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I remember kids like that from junior high, they push the line until someone punches them in the face, then they have borders. The internet removes that whole p

I remember kids like that from junior high, they push the line until someone punches them in the face, then they have borders. The internet removes that whole punch in the face part, it's a shame.

stcredzero 18y ago
The self-righteousness of trollers is every bit as intense as those of the so-called "blowhards" that they target. It's something that I recognize. It's just like the kids who used to haze me when I was a kid, solely because of my Asian ethnicity. There is the same insistence that it's some kind of joke. There is the same delight in cruelty. There is the same self-righteous self assurance that somehow they've struck a blow to make the world a better place. It is also something that I recognize in myself. The superiority of the Tit-for-Two-Tats strategy seems to be on the level of mathematical truth.
- AndyKelley 18y ago
  What does 'haze' mean in this context?
  - cdr 18y ago
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazing
eznet 18y ago
Agreed. I is funny that the majority of these 'trolls' would not dare provoke an individual in the real world as they will online. I knew a guy in high school who was extremely passive and timid in the real world, but got the biggest kick out of being an aggressive ass to strangers online - I never understood him, but feel that he knew in the real world, there were consequences for his actions, where online he could get away with it with no recourse. Really cowardice in my opinion.
- Chocobean 18y ago
  agreed. Mankind has always had cowards, only difference is that today we would laugh at the people who try hard but fail and fawn over those who gained much without courage, risk or merit. "They are not distinguished from other men by any unusual skill in finding truth nor any virginal ardour to pursue her. ... It is not excess of thought but defect of fertile and generous emotion that marks them out. Their heads are no bigger than the ordinary: it is the atrophy of the chest beneath that makes them seem so. " from "Abolition of Man - or Reflections on education with special reference to the teaching of English in the upper forms of schools" http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/lewis/abolition1.htm http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/lewis/abolition1.h...
- cdr 18y ago
  Do you not feel that the ability to do things online without fear of some of the recriminations you would receive in real life is also one of the great things about the internet?
  - modoc 18y ago
    If you mean blogging about political issues from within China, then yes. If you mean forgoing any semblance of social decency for the sole purpose of antagonizing people and destroying positive discourse or social interaction, then no.
    - eznet 18y ago
      Exactly. I guess it can be argued that you cannot partially support freedom, as it is only sold as the whole, but I also feel that there are laws that can mediate this middle ground. Although I am not always the biggest fan of 'Johny Law', I do feel that at least the law can step in when harassment or threatening behavior is occurring to reduce its presence. Most of these participating in trolling behaviors would not continue their actions after a couple of rounds in the courts and after paying the associated fines...
      - iron_ball 18y ago

I remember kids like that from junior high, they push the line until someone punches them in the face, then they have borders. The internet removes that whole punch in the face part, it's a shame.

stcredzero 18y ago

The self-righteousness of trollers is every bit as intense as those of the so-called "blowhards" that they target. It's something that I recognize. It's just like the kids who used to haze me when I was a kid, solely because of my Asian ethnicity. There is the same insistence that it's some kind of joke. There is the same delight in cruelty. There is the same self-righteous self assurance that somehow they've struck a blow to make the world a better place. It is also something that I recognize in myself. The superiority of the Tit-for-Two-Tats strategy seems to be on the level of mathematical truth.

AndyKelley 18y ago
What does 'haze' mean in this context?
- cdr 18y ago
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazing

eznet 18y ago

Agreed. I is funny that the majority of these 'trolls' would not dare provoke an individual in the real world as they will online. I knew a guy in high school who was extremely passive and timid in the real world, but got the biggest kick out of being an aggressive ass to strangers online - I never understood him, but feel that he knew in the real world, there were consequences for his actions, where online he could get away with it with no recourse. Really cowardice in my opinion.

Chocobean 18y ago
agreed. Mankind has always had cowards, only difference is that today we would laugh at the people who try hard but fail and fawn over those who gained much without courage, risk or merit. "They are not distinguished from other men by any unusual skill in finding truth nor any virginal ardour to pursue her. ... It is not excess of thought but defect of fertile and generous emotion that marks them out. Their heads are no bigger than the ordinary: it is the atrophy of the chest beneath that makes them seem so. " from "Abolition of Man - or Reflections on education with special reference to the teaching of English in the upper forms of schools" http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/lewis/abolition1.htm http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/lewis/abolition1.h...
cdr 18y ago
Do you not feel that the ability to do things online without fear of some of the recriminations you would receive in real life is also one of the great things about the internet?
- modoc 18y ago
  If you mean blogging about political issues from within China, then yes. If you mean forgoing any semblance of social decency for the sole purpose of antagonizing people and destroying positive discourse or social interaction, then no.
  - eznet 18y ago
    Exactly. I guess it can be argued that you cannot partially support freedom, as it is only sold as the whole, but I also feel that there are laws that can mediate this middle ground. Although I am not always the biggest fan of 'Johny Law', I do feel that at least the law can step in when harassment or threatening behavior is occurring to reduce its presence. Most of these participating in trolling behaviors would not continue their actions after a couple of rounds in the courts and after paying the associated fines...
    - iron_ball 18y ago