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Internet Trolls Are Sadists

posted by Dopefish on Friday April 11 2014, @05:52PM   Printer-friendly
from the no-big-surprise dept.

lhsi writes:

New research suggests that internet trolls are sadists, albeit sub-clinical levels of sadism; not the more extreme forms that are seen in serial killers and criminals.

Buckels [one of the authors] said that the anonymity of the Internet can no doubt provide a dark corner from which to strike. For some users, trolling may also offer the same outlet as do violent video games or movies, providing a dose of vicarious sadism as an alternative to the actual thing.

"Our research suggests that trolls also want to be mean to people in real life," Buckels said. "Perhaps trolling online allows them to satisfy their appetites for cruelty without it creeping into real life."

 
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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday April 12 2014, @12:38AM

    by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Saturday April 12 2014, @12:38AM (#30368) Homepage

    for every troll who was abused as a child, there are two trolls who grew up in comfortable boredom always getting what they wanted.

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  • (Score: 1) by GeminiDomino on Saturday April 12 2014, @07:17PM

    by GeminiDomino (661) on Saturday April 12 2014, @07:17PM (#30581)

    Don't forget the sprinkling of the genuinely mentally damaged.

    --
    "We've been attacked by the intelligent, educated segment of our culture"