, especially when the person doesn't know about it.

If two people are arguing angrily over the effectiveness of a cobalt warhammer vs a pewter mace, they've lost sight of the overall importance of the debate and the strong negative emotions such a petty deal has made.

[ToonyMan]

Song is pretty funny.

[Jackrabbit]

Wow, I wasn't really following the game. But I have to say, watching from the sidelines, it's just impressive that people would go to that length. And I find it very amusing, because at the end of the day it's largely unimportant and hey, the guy worked for his prank. I don't begrudge him anything. I think that's the mindset where the majority of trolls fall: it's not really harming anyone, it's funny and I can get away with it.

As for the serious ones, the actually nasty ones, dunno. People are assholes, I guess.

[Josephus]

Remember Pathos? His trolls on that Eragon forum required that he actually read the book so that he could interpret the main character as a racist homosexual loon with a certain predilection for 'hairless' elves. He had actual textual evidence for this.

Trolling is something some people do for fun, just like playing video games or watching movies. Is it productive? No, but they get enjoyment out of it, which is their constitutional right.

Plus, the SK troll was incredibly involved, and I have to laud him for that. Easy trolls are easy (lord knows how many stupid fights I've precipitated on /tg/ because they take the bait even quicker than we do), and I believe he successfully trolled the fanbase of an entire genre. Although he probably didn't anticipate exactly how far this would go, but he did get his buzz, even being featured on some sites other than fora.

[smigenboger]

SK Roguelike sounds like someone faking a FPS called Purple Heart.

[Itnetlolor]

Wow, I wasn't really following the game. But I have to say, watching from the sidelines, it's just impressive that people would go to that length. And I find it very amusing, because at the end of the day it's largely unimportant and hey, the guy worked for his prank. I don't begrudge him anything. I think that's the mindset where the majority of trolls fall: it's not really harming anyone, it's funny and I can get away with it.

As for the serious ones, the actually nasty ones, dunno. People are assholes, I guess.

I agree. Making fun of someone is supposed to be fun (though often only for the person making fun). Include the victim(s) in on it, and it's (mostly) harmless fun. Destroy them in the most inhumane way possible, retribution from the victim is a possibility (and in some cases, it's far more violent than the initial attack). You have been warned. It's known as "beware the nice ones" or "unstoppable rage" for a reason. I didn't trope-link, but before you accuse me of it, yes, I took those from Tropes.

In this case, it turned into harmless fun. At least from what I've interpreted. And who knows, this actually was a rare trolling that worked for the better. I mean, enough ideas have been cobbled together to make the hoax a possible reality by at least somebody's means which they can actually put the time into the game, and not a hoax of it.

[scriver]

The effects of puberty seem to bring it out in people more, but that's just my non-scientific observation.

Studies show (according to a documentary I watched some years back) that teenagers have less empathy, and are much worse at recognising emotional expressions, than seven year olds. For some reason, that either wasn't concluded by the documentary or I have forgotten, empathetical "skills" actually regress when we hit puberty.

[ToonyMan]

I think the SK Roguelike was no big deal, it's actually very interesting he excepted a huge negative response.  I mean come on, Dwarf Fortress.

[Jackrabbit]

Yeah, I have to wonder if he knows who we are. There is a kobold out there with an axe embedded in his balls and he is using it as a weapon. True story.

[Dasleah]

it's the only way i feel alive any more

[Jackrabbit]

Your posts are like silk. I rub my face over them.

[ToonyMan]

Hey I'm the one that made that simile, you gotta give credit to me Jackrabbit.

Also yes Dasleah you are awesome.