Trolls

Trolls are originally a mythical being depicted as a giant or dwarf dwelling in isolated mountains, rocks, and caves in folklore having a very ugly appearance.

A troll on the internet is a person who sows discord by starting arguments, antagonizing or ridiculing other people or their ideas. He (they are usually male) by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages online community. This is done to promote an emotional response or to disrupt a normal on-topic discussion. This is all done for their own emotional satisfaction or amusement.

Trolling is the impulsive habit of emotionally hurting, harassing or molesting others online, seemingly without immediate detrimental consequences for themselves. While many trolls on the internet are often narcissists, psychopaths, and even sadists, some trolling may only be the result of a bad day or a compilation of stress and anxiety in need of release.

The problem is that trolling can be addictive and once it begins granting some relief people may return to it like the "Pig to the mire". And trolling on a group can be like a virus on a crowded bus. Trolling begets more trolling. Unfortunately, that is often the goal of some trolls for misery loves company.

Trolls are not always after a person or even the subject matter of a conversation but may simply desire to “create mayhem or confusion”. Like any addiction, it is a compulsion of the mind that is looking for a climax of confirmation through a perception of control. They are driven by feelings of frustration, failure, and inadequacy. If they cannot have accomplishment and accolades, they will have chaos.

The historically recent phenomena of the internet troll is a classic example of a psychopathic "personality disorder characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits." People who are attracted to the activity of trolling commonly score high in psychopathy and cognitive empathy. Cognitive empathy means that they understand the emotions of others but have less affective empathy, which is the ability to naturally respond appropriately or with compassion to the emotions of others.

Psychology scores demonstrate a tendency toward sadism, even Machiavellian traits often falling into what psychologists call the "dark triad". Of course, the first ones to deny this or ridicule the idea is someone with a troll personality. They often imagine themselves social justice warriors, crusaders of truth, or just intellectual superior by protecting the masses of pions by putting down anyone with an opposing opinion. The delusion as a self-styled hero is essential to emotionally justify the actions of a troll.

Of course, if the subject matter exposes them they will be motivated to troll with greater intensely.

Several studies indicate that Internet Trolling is a manifestation of sadism sometimes linked to being bullied from youth. So, some are just victims of other trolls and have become trolls or engage in trolling because of a memetic compulsion because of experienced abuse. But repeat offenders are almost always addicted to trolling. They need to get a rise out of others to give themselves a sense of superiority or just meaning. They become like a pack of wolves or sharks which smell blood and go on a feeding frenzy. They have no real life or compassion for others and releasing their true malevolent hearts on the internet allows them some imagined safety.

The problem is the more they indulge the more addicted they become. That rehearsal of mocking attacks, disruptive behavior, and infectious chaos at the expense of others will take a toll on the addicted troll.

What mechanism in his own mind and heart has he unleashed by lashing out at his digital victims?

There are lots of articles about trolling and Karma. There are lots of old sayings about "What goes around comes around" or just the golden rule to "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

But my favorite is Galatians 6:7 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

Spirit of the Troll

What is the Spirit of the Troll?

What is the driving force behind their mental disorder?

Why can't they see it?

Where is it taking them?

And what can save them from their ultimate fate?

The unforgiving motivation for trolling is to obtain relief from their own "feelings of frustration, failure, and inadequacy". This is accomplished by putting others down emotionally, psychologically or simply disrupting the conversation with chaos and distraction. The same spirit that sits behind a computer screen disrupting and attacking conversations is also found shouting down speakers and disrupting events they disagree with.

A troll is a creation of the tortured soul, broken and twisted to evil enslavement. They take delight in the torment of others like the "orcs and goblins" of JR Tolkien's story "Lord of the Rings". They were not happy creatures and take delight in spreading misery. They enjoy the fight. Win or lose, conflict is their goal. It is the light of the sun that is their common nemesis.

