THE FORUM BULLY
Hi, I read a nifty little article today about the forum bully!
Everyone loves a good forum. To me, this is one of the finest forums around. The forum is like a little society of people getting together and sharing people's opinions. It's great to know that you can come here and make suggestions and have people either, politely disagree or agree. But then you get some people who are just either trolls or bullies. "Basically a forum bully is the equivalent of a popular troll -- a troll with power within the group." (Will Wright, W. W. (January 23, 2008). Online Forum Etiquette: How to Deal with a Forum Bully. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/online-forum-etiquette-deal-forum-bully-796861.html?cat=15)
Congratulations if you've gotten this far! I'm glad I've peaked your attention. I'm writing this topic because I enjoy writing, and I think this forum would be a better place if people like this were weeded out.
In essence, a forum bully is hard to weed out. In my short time of this forum I've met actually some of the nicest people so far in a forum. Everyone has been very polite, and most people, very understanding. "The key is in the comments. (In relation to forum bullying) Look at how most forum members reply to comments. Most are polite. They may disagree but they do so with a level of respect for the opinions of others" (Will Wright, W. W.)
A forum bully is actually very subtle. For instance, they start out with compromising comments towards generally newer guests to the forum. In most cases people of the forum want everyone to feel welcome, but for the forum bully it is another instance to make people feel less at ease. But then there is the case for people who, for some reason, do not want people to feel welcome. This would be the cyber bully or forum bully, as both are nearly identical! "Severe or chronic cyberbullying can leave victims at greater risk for anxiety, depression, and other stress-related disorders." (Michelle New Ph.D, N. M. (January 2012). Cyberbullying. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/cyberbullying.html#)
There are actually many different types of forum bullies. For instance, some are deliberately abusive. For example, may have many friends that conjoin together to make a person feel unwelcome by showing they have power over you. The forum bully really just doesn't care. "Bullies usually attack weak or new targets" (shibashake, no name found, The Forum Bully - Why Are There So Many Online Bullies? Retrieved from http://shibashake.hubpages.com/hub/Online-Forum-Bully)
I think the greatest problem with these people is their obvious, over-abundant ignorance. These people tend to be very uncaring of the opinions of others and tend to think of themselves as better than the rest of the people. Although they are unaffected by praise or criticism, they tend to be unable to take any criticism. For example, I knew a friend of mine who played an online game called Runescape who was a bully. He and I would go around the virtual world talking to people, and would just get into virtual "bullying" fights, and he would find NO way in which he was wrong. Compliments from me just seemed to barely effect him deep down. "Bullies are in-love with themselves. They have little to no empathy, and are only interested in their own activities, and their own power." (Shibashake)
In conclusion, people like this are just pathetic. They find ways to demean people's opinions for example, and they find ways to demean your feelings. A forum bully would NEVER attack another person of prestige status on the forum, and therefore is how you can spot a forum bully (or troll).
My name is, Steven Sherman, I'm a college student and I'm studying to become a journalist.
Everyone loves a good forum. To me, this is one of the finest forums around. The forum is like a little society of people getting together and sharing people's opinions. It's great to know that you can come here and make suggestions and have people either, politely disagree or agree. But then you get some people who are just either trolls or bullies. "Basically a forum bully is the equivalent of a popular troll -- a troll with power within the group." (Will Wright, W. W. (January 23, 2008). Online Forum Etiquette: How to Deal with a Forum Bully. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/online-forum-etiquette-deal-forum-bully-796861.html?cat=15)
Congratulations if you've gotten this far! I'm glad I've peaked your attention. I'm writing this topic because I enjoy writing, and I think this forum would be a better place if people like this were weeded out.
In essence, a forum bully is hard to weed out. In my short time of this forum I've met actually some of the nicest people so far in a forum. Everyone has been very polite, and most people, very understanding. "The key is in the comments. (In relation to forum bullying) Look at how most forum members reply to comments. Most are polite. They may disagree but they do so with a level of respect for the opinions of others" (Will Wright, W. W.)
A forum bully is actually very subtle. For instance, they start out with compromising comments towards generally newer guests to the forum. In most cases people of the forum want everyone to feel welcome, but for the forum bully it is another instance to make people feel less at ease. But then there is the case for people who, for some reason, do not want people to feel welcome. This would be the cyber bully or forum bully, as both are nearly identical! "Severe or chronic cyberbullying can leave victims at greater risk for anxiety, depression, and other stress-related disorders." (Michelle New Ph.D, N. M. (January 2012). Cyberbullying. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/cyberbullying.html#)
There are actually many different types of forum bullies. For instance, some are deliberately abusive. For example, may have many friends that conjoin together to make a person feel unwelcome by showing they have power over you. The forum bully really just doesn't care. "Bullies usually attack weak or new targets" (shibashake, no name found, The Forum Bully - Why Are There So Many Online Bullies? Retrieved from http://shibashake.hubpages.com/hub/Online-Forum-Bully)
I think the greatest problem with these people is their obvious, over-abundant ignorance. These people tend to be very uncaring of the opinions of others and tend to think of themselves as better than the rest of the people. Although they are unaffected by praise or criticism, they tend to be unable to take any criticism. For example, I knew a friend