Why do people troll???!!

[KnackeredHag]

Why oh why do people do this?! Genuinely struggling to understand why someone would post such a heart wrenching post and appeal for help just for kicks, only for it to be some sick joke. I just can not get my head around this level of psychopathic behaviour. AiBU to ask for other people to tell me why individuals troll, as an anonymous on a forum, not even as themselves?

Narcissistic behaviour mixed with boredom. That's the simplest answer I can think of!

I just assume they're a bit mental.

I can almost understand the big drama type ones - it's the utterly pedestrian ones that befuddle me.

I’m interested in this as I always fail to spot a troll and when I check in to a thread to see how it’s going for the OP I then find a message from MNHQ.

No idea. We had a supply teacher once in our department who (proudly) told us he was a troll - he used to post insulting and vile things on like, the memorial pages of dead children etc. He said he once commented on a Madeline McCann page ‘I’ve got her in my cellar’ or something similar. Vile but the worst part was he seemed pretty normal to talk to previous to admission.

I have to say I find it odd too. There must be some form of kick they get out of it, I guess trying to fool strangers, thinking they got one up on people.

I think there are lots of reasons. I agree though that it is the dull ordinary ones which get me.

I think many of the ones where it is a heart wrenching story probably have their own trauma behind them. That’s when I am being generous

@Burntbiscotti I think you are correct but I just can not get my head around it!

'Oooh nothing I fancy on Netflix, let's pretend I'm in danger and appeal to the masses for my imminent rescue. ..

That is messed up.

@Tunnocks34

No idea. We had a supply teacher once in our department who (proudly) told us he was a troll - he used to post insulting and vile things on like, the memorial pages of dead children etc. He said he once commented on a Madeline McCann page ‘I’ve got her in my cellar’ or something similar. Vile but the worst part was he seemed pretty normal to talk to previous to admission.

And he was a supply teacher??? ( Shudders.)

They're probably narcissistic or maybe a little mental? Quite frankly posting on a dead child's memorial page is disgusting. The poor families who had to read that😢

I don't know. Perhaps they need to feel a connection with people, but don't feel their lives warrant talking about? I find that starting threads is very stressful. Much happier as a minor contributor or lurker. So I'd make a rubbish troll

Sometimes it's to see the reaction, sometimes I think they are acting out something that happened to them.

I agree with all the above. I just can't comprehend how someone can be so self involved/deluded/piss taking etc as to pretend they are actually in danger, with strangers investing in their well being. I'd like to say never again, however no doubt I'll get sucked in again as hate to think of anyone in a horrid situation that they need help with.

I agree it's the mundane ones that puzzle me the most. The was one a week or so back where the poster was talking about not wanting kids, but someone flagged them up as previously posting about her DC in another thread! 🤷‍♀️

They desperately want attention.

Boredom, attention seeking, cheap entertainment. It’s utterly pathetic. I really dislike trolls, especially the fantasists who invent entire life stories (with the obligatory twins, of course).

Lack of anything else in their lives.
Or if you are cynical it's a political ruse to get us to turn on each other...

@Tunnocks34

No idea. We had a supply teacher once in our department who (proudly) told us he was a troll - he used to post insulting and vile things on like, the memorial pages of dead children etc. He said he once commented on a Madeline McCann page ‘I’ve got her in my cellar’ or something similar. Vile but the worst part was he seemed pretty normal to talk to previous to admission.

Thats quite scary knowing someone like that was trusted with children.

I think because they think they can get away with it. They probably would never say those things to someone in real life but typing on a screen when you can’t see the person may seem more removed. Everyone nowadays so feels they are entitled to say whatever they want, when you have politicians and people in power who are openly hostile and disrespectful, then there must be people that think it’s acceptable.

Probably boredom for some and for others perhaps some sort of extreme attention seeking disorder?

Especially the ones who start 'live threads' that run into 2 or 3 follow up threads.

It's obvious some of them are complete bullshit but you'll always get a bunch of clappers and squealers shouting "UPDATE NEEDED OP!" and hanging on every word until they're finally deleted.

It makes me wonder who's worse sometimes.

Boredom in the main & then bitterness.

You see, I just don't have enough time or energy in my life to create an alternate persona, having posted about life prior. It must take some serious planning to not be caught out? (Thanks for the poster search option HQ) I agree, attention seeking and desperate, I don't know whether to feel pity or anger!

It depends how you define trolling...some of the regular posters on here I would consider trolls, especially when I see their behaviour on other sites. It’s not just the obvious ones.

And it’s desperate attention seeking.

How do you spot them?

Have I missed a thread which has been deleted??