Trolling can lead to more frustration and the stakes or pattern of engagement may increase. To obtain relief can eventually lead to real violence. During that rise in aggression cognitive empathy must also increase which will increase levels of psychopathy.

The spirit of the troll dwells in the dark places of our own hearts. It resides in the realms of our soul we are not willing to see. It thrives in denial but in order to oppress, there must be a victim to dance with. Identity politics and intersectionality will not only create an army of trolls roaming cyberspace but also the orcs and goblins of the physical world in which we live.

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Trolling other people or groups is about a feeling of power over others to compensate for or oppress a feeling of failure and lack in your self and the denial of this truth will lead to an increase of a Cognitive dissonance.

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The first troll

Cain was the first troll. Having feelings of frustration, failure, and inadequacy because his sacrifice was not acceptable he was driven to mercilessly bludgeon his brother to death. He hid the truth of his deed to avoid the consequences of his actions and excused himself with a lie "...[Am] I my brother’s keeper?" Cain clearly would score high in psychopathy and cognitive empathy.

Saul was a great man who fought for justice and was held in high esteem. But after he was given power by the people he began to demonstrate a similar psychopathy and cognitive empathy toward the people who he "foolishly taxed" and manifested Machiavellian traits toward David who he tried to kill.

Saul continued to make choices seeking to maintain his power that devastated the people in the chaos of war and eventuall would end in his suicide upon his own sword. God through Samuel had prophesied that rulers would become oppressive tyrants in 1 Samuel 8 and that the people would cry out but God would not hear them.

Philip Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment demonstrated that the situation and conditions we are placed may alter our actions despite our learned or assumed morals. The Milgram experiment measured the willingness of varied group men to obey an authority figure who instructed them to perform acts conflicting with their personal conscience.

David faced similar temptation concerning numbering the people and stealing the "wife of Uriah the Hittite".

What drove Saul to his fate and what saved David?

Saul foolishly forced the offering of the people to support his army. David numbered the people so they could be drafted into military service but repented. He started to build a stone temple which would further centralize the government but repented. He was going to use force to extract support from Nabal but repented through the kind and generous efforts Abigail. Except for his betrayal of Uriah to steal his wife David did pretty good because he was willing to change his thinking and actions, which is the essence of repentance.

Overcoming a Troll

The troll may not see the spirit that drives his addiction but have no doubt the desire to destroy others makes self-destructive his destiny. We see the extreme manifestation of the troll spirit is the tyrant who leaves untold millions dead. But the same spirit in modern society is palpable in the mass shooter, who like Saul, may turn his merciless instrument of death and chaos upon himself at the appearance of possile defeat.

The victim also plays a part in the dance of the oppressor or antagonizer. Both are a part of an unhealthy alliance of the soul. The guards and prisoners of the Stanford Prison Experiment needed each other in order to degenerate their souls to the level of the tyrant and oppressed. The clamor for gun free zones and safe spaces is the desire to retreat to a cell of apathy and complacence that gives rise to the institution of victimhood that calls forth the tyrant into being.

What can you do?

We are endowed by our creator with certain powers and duties which are often called rights. Mankind has been in a battle of obtaining power over others or relinquishing that power to others to avoid personal responsibilities.

Both granting power to select individuals or group and the relinquishing of power can give rise to tyrannical abuse and degenerative submission to injustice. Most systems of society facilitate the engagement in both.

Democracy is granting of power to a select group. Socialism is granting more power and communism is the culmination of power where a tyrant may seize control. Polybius clarifies this rise of tyranny and social degeneration.

Power corrupts the individual who obtains power and the individual who gives it away.

You must seek humility and the truth of your failings.

You must forgive others their possible fault in your failure and accept the truth about yourself

Any cognitive empathy is overcome by active empathy which comes by loving your neighbor as yourself.

Pride does goeth before the fall.

The gospel is about everyone taking back their individual responsibility in the system and process of seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Sitting down in the tens as commanded by Christ requires all these actions of righteousness.

1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?