Science Says: Internet Trolls = Genuinely Bad People

[garbon]

There is also an effect that I could call a reverse homophobia. Generally, any time someone is mean to you or treats you poorly or does not give you something you think you deserve, you tend to blame this on that person's homophobia. While this is often true, it also tends to lead to a victim mentality and does not lend itself well to self-reflection (whereas, in some cases, people may treat you badly just because you are genuinely obnoxious, and not because you are gay). I suppose other minorities/discriminated groups have this too.

Is a "you" in this paragraph a stand in for "Martinus"?

Also from your earlier post, I would suggest meeting more gay people. Most I know do not fit your description.

[garbon]

There's a strong correspondence between:

1) Trolling being a favourite activity online

2) High scores in the "dark triad" personality traits (amusingly breaking down to more than three traits: machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, direct sadism, and vicarious sadism). This is colloquially rephrased as "being terrible people".

... seems close enough for pop-science reporting.

my point focused more on people reporting "favorite" activity. people troll in many ways, whether it's to mock someone they've beat in an online game or post an incendiary youtube comment. but,  i'm not sure how many people would actually say "trolling is my favorite internet activity" when there are so many internet activities. it makes sense some pretty deranged people answer that's their favorite activity online, but normal internet trolls probably do not consider trolling their favorite internet activity. it's a flawed argument. some internet trolls are awful people, but not all internet trolls are awful people.

Of course the graph demonstrates that question was favorite activity when posting online. I think that's very different from favorite Internet activity.

[Jacob]

There's a strong correspondence between:

1) Trolling being a favourite activity online

2) High scores in the "dark triad" personality traits (amusingly breaking down to more than three traits: machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, direct sadism, and vicarious sadism). This is colloquially rephrased as "being terrible people".

... seems close enough for pop-science reporting.

my point focused more on people reporting "favorite" activity. people troll in many ways, whether it's to mock someone they've beat in an online game or post an incendiary youtube comment. but,  i'm not sure how many people would actually say "trolling is my favorite internet activity" when there are so many internet activities. it makes sense some pretty deranged people answer that's their favorite activity online, but normal internet trolls probably do not consider trolling their favorite internet activity. it's a flawed argument. some internet trolls are awful people, but not all internet trolls are awful people.

Of course the graph demonstrates that question was favorite activity when posting online. I think that's very different from favorite Internet activity.

Sounds to me that lacroix is telling us that he's not awful people in spite of enjoying being a troll?

[garbon]

[LaCroix]

Of course the graph demonstrates that question was favorite activity when posting online. I think that's very different from favorite Internet activity.

ah, yeah. mistake on my part. but, it still doesn't really change my point. it's not a great indicator because it doesn't include the numbers for people who just like to troll occasionally.

Sounds to me that lacroix is telling us that he's not awful people in spite of enjoying being a troll?

nope, awful is kind of subjective. i absolutely have narcissistic traits (though i don't think i have NPD). i was just pointing out that the study is really flawed.

[Capetan Mihali]

2) High scores in the "dark triad" personality traits (amusingly breaking down to more than three traits: machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, direct sadism, and vicarious sadism).

The article calls it "Tetrad", with the forth trait, sadism, being split into two subgroups. [/nitpick]

Dark Triad is the more popular term.  I don't think the idea ever got a great deal of traction outside pop psychology.

Isn't the "dark triad" the serial killer thing about bedwetting, torturing animals, and something else?

[grumbler]

Isn't the "dark triad" the serial killer thing about bedwetting, torturing animals, and something else?

I've only heard of it in terms of the (IIRC) callous-manipulative personality type.  There may be a triad type thing associated with serial killers, but I don't think it is called "the dark triad."

[Razgovory]

2) High scores in the "dark triad" personality traits (amusingly breaking down to more than three traits: machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, direct sadism, and vicarious sadism).

The article calls it "Tetrad", with the forth trait, sadism, being split into two subgroups. [/nitpick]

Dark Triad is the more popular term.  I don't think the idea ever got a great deal of traction outside pop psychology.

That's a different triads.  There are more triads in Psychology then there are in China.

Isn't the "dark triad" the serial killer thing about bedwetting, torturing animals, and something else?

That's a the MacMillian triad.  There are more triads in Psychology then there are in China.  It's BS though.

[Eddie Teach]

That's a the MacMillian triad.  There are more triads in Psychology then there are in China.  It's BS though.

The MacMillian triad, or Psychology?

[Razgovory]

Heh.  That would be telling.

[Martinus]

There is also an effect that I could call a reverse homophobia. Generally, any time someone is mean to you or treats you poorly or does not give you something you think you deserve, you tend to blame this on that person's homophobia. While this is often true, it also tends to lead to a victim mentality and does not lend itself well to self-reflection (whereas, in some cases, people may treat you badly just because you are genuinely obnoxious, and not because you are gay). I suppose other minorities/discriminated groups have this too.

Is a "you" in this paragraph a stand in for "Martinus"?

Also from your earlier post, I would suggest meeting more gay people. Most I know do not fit your description.

Well, I count you among those who do. 

[Razgovory]

I got the name wrong.  I ,looked it up, it's the MacDonald Triad.  As if there aren't enough clowns in Psychology.

[CountDeMoney]

it's the MacDonald Triad. 

For a limited time?

[Martinus]

it's the MacDonald Triad. 

For a limited time?

You get four bad traits for a price of three.

[Martinus]

2) High scores in the "dark triad" personality traits (amusingly breaking down to more than three traits: machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, direct sadism, and vicarious sadism).

The article calls it "Tetrad", with the forth trait, sadism, being split into two subgroups. [/nitpick]

Dark Triad is the more popular term.  I don't think the idea ever got a great deal of traction outside pop psychology.

Isn't the "dark triad" the serial killer thing about bedwetting, torturing animals, and something else?

The third one is probably about, you know, killing many people.