What Are Trolls Looking For

Introverted1293

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Jul 22, 2017
2,978
3,071
Washington
✟684,188.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian Seeker
Marital Status
Single
I don't fully understand trolls. You can make a completely innocent comment on a YouTube video (nothing controversial and nothing disagreeable), but some people have a problem with what you said. For example, I make an innocent comment about my favorite part of a video on YouTube and someone angrily says "who cares what you think, or nobody asked you." I am not even talking to them, I am talking to the person who created the video. Then they attack other users who make innocent comments. One commenter would say, "that was funny." Then the troll would say very angrily, "that was not funny you idiot!" When the video was a comedy and supposed to be funny. Then they try to start a fight with you.

What are they looking for? Why do they attack innocent commenters that are innocently commenting and not trying to start a fight?
 
Last edited:

Sabertooth

Repartee Animal: Quipping the Saints!
Supporter
Jul 25, 2005
10,491
7,061
62
Wisconsin
Visit site
✟952,659.00
Country
United States
Faith
Charismatic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Why do they attack innocent commenters that are innocently commenting and not trying to start a fight?
Sin. The sin nature shows up in different people in different ways. Some people just enjoy being contentious to create drama. Others just enjoy being bullies.
 
Upvote 0

Arc F1

Let the righteous man arise from slumber
Supporter
Mar 14, 2020
3,735
2,156
Kentucky
✟146,863.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
I don't fully understand trolls. You can make a completely innocent comment on a YouTube video (nothing controversial and nothing disagreeable), but some people have a problem with what you said. For example, I make an innocent comment about my favorite part of a video on YouTube and someone angrily says "who cares what you think, or nobody asked you." I am not even talking to them, I am talking to the person who created the video. Then they attack other users who make innocent comments. One commenter would say, "that was funny." Then the troll would say very angrily, "that was not funny you idiot!" When the video was a comedy and supposed to be funny. Then they try to start a fight with you.

What are they looking for? Why do they attack innocent commenters that are innocently commenting and not trying to start a fight?

Misery loves company. They aren't happy and want to bring everyone else down also.
 
Upvote 0

Hrairoo

Prayerfully Searching
Aug 30, 2020
135
119
New York
✟14,563.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Constitution
Specifically, they are looking for a reaction. We can hypothesize all day about the insecurities a person might have in order to devote so much time and energy to merely getting a rise out of others, but it feels like a useless exercise. Some trolls "do it for the lulz" meaning, they just pick at people for their own delight and amusement.

Please, never forget the age old adage of the internet: do not feed the trolls. Ever. Make yourself the least entertaining target possible by not even acknowledging them. Don't give them the reaction they desire.

How do you identify a troll? You're already halfway there. Nonsense contention for no reason. I would argue that any out of place "debate" also is a sign of a troll. Sometimes you don't know until you're already arguing with them, then you realize, they don't actually believe anything they are saying; they're just poking you for fun.

Trolling is not just harmless "neener neener" games. If you intrigue a troll enough with your reactions, they could potentially follow you to other places(like other comment sections on videos), or they could dox you(find out where you live and post your information publicly with the intent to harm).

Don't feed the trolls. At the least, they want to waste your time. At worst, they desire to hurt you simply for a laugh.
 
Upvote 0

Heavenhome

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Dec 31, 2017
3,279
5,323
65
Newstead.Australia
✟407,525.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Apart from the two previous answers which I totally agree with, there are some people who just delight in being cruel, they feed on people reacting to them.
The very best thing you can do is not giving them that satisfaction.
This is very hard to do at times but if they are ignored they eventually go away.
When someone has mocked God, however, I must admit, I have said my opinion and THEN ignored them.
Trolls can be very dangerous as they have driven some people to suicide, because their words have stuck in their victims lives.
If it were possible I would report them and then ignore.
Don't give these horrible people what they want: attention. ( or worse)

God bless you.:heart:
 
Upvote 0

bèlla

❤️
Supporter
Jan 16, 2019
20,482
17,644
USA
✟933,652.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
In Relationship
It all comes back to love. When we love our neighbor we have a genuine regard for their welfare. We consider the weight of our words and actions. We don't delight in another's suffering or try to exacerbate their hardship. We aim to be a salve instead. Just like Christ did.

Yours in His Service,

~Bella
 
Upvote 0

Aussie Pete

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Aug 14, 2019
9,081
8,268
Frankston
Visit site
✟727,030.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Divorced
I don't fully understand trolls. You can make a completely innocent comment on a YouTube video (nothing controversial and nothing disagreeable), but some people have a problem with what you said. For example, I make an innocent comment about my favorite part of a video on YouTube and someone angrily says "who cares what you think, or nobody asked you." I am not even talking to them, I am talking to the person who created the video. Then they attack other users who make innocent comments. One commenter would say, "that was funny." Then the troll would say very angrily, "that was not funny you idiot!" When the video was a comedy and supposed to be funny. Then they try to start a fight with you.

What are they looking for? Why do they attack innocent commenters that are innocently commenting and not trying to start a fight?
Easy. They don't have a life. All they seek is some reaction. There should be a sign on every comments page, "Do not feed the trolls".
 
Upvote 0

paul1149

that your faith might rest in the power of God
Supporter
Mar 22, 2011
8,460
5,268
NY
✟674,364.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
Politics
US-Others
What are they looking for?
Attention. They crave it so badly that even the bad kind is better than none. I received a downvote yesterday for saying I was pretty impressed with a new search engine. There was no logical justification for that. We have three possible choices: answer taking the high road, answer dropping down to their level, or ignoring them. There's a time for all three, but I am disposed toward the third avenue. With a browser add-on for Reddit, for instance, you can add custom tags to users. Those who are not a worthwhile expenditure of time get marked accordingly here.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

LoricaLady

YHWH's
Supporter
Jul 27, 2009
18,504
11,548
Ohio
✟1,073,277.00
Faith
Messianic
Marital Status
Private
I don't fully understand trolls. You can make a completely innocent comment on a YouTube video (nothing controversial and nothing disagreeable), but some people have a problem with what you said. For example, I make an innocent comment about my favorite part of a video on YouTube and someone angrily says "who cares what you think, or nobody asked you." I am not even talking to them, I am talking to the person who created the video. Then they attack other users who make innocent comments. One commenter would say, "that was funny." Then the troll would say very angrily, "that was not funny you idiot!" When the video was a comedy and supposed to be funny. Then they try to start a fight with you.

What are they looking for? Why do they attack innocent commenters that are innocently commenting and not trying to start a fight?
Some people get enjoyment out of attacking and even hurting others out there. It is their life style. Sometime maybe look over vids on Narcissistic Personality Disorder as in the Surviving Narcissism You Tube channel by a Christian psychologist.

NPD is way common. Many psychologists, for example, feel it is the usual factor in domestic abuse. If you watch any of those vids you will be sure to see some you know and learn how to spot and avoid them.

The research I have seen is that brain scans show they have poor development in the empathy cortex area of the brain. This is very sad for no medicine or therapy can heal that. In fact they almost never improve but seem to get worse with age.

They are not just mean, bullying and controlling, but are often flat out sadistic.

Sociopaths and psychopaths have a more extreme version of the problem.

The above posters are so right when they say Don't Feed The Trolls. Pray for them and their intended victims in life (which would include most anyone where they think they can get away with it), maybe report them, and move on.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Jonathan Walkerin

Well-Known Member
Feb 12, 2019
3,720
2,772
44
Stockholm
✟72,396.00
Country
Sweden
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Married
Easy. They don't have a life. All they seek is some reaction. There should be a sign on every comments page, "Do not feed the trolls".

Everyone who posts here seeks some “reaction” Like all of social media in general.

Usually it is in some form of “gee look at me and hope others say something positive about me and/or agree with me”

More so for some than others.

Still if you are doing social media it is bit hypocritical to exclaim that some people seek “reaction”

In reality we all do.
 
Upvote 0

LoricaLady

YHWH's
Supporter
Jul 27, 2009
18,504
11,548
Ohio
✟1,073,277.00
Faith
Messianic
Marital Status
Private
Everyone who posts here seeks some “reaction” Like all of social media in general.

Usually it is in some form of “gee look at me and hope others say something positive about me and/or agree with me”

More so for some than others.

Still if you are doing social media it is bit hypocritical to exclaim that some people seek “reaction”

In reality we all do.
We all seek reaction from others in life. There is a difference of course between positive reactions and negative, put down, insulting reactions. It is not hypocritical to seek a neutral or positive reaction, while not calling names or putting people down ourselves.
 
Upvote 0

Hrairoo

Prayerfully Searching
Aug 30, 2020
135
119
New York
✟14,563.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Constitution
In reality we all do.

On a basic level, yes. But in actuality, most regular people are not "looking for a reaction". They are seeking to communicate, they want to add their voice and feelings to a conversation, they want their opinions validated, and they want to connect with others. Trolls do not want these things. It's not hypocritical to point that out.
 
Upvote 0

hedrick

Senior Veteran
Supporter
Feb 8, 2009
20,250
10,565
New Jersey
✟1,147,348.00
Faith
Presbyterian
Marital Status
Single
In the situation you describe, I agree with the responses so far. But in political discussions, remember that there are people being paid by governments and companies to create chaos. They want Americans to distrust and hate each other.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

LoricaLady

YHWH's
Supporter
Jul 27, 2009
18,504
11,548
Ohio
✟1,073,277.00
Faith
Messianic
Marital Status
Private
In the situation you describe, I agree with the responses so far. But in political discussions, remember that there are people being paid by governments and companies to create chaos. They want Americans to distrust and hate each other.
Yeal, and as you may know, they are often called bots, as in robots, though they are trolls, too.
 
Upvote 0

Charlie24

Newbie
Oct 17, 2014
2,306
963
✟103,731.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Single
I don't fully understand trolls. You can make a completely innocent comment on a YouTube video (nothing controversial and nothing disagreeable), but some people have a problem with what you said. For example, I make an innocent comment about my favorite part of a video on YouTube and someone angrily says "who cares what you think, or nobody asked you." I am not even talking to them, I am talking to the person who created the video. Then they attack other users who make innocent comments. One commenter would say, "that was funny." Then the troll would say very angrily, "that was not funny you idiot!" When the video was a comedy and supposed to be funny. Then they try to start a fight with you.

What are they looking for? Why do they attack innocent commenters that are innocently commenting and not trying to start a fight?

They're lost and undone. Always searching for the answer to life but not able to find it.

They are miserable and want everyone to be the same.

God made man to have relationship with Him, if there is no relationship there is emptiness. People react to this in different ways, taking it out on everyone else, or keeping it inside.
 
Upvote 0

Aussie Pete

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Aug 14, 2019
9,081
8,268
Frankston
Visit site
✟727,030.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Divorced
Everyone who posts here seeks some “reaction” Like all of social media in general.

Usually it is in some form of “gee look at me and hope others say something positive about me and/or agree with me”

More so for some than others.

Still if you are doing social media it is bit hypocritical to exclaim that some people seek “reaction”

In reality we all do.
I think you do many posters a disservice. Some have genuine questions and some have real answers. Some posts indeed seem to be questions arising out of boredom or an attempt to catch people out. But trolling is commenting for the sole purpose of creating strife.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums