Trolls are sociopaths. As long as they can get some satisfaction or happiness for themselves they don't really care about other people who are reduced to object

Trolls are sociopaths. As long as they can get some satisfaction or happiness for themselves they don't really care about other people who are reduced to objects of amusement. Try to impress on them the concept of other people and out will come a litany of excuses that seek to dehumanise their targets and paint themselves as self appointed arbiters of fanatism, intolerance or 'holders of valid opinions'. Are other people triggered by trolls or is it the trolls who are triggered merely by others holding opinions they don't agree with? The dissonance does not even register, because that requires self awareness, self examination and empathy. There is a context for humour, comedy, satire and deception that outside the context can quickly become cruelty and reflect some sort of sadism in taking pleasure in others pain.