krullebolle [65797] —
Original article
At one point or another, we all fall for the troll trap. From the most seasoned players to the recently recruited noob - even this game`s creator has been caught in a troll trap.
Or was it the other way around? Was Chedburn doing the trolling? The truth is there may be no dividing line between trolls and everyone else. At any given moment in time, hordes of people are behaving like or responding to a troll. A recent thread by Hcom3 illustrated just how bad things have gotten. Even this very newspaper has been accused of fanning the flames itself, with lead writer Sugarvalves responding by placing a moratorium on karma or troll related articles effective immediately after publication of this piece.
Unless they do something of significance elsewhere in the game, the likes of Evil-Duck, DUDE etc will no longer be mentioned in this newspaper.
We can, therefore, consider this article the final word on trolls for the foreseeable future. With that in mind, we shall give you the tools you need to avoid responding to these foul creatures. Because in Torn, there is a love / hate relationship with the trolls. Those who despise them avoid global chat and rarely read General discussion. Those who don't mind the trolls stick around in both, and through their actions, they help to keep this unpleasant species alive.
Pictured: The world's most invasive species being nurtured until it strangles us all.
A person`s mood dictates whether or not they troll. When you are in a bad mood, you are likely to take this out on someone by giving them grief. This is the case for the majority of trolls, whose lives are so devoid of meaning and joy they must extract happiness from others in any way they can - like a vampire, except they suck harder.
Counter trolls are different. For example, the slip-up from the creator of this game may have given us a glimpse of his feelings at that particular time, however, since Chedburn was himself responding to a troll, mischievousness may have played a part, with Sharpmid's comments inspiring a rare devilish streak from our leader.
The content of the post also matters. A discussion which begins with `trolling content` is more likely to be trolled by other participants. And the more trolls that answer, the more likely that future posters will also troll. Let`s call these discussions `troll starter posts`. Throughout Torn's history, we have seen many different moderating styles applied to the forums, and some staff seemed more effective than others at rooting out these starter posts. But this task is harder than you might think.
While the mood of the troller and the content of the discussion are the biggest troll indicators, research suggests that prior reputation is rarely a good indicator of a person's intent, despite assumptions to the contrary. You may look at a title posted by a known troll and automatically assume its content to be worthless, but even these individuals have been known to start decent discussions, much to the surprise of everyone.
Trolls, unlike leopards, can change their spots. As such, there are many different types of trolls out there in the wild, and if you are to avoid responding to them, it is important to know which one you're dealing with at any given time.
As a social game Torn will always have to deal with dedicated, hostile elements just as social media does. Some of these people don`t even consider themselves trolls, even though the rest of the community does. Others identify as trolls and wear that title like a shiny golden badge. In both cases, their personality on Torn may not be anything like their personality outside of the game.
This changing of one's personality to fit a particular situation is known as a salient identity. We can be a doting parent or a loving spouse in the company of loved ones but that doesn't prevent us from being a salty pirate on Torn as soon as we absorb ourselves into this unique community. Everyone is part of a particular group and we are characterized by the identities of those we interact with. A person's `salient identity` is the personality that comes into play in a specific situation, and it seems that when people arrive in Torn City, many of them see fit to become trolls.
But why are some people more committed to this than others? According to further research, 'what identity comes into play in a specific situation depends on factors such as the level of commitment a person has to a particular identity and the hierarchical ranking of that identity`. This explains why someone who has devoted great energy to a trolling identity will troll hard to keep it intact. They cannot allow themselves to let go of their supposed power - some trolls even proclaim themselves trolling kings.
Such proclamations make the fulltime trolls so very interesting. Whereas most players take pleasure from rising up the Hall of Fame, earning large amounts of cash or being part of a successful faction, trolls achieve the same by spreading their reputation and maintaining infamy. It doesn't matter if they're identifying themselves as 'The wolv ov torn' or they're flashing a gold ak every two minutes, all they're doing is attempting to rise up their own imaginary Hall of Fame and reassert their salient identity.
Some people are outspoken by nature. Others just enjoy making people uncomfortable or angry. And some think they are morally superior to others. We have all seen morally superior trolls at work, and the research I've discovered here describes how we all think we are morally superior in some way to others. One quote says it all: `the fact that we tend to believe that we are above the moral average could ironically make us less so.`
Typically, this type of troll will target a fulltime troll and keep at it for a long time. The most famous morally superior troll on torn is Sweeney Todd. Below you can see a statement from his profile signature, illustrating the mindset of the superior troll most eloquently.
Sweeney is a former staffer, and as such his words have more clout than most. Other morally superior trolls will use language or knowledge to beat their opponent, and this makes them hated by the fulltime troll. But it's not all positive. While most people will chuckle if their morals align with the superior troll's statements, a few roll their eyes at their apparent smugness. These trolls are like the `I know everything better then you` kid everyone had in class. Annoying, but you have to admit they're often right, even if you wish they weren't.
Morally superior trolls are also very different to the others in that their intent is more complicated than to provoke a negative emotional response from their target. Yes, the victim of the superior troll is supposed to feel bad, but those who support the superior troll's statements are meant to feel superior by association, which you could say is a positive thing. Whether or not this act helps destroy the typical troll's confidence is debatable, though, as being called out eloquently seems to not affect the common troll.
'The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.' - Mark Twain
Humor has long been recognized as more than mere fun and games; it presents an alternative means of expressing criticism about injustices, arrogance, pretentions or hypocrisies that cant socially (or legally) be expressed otherwise.
To be a typical troll requires a certain lack of empathy. Trolls work together to elicit an indignant, angry, or tearful response, as if it were a game. A comic troll is different; they may be unempathetically targeting a player through the use of humor like a typical troll, but they might also be offering up comic material for the good of the community.
There are several types of comic trolls, and the first is the positive humor troll, who uses humor to take the heat out of trolling posts. Then there are sarcasm trolls, whose intention is to deliver a punch without the receiver feeling it instantly, or make the receiver feel insulted without precisely insulting him/her. And we also have morally superior comic trolls who use humor as an effective disguise for feeling morally superior, according to this study.
A successful troll plays with ambiguity in such a way that the audience is never quite sure whether or not they are serious. Using comedy muddies the water even further. Determining the intent behind a troll post is often impossible, especially given that participants are always under a Torn alias. Comic trolls who are morally ambiguous usually hide in the `politics and law` forums - people are more easily `trolled` when politics are involved. Some food for thought on that here.
For whatever reason, one player may occasionally develop an unhealthy fixation on another and begin to troll and bully them. These trolls are a different breed altogether, and there have been plenty of insightful articles on bullying written already in both the newspaper and the forums.
What I do find interesting is the bully or bully-target who is also an attention seeker. Marshmalllow and Ralucakiss84 are prime examples, as each has attempted (and failed) to gain sympathy for their causes. Marshmalllow frequently comments on how his one-man war against Raluca is justified due to her actions towards him. Likewise, Raluca feels Marshmalllow is a nutjob who has targeted her unfairly. Neither player has attracted much compassion from the public due to their respective reputations and inability to communicate effectively. But why would a bully or a bully victim seek fame from such a toxic relationship?
This research describes why people seek attention, with one quote, in particular, seeming rather apt: 'drama eases the anxiety of wanting more attention than you are getting. Naturally, since drama uses the same mechanisms in the brain as opiates, people can easily become addicted to drama. Like any addiction, you build up a tolerance that continuously requires more to get the same neurochemical effect.'
Perhaps Marshmalllow thought he wasn't getting enough support in his attempt to destroy Ralucakiss84. Or maybe Raluca felt she wasn't being given enough protection. Either way, it seems their pleaful posts (which have admittedly died down of late) served only to highlight their desire for more attention. Not that excessive attention seeking is a bad thing, though, as the following quote illustrates: 'Excessive attention seeking is not a character flaw. It is a brain wiring response to an early developmental trauma.'
Thankfully, the aforementioned two players seem to have given up angling for support for their cause. But not all players learn this lesson. Especially susceptible are fulltime trolls, whom in their drive for more drama and attention go further and further, pushing the limits of what is allowed within the rules, until eventually they go too far and receive a ban. But these bans only serve to justify their actions and heighten their profile, leading to the inevitable post-ban drama thread about why their punishment was unjust. See the pattern here?
THE big question! Why, oh why, do we keep feeding these trolls? Many trolls enjoy a symbiotic relationship with their own kind, feeding off each other's waste as quickly as it is excreted within the VIP forums, global chat or GD. But all too often a regular Torn citizen will reply, only to become sucked deep into a troll-fest. Why is it so hard to restrain ourselves?
Involuntary reading
A common troll defence is 'if you don't want to read trolling posts, then just don't read them!'. The problem is, I've often read most of a troll's post before I realise I don't want to be reading it. Every line of text that flashes before my eyes, I read. I read a lot, which means my 'automaticity' in reading is very high. This causes me to read half of an ED rant before I correct myself and stop reading. It just happens!
As much as I do not want to read trolling posts, I do. People who don't have problems witch automaticity or involuntary reading are blessed here. But even regular citizens can be drawn in by a post which promises one thing, only to turn troll halfway through.
Anonymity
In an online role-playing game, we all play a character slightly different than the one we really are. The anonymity eases the boundaries of what we normally would do, and thus our responses might be exaggerated. But because Torn is a community, and interaction with players is an essential part of the game, you are not as anonymous as you`d think.
People know your traits and character. In this respect, Torn is more like Facebook than the comment feed on a newspaper article, although Torn does provide the option for mailing people anonymously - thus providing even further opportunities for the committed troll to do their business.
Desensitization
Since the Relentless script was released last month, General Discussion seems to have been flooded with troll posts by the usual suspects in a last-ditch attempt to make a name for themselves. This waterfall of trolling content batters our senses and alters what we perceive as being normal. And while desensitization to idiotic content may be a good thing, the effect this has on our own minds is most certainly not.
Whereas once we would all have thought about the consequences of what we posted, many are now content to spout nonsense without considering the effects. There are so many nasty comments, uninformed rants and meaningless jibes out there that we may start to think that making one ourselves is no big deal.
Perceived lack of consequences
Social exchange theory suggests that we analyze the costs and benefits of our communication and relationships. All in all, these factors precede the belief that the benefits of expressing oneself outweigh any costs. Anonymity and obscurity suggest you won't be personally responsible. If some people are upset or angry at what you've said, your belief that you have people on your side means you are winning more friends than you're losing.
Combined with desensitization, certain personality traits may even make the loss of friendships seem unlikely or irrelevant because those friends aren't really 'worth it' if they cant handle the truth, or they aren't really friends if they don't agree with you.
Since December 2016 the rules of the Torn forums have been loosened. Unfortunately, within this new system there is a great deal of room for interpretation. And since a major part of trolling consists of trying to sew discord among the ordinary citizens, these inconsistencies are fertile ground for a troll to take root.
Before these rules were implemented, certain staff members were effective at rooting out trolls and removing the `starter troll posts`. But since everyone has different opinions, each staff member sets the bar differently, and such disparity often leads to trolling. This situation is heightened when a troll has several of their 'troll starter posts' removed by one person. Such a campaign will be seen by the troll as personal harassment by a certain staff member, even if they're following procedure to the letter.
Many in Torn have complained about the incessant trolling of late, with GD and global presently being occupied by a small number of fulltime trolls holding troll-fests amongst themselves. To gauge the public's opinion on this matter, Chedburn posted a poll about forum moderation in October of last year.
Nearly half of all respondents found the current moderation of the forums too relaxed. Of course, this question was answered only by those who take part in GD, with 458 people voting in this poll as opposed to 18,000 active daily players. This either means that we have a huge number of lurkers who read and do nothing else, or that the forums are not being read by the majority of Torn players.
Still, most of those who do interact with the forums want it to be moderated more harshly. Yet as Chedburn expressed in the above comment, finding the right balance of moderation is no easy task. Luckily, many Torn users find solace in the faction forums and chat. Experience has taught me that these places are usually a safe-haven - Art of War aside - and this proves that trolls only thrive under a certain set of conditions.
Once you get to know your faction buddies well, your anonymity is taken away. Once you have committed a lot of time and energy to help the faction you have tangible things to lose by ruining the atmosphere. Trolling a faction forum may get you ostracised by your friends, which is a far harsher punishment than to be banned by an anonymous staff member for talking to other anonymous people.
So what is the solution? Removing anonymity for all players would be one option, although this would come at a heavy price to our collective privacy and would almost certainly be rejected by the masses. And while heavier punishments may cause some trolls to calm down or be deported, the fact is that most of their posts aren't offensive enough to warrant such action.
Since drama is addicting and rewarding for the brain, it seems that trolls are here to stay until something is done. It cannot be denied that the new forum rules have resulted in a flood, but whether or not this is a bad thing depends on how Chedburn perceives it. He has often spoken out about the increased activity with the forums as a reason to leave things as they are, so it seems action will only take place if the feeling of the community changes drastically. With this in mind, I will end this article with possible treatments to the troll problem which may reduce their numbers, if not rid us of their kind for good.
https://bizfluent.com/info-8710971-salient-identity.html
http://theconversation.com/our-experiments-taught-us-why-people-troll-72798
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/better-living-technology/201408/why-the-online-trolls-troll
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_identity_model_of_deindividuation_effects
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_exchange_theory
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/obesely-speaking/201411/excessive-attention-seeking-and-drama-addiction
https://www.torn.com/rules.php#tab=privacy_policy
https://www.torn.com/forums.php#!p=threads&f=1&t=15991575&b=0&a=0
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/most-people-consider-themselves-to-be-morally-superior/
https://datasociety.net/pubs/oh/DataAndSociety_MediaManipulationAndDisinformationOnline.pdf
https://io9.gizmodo.com/bullies-use-the-superiority-theory-to-turn-laughter-int-1445320756
https://www.scilearn.com/blog/automaticity-in-reading
Or was it the other way around? Was Chedburn doing the trolling? The truth is there may be no dividing line between trolls and everyone else. At any given moment in time, hordes of people are behaving like or responding to a troll. A recent thread by Hcom3 illustrated just how bad things have gotten. Even this very newspaper has been accused of fanning the flames itself, with lead writer Sugarvalves responding by placing a moratorium on karma or troll related articles effective immediately after publication of this piece.
Unless they do something of significance elsewhere in the game, the likes of Evil-Duck, DUDE etc will no longer be mentioned in this newspaper.
We can, therefore, consider this article the final word on trolls for the foreseeable future. With that in mind, we shall give you the tools you need to avoid responding to these foul creatures. Because in Torn, there is a love / hate relationship with the trolls. Those who despise them avoid global chat and rarely read General discussion. Those who don't mind the trolls stick around in both, and through their actions, they help to keep this unpleasant species alive.
Pictured: The world's most invasive species being nurtured until it strangles us all.
What influences trolling?
A person`s mood dictates whether or not they troll. When you are in a bad mood, you are likely to take this out on someone by giving them grief. This is the case for the majority of trolls, whose lives are so devoid of meaning and joy they must extract happiness from others in any way they can - like a vampire, except they suck harder.
Counter trolls are different. For example, the slip-up from the creator of this game may have given us a glimpse of his feelings at that particular time, however, since Chedburn was himself responding to a troll, mischievousness may have played a part, with Sharpmid's comments inspiring a rare devilish streak from our leader.
The content of the post also matters. A discussion which begins with `trolling content` is more likely to be trolled by other participants. And the more trolls that answer, the more likely that future posters will also troll. Let`s call these discussions `troll starter posts`. Throughout Torn's history, we have seen many different moderating styles applied to the forums, and some staff seemed more effective than others at rooting out these starter posts. But this task is harder than you might think.
While the mood of the troller and the content of the discussion are the biggest troll indicators, research suggests that prior reputation is rarely a good indicator of a person's intent, despite assumptions to the contrary. You may look at a title posted by a known troll and automatically assume its content to be worthless, but even these individuals have been known to start decent discussions, much to the surprise of everyone.
Trolls, unlike leopards, can change their spots. As such, there are many different types of trolls out there in the wild, and if you are to avoid responding to them, it is important to know which one you're dealing with at any given time.
Types of trolls
The fulltime troll
As a social game Torn will always have to deal with dedicated, hostile elements just as social media does. Some of these people don`t even consider themselves trolls, even though the rest of the community does. Others identify as trolls and wear that title like a shiny golden badge. In both cases, their personality on Torn may not be anything like their personality outside of the game.
This changing of one's personality to fit a particular situation is known as a salient identity. We can be a doting parent or a loving spouse in the company of loved ones but that doesn't prevent us from being a salty pirate on Torn as soon as we absorb ourselves into this unique community. Everyone is part of a particular group and we are characterized by the identities of those we interact with. A person's `salient identity` is the personality that comes into play in a specific situation, and it seems that when people arrive in Torn City, many of them see fit to become trolls.
But why are some people more committed to this than others? According to further research, 'what identity comes into play in a specific situation depends on factors such as the level of commitment a person has to a particular identity and the hierarchical ranking of that identity`. This explains why someone who has devoted great energy to a trolling identity will troll hard to keep it intact. They cannot allow themselves to let go of their supposed power - some trolls even proclaim themselves trolling kings.
Such proclamations make the fulltime trolls so very interesting. Whereas most players take pleasure from rising up the Hall of Fame, earning large amounts of cash or being part of a successful faction, trolls achieve the same by spreading their reputation and maintaining infamy. It doesn't matter if they're identifying themselves as 'The wolv ov torn' or they're flashing a gold ak every two minutes, all they're doing is attempting to rise up their own imaginary Hall of Fame and reassert their salient identity.
The morally superior troll
Some people are outspoken by nature. Others just enjoy making people uncomfortable or angry. And some think they are morally superior to others. We have all seen morally superior trolls at work, and the research I've discovered here describes how we all think we are morally superior in some way to others. One quote says it all: `the fact that we tend to believe that we are above the moral average could ironically make us less so.`
Typically, this type of troll will target a fulltime troll and keep at it for a long time. The most famous morally superior troll on torn is Sweeney Todd. Below you can see a statement from his profile signature, illustrating the mindset of the superior troll most eloquently.
Sweeney is a former staffer, and as such his words have more clout than most. Other morally superior trolls will use language or knowledge to beat their opponent, and this makes them hated by the fulltime troll. But it's not all positive. While most people will chuckle if their morals align with the superior troll's statements, a few roll their eyes at their apparent smugness. These trolls are like the `I know everything better then you` kid everyone had in class. Annoying, but you have to admit they're often right, even if you wish they weren't.
Morally superior trolls are also very different to the others in that their intent is more complicated than to provoke a negative emotional response from their target. Yes, the victim of the superior troll is supposed to feel bad, but those who support the superior troll's statements are meant to feel superior by association, which you could say is a positive thing. Whether or not this act helps destroy the typical troll's confidence is debatable, though, as being called out eloquently seems to not affect the common troll.
Comic trolls
'The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.' - Mark Twain
Humor has long been recognized as more than mere fun and games; it presents an alternative means of expressing criticism about injustices, arrogance, pretentions or hypocrisies that cant socially (or legally) be expressed otherwise.
To be a typical troll requires a certain lack of empathy. Trolls work together to elicit an indignant, angry, or tearful response, as if it were a game. A comic troll is different; they may be unempathetically targeting a player through the use of humor like a typical troll, but they might also be offering up comic material for the good of the community.
There are several types of comic trolls, and the first is the positive humor troll, who uses humor to take the heat out of trolling posts. Then there are sarcasm trolls, whose intention is to deliver a punch without the receiver feeling it instantly, or make the receiver feel insulted without precisely insulting him/her. And we also have morally superior comic trolls who use humor as an effective disguise for feeling morally superior, according to this study.
A successful troll plays with ambiguity in such a way that the audience is never quite sure whether or not they are serious. Using comedy muddies the water even further. Determining the intent behind a troll post is often impossible, especially given that participants are always under a Torn alias. Comic trolls who are morally ambiguous usually hide in the `politics and law` forums - people are more easily `trolled` when politics are involved. Some food for thought on that here.
Single-target/bully trolls
For whatever reason, one player may occasionally develop an unhealthy fixation on another and begin to troll and bully them. These trolls are a different breed altogether, and there have been plenty of insightful articles on bullying written already in both the newspaper and the forums.
What I do find interesting is the bully or bully-target who is also an attention seeker. Marshmalllow and Ralucakiss84 are prime examples, as each has attempted (and failed) to gain sympathy for their causes. Marshmalllow frequently comments on how his one-man war against Raluca is justified due to her actions towards him. Likewise, Raluca feels Marshmalllow is a nutjob who has targeted her unfairly. Neither player has attracted much compassion from the public due to their respective reputations and inability to communicate effectively. But why would a bully or a bully victim seek fame from such a toxic relationship?
This research describes why people seek attention, with one quote, in particular, seeming rather apt: 'drama eases the anxiety of wanting more attention than you are getting. Naturally, since drama uses the same mechanisms in the brain as opiates, people can easily become addicted to drama. Like any addiction, you build up a tolerance that continuously requires more to get the same neurochemical effect.'
Perhaps Marshmalllow thought he wasn't getting enough support in his attempt to destroy Ralucakiss84. Or maybe Raluca felt she wasn't being given enough protection. Either way, it seems their pleaful posts (which have admittedly died down of late) served only to highlight their desire for more attention. Not that excessive attention seeking is a bad thing, though, as the following quote illustrates: 'Excessive attention seeking is not a character flaw. It is a brain wiring response to an early developmental trauma.'
Thankfully, the aforementioned two players seem to have given up angling for support for their cause. But not all players learn this lesson. Especially susceptible are fulltime trolls, whom in their drive for more drama and attention go further and further, pushing the limits of what is allowed within the rules, until eventually they go too far and receive a ban. But these bans only serve to justify their actions and heighten their profile, leading to the inevitable post-ban drama thread about why their punishment was unjust. See the pattern here?
But why do we keep feeding trolls?
THE big question! Why, oh why, do we keep feeding these trolls? Many trolls enjoy a symbiotic relationship with their own kind, feeding off each other's waste as quickly as it is excreted within the VIP forums, global chat or GD. But all too often a regular Torn citizen will reply, only to become sucked deep into a troll-fest. Why is it so hard to restrain ourselves?
Involuntary reading
A common troll defence is 'if you don't want to read trolling posts, then just don't read them!'. The problem is, I've often read most of a troll's post before I realise I don't want to be reading it. Every line of text that flashes before my eyes, I read. I read a lot, which means my 'automaticity' in reading is very high. This causes me to read half of an ED rant before I correct myself and stop reading. It just happens!
As much as I do not want to read trolling posts, I do. People who don't have problems witch automaticity or involuntary reading are blessed here. But even regular citizens can be drawn in by a post which promises one thing, only to turn troll halfway through.
Anonymity
In an online role-playing game, we all play a character slightly different than the one we really are. The anonymity eases the boundaries of what we normally would do, and thus our responses might be exaggerated. But because Torn is a community, and interaction with players is an essential part of the game, you are not as anonymous as you`d think.
People know your traits and character. In this respect, Torn is more like Facebook than the comment feed on a newspaper article, although Torn does provide the option for mailing people anonymously - thus providing even further opportunities for the committed troll to do their business.
Desensitization
Since the Relentless script was released last month, General Discussion seems to have been flooded with troll posts by the usual suspects in a last-ditch attempt to make a name for themselves. This waterfall of trolling content batters our senses and alters what we perceive as being normal. And while desensitization to idiotic content may be a good thing, the effect this has on our own minds is most certainly not.
Whereas once we would all have thought about the consequences of what we posted, many are now content to spout nonsense without considering the effects. There are so many nasty comments, uninformed rants and meaningless jibes out there that we may start to think that making one ourselves is no big deal.
Perceived lack of consequences
Social exchange theory suggests that we analyze the costs and benefits of our communication and relationships. All in all, these factors precede the belief that the benefits of expressing oneself outweigh any costs. Anonymity and obscurity suggest you won't be personally responsible. If some people are upset or angry at what you've said, your belief that you have people on your side means you are winning more friends than you're losing.
Combined with desensitization, certain personality traits may even make the loss of friendships seem unlikely or irrelevant because those friends aren't really 'worth it' if they cant handle the truth, or they aren't really friends if they don't agree with you.
Why so many in the Torn forums?
Since December 2016 the rules of the Torn forums have been loosened. Unfortunately, within this new system there is a great deal of room for interpretation. And since a major part of trolling consists of trying to sew discord among the ordinary citizens, these inconsistencies are fertile ground for a troll to take root.
Before these rules were implemented, certain staff members were effective at rooting out trolls and removing the `starter troll posts`. But since everyone has different opinions, each staff member sets the bar differently, and such disparity often leads to trolling. This situation is heightened when a troll has several of their 'troll starter posts' removed by one person. Such a campaign will be seen by the troll as personal harassment by a certain staff member, even if they're following procedure to the letter.
Conclusions and possible solutions
Many in Torn have complained about the incessant trolling of late, with GD and global presently being occupied by a small number of fulltime trolls holding troll-fests amongst themselves. To gauge the public's opinion on this matter, Chedburn posted a poll about forum moderation in October of last year.
Nearly half of all respondents found the current moderation of the forums too relaxed. Of course, this question was answered only by those who take part in GD, with 458 people voting in this poll as opposed to 18,000 active daily players. This either means that we have a huge number of lurkers who read and do nothing else, or that the forums are not being read by the majority of Torn players.
Still, most of those who do interact with the forums want it to be moderated more harshly. Yet as Chedburn expressed in the above comment, finding the right balance of moderation is no easy task. Luckily, many Torn users find solace in the faction forums and chat. Experience has taught me that these places are usually a safe-haven - Art of War aside - and this proves that trolls only thrive under a certain set of conditions.
Once you get to know your faction buddies well, your anonymity is taken away. Once you have committed a lot of time and energy to help the faction you have tangible things to lose by ruining the atmosphere. Trolling a faction forum may get you ostracised by your friends, which is a far harsher punishment than to be banned by an anonymous staff member for talking to other anonymous people.
So what is the solution? Removing anonymity for all players would be one option, although this would come at a heavy price to our collective privacy and would almost certainly be rejected by the masses. And while heavier punishments may cause some trolls to calm down or be deported, the fact is that most of their posts aren't offensive enough to warrant such action.
Since drama is addicting and rewarding for the brain, it seems that trolls are here to stay until something is done. It cannot be denied that the new forum rules have resulted in a flood, but whether or not this is a bad thing depends on how Chedburn perceives it. He has often spoken out about the increased activity with the forums as a reason to leave things as they are, so it seems action will only take place if the feeling of the community changes drastically. With this in mind, I will end this article with possible treatments to the troll problem which may reduce their numbers, if not rid us of their kind for good.
- Weed out`starter troll posts`.
Pros: Until now the only effective known way to stop incessant trolling and trolls. Responsibility lays in the hands of a transparent staff. Only posts with decent content are left alone.
Cons: Seen by trolls as personal harassment. Not all staff are capable of recognizing `troll starter posts`. Staff may seem biased since each will apply different standards. - Leave things like they are.
Pros: The rules are clear, everyone gets treated the same, drama llamas have plenty of food.
Cons: The troll-fests. The drama. It hurts my eyes. Is everyone really brain-dead here? - A concerted effort from all to stop feeding the trolls.
Pros: Trolls don`t get fed. They die of starvation.
Cons: Trolls will keep troll-fests among themselves. Trolls don`t view themselves as trolls. Most people, especially new players, won't be able to resist the temptation. - Use the 'quacking script' from relentless.
Pros: It leaves it up to the individual to determine who is a troll.
Cons: People may use it to hide opinions they don't like. Doesn't work on mobiles or global chat. Not everyone knows how to use it. New players may not be aware of it. - Reddit style ranking system.
Pros: S**tposts slide down the ranking and are hidden if unpopular. Decent posts by trolls still remain, eliminating accusations of bias.
Cons: Factions may mass downvote posts to hide them. Would require dev time for a new system to be implemented. - A forum protest where we refuse to use the forums until the trolls are dealt with.
Pros: Forum activity goes down. This makes it clear that the trolls are not a good thing. Change must then come.
Cons: Protests don't always work. Many players will use the forums regardless. The trolls will see it as a victory.
https://bizfluent.com/info-8710971-salient-identity.html
http://theconversation.com/our-experiments-taught-us-why-people-troll-72798
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/better-living-technology/201408/why-the-online-trolls-troll
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_identity_model_of_deindividuation_effects
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_exchange_theory
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/obesely-speaking/201411/excessive-attention-seeking-and-drama-addiction
https://www.torn.com/rules.php#tab=privacy_policy
https://www.torn.com/forums.php#!p=threads&f=1&t=15991575&b=0&a=0
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/most-people-consider-themselves-to-be-morally-superior/
https://datasociety.net/pubs/oh/DataAndSociety_MediaManipulationAndDisinformationOnline.pdf
https://io9.gizmodo.com/bullies-use-the-superiority-theory-to-turn-laughter-int-1445320756
https://www.scilearn.com/blog/automaticity-in-reading
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