If I had a nickel for every time I wondered what motivated Internet Trolls … I would have a lot of nickels.
Have you ever wondered what motivates Internet Trolls?
Just randomly look-up a YouTube video or cruise through Reddit and you’ll find plenty of Internet Trolls–in fact, ChurchMag has had its share of Internet Trolls, too.
Here’s a closer look at what makes these people tick:
[Click for Larger]
How do you deal with Internet Trolls?
It sounds cliche, but I suppose we just need to show them love and patience?
Whatever you do, don’t feed them!
John says
https://churchm.ag/god-created-spiderman/#comment-76585
This is your example of a troll? This? Really? It might be useful to keep in mind that disagreement with your particular perspective or claims does not, by default, qualify as trolling. What amazes me is the fact that you cite Reddit and YouTube comments as other examples of trolling. There are some truly world class trolls on both sites, to be sure. So how does the comment thread you linked even remotely resemble the trolling you find on them?
Eric Dye says
There was nothing on that post to “disagree” with. There was no debate. It was the equivalent of someone walking into a music store for the first time and complaining about the genre of music playing–oh–no–wait–it was the equivalent of someone shouting and ranting at the patrons about the music playing.
Brandt says
Those with contrary opinions than you are not automatically ‘trolls.’ This seems to be a response to your ‘never question me’ post (and you are wrong, wrong, wrong, about questions.)
A troll is an attention-seeking instigator; someone who just wants to get others riled up. They are motivated much differently than someone who just wants to express an opinion. This is not the case.
You see, your blog post about not questioning creates a culture of control, silence, and manipulation. Which, I suspect, is what you want. There are people who will not put up with that, and I’m one of them. Discouraging questions is not Christ-like, and very un-Christian. Questions are good. It’s how we learn. It’s how we grow. It’s how we form actual, real relationships with one and other. It’s also how false theologies get exposed (we wouldn’t want that, now would we?)
People sometimes do ask loaded questions, and their motives may not be healthy, but you should be mature enough to handle it. Your eagerness to shut it down really says more about you than it does about those asking the questions. It shows that your faith is very, very small. When you have faith and knowledge you can handle ANYTHING that comes your way, and you can deal with others with grace and love (something I really don’t see in your blog, by the way.)
Now, you can label me as a ‘troll’ if you wish. That way, you can easily dismiss me and invalidate me, and you don’t have to actually have an honest, open dialogue about it. You can even make sure that others do not see this. But again, it will really say far more about your character than it does about others.
Think about it.
Eric Dye says
I agree, contrary opinions are not automatically trolls. 🙂
Just FYI says
Someone who disagrees with you is not automatically a troll, and on the forums I frequent, calling someone a troll because they disagree is grounds for a probation or ban.
Eric Dye says
Agreed (even if I didn’t agree, I wouldn’t label you as a troll … however … your name ‘Just FYI’ seems a little suspect ;-)).
Chris says
I like to think the point of this article was to show a cool infographic, not to call out someone with a beef. I think the guy’s comments in that other post are s bit trollish considering this is a site about church technology and that’s what he’s railing against. But regardless, that’s not the point. This is still a great post of a clever infographic – good find Eric!
Phil Schneider says
I completely agree, Chris. Referring to the other commenter as a troll was clearly in reference to “how” he commented as opposed to his opinion being contrary to Eric’s. The commenter on the Spider-Man post was certainly trolling in his tone and initial vehemence. What the infographic points out—quite nicely, too—is that such behavior is encouraged due to the the emotional detachment that occurs on the Internet. That was the point of this post—pointing out why trolls exist and trying to start a discussing about how to deal with them. No one was suggesting that having a differing opinion is trolling. It’s all about how you express that opinion.