Is trolling the legitimised way to stone people ?

[Outoftheshadow]

Does anyone think that trolling is really a new phenomenon in the human psyche?

Since records began it would seem that those that govern us have allowed the masses destroy an individual who is different (stoning, crucification, burnings, beheadings, being thrown to the lions...) which were all spectacles for those watching or throwing the stones. Orwell referred to the '2 minute hate’ where big brother actually made the masses turn there anger against the ‘enemy’.

So (IMO) the fact that trolling is allowed by the governments across the world is their way of ensuring that they can continue to control the masses and give them the outlet they need to vent their anger. Twitter and its like just gives us a new way to do it.

Sorry on a mumsnet roll here

I think you're on to something. It includes all the elements - the right thinking majority, the scapegoat, the high emotions, the public warning to other potential troublemakers to comply or else.

Yes I think this is spot on. Also the stocks and even Aunt Sally at the funfare. Something atavistic about it, strange that some think they're doing it in the name of progress.

I recently watched The Americans, one of the characters says 'we just want to make the world a better place''. But she says it to a woman she is about to murder, and her victim replies “That’s what evil people tell themselves when they do evil things.”

Such an interesting point and I'm sure you're right.

I'm not sure Governments allow it, as such. It's a function of groups of people. It's the flip side of clapping for the NHS. Social cohesion is a powerful force, generally for good, but with capacity for terrible abuse.

Mob mentality. Well, better words than actual stones, but unfortunately just words aren't enough for some.

Also, 'cancel culture' isn't exactly new. Ostracism was a real phenomenon, sanctioned by the earliest democracy (well, pseudo democracy, there's not been any full ones till the 20th C obviously). It may have sometimes served a legitimate function to prevent the rise of a tyrant, but I doubt that was always the case.
There's a museum in Athens which includes in one of its displays a selection of ostraka - the pottery shards with the name of the person you wanted rid of scratched on it. There's a whole pile 'mass produced' to try to banish Thermistocles.

Unfortunately the definition of 'trolling' has morphed so much that 99% of what is now described as such is just straightforward hate and abuse.

I don't believe people should be permitted to behave on social media in ways that would not be accepted were they do do the same in person or via other means, and it infuriates me that the term 'trolling' has now become a blanket term for people acting towards others in a hateful way when they are somewhat protected by the anonymity of the internet.

'Trolling' was originally never about hate, or setting out to hurt or offend, so it's about time we returned to calling hateful and offensive behaviour out for what it is, and holding those responsible for it to account.

I think much of what you are describing OP is just scapegoating, which has existed since well before anyone ever thought of the internet. Sure, 'trolling' might feed into that vilification of an idea or an individual, but I don't think it's an entirely new phenomenon in itself. And yes, the fact there appears to be next to no serious effort being made to tackle it does make me wonder if authorities do actually perceive it to be a problem. It is difficult though to control and influence something that stretches across borders and jurisdictions.

Yes, 'trolling' is probably the wrong term for what the OP describes - it's hateful, vindictive pileons.

The meaning of "trolling" has changed from originally meaning of someone asserting something that they didn't believe was true or didn't care either way in order to trigger a reaction in a target and to get them running around expending energy and fighting an imaginary foe.

Now it seems to mean malicious and targeted abuse on the Internet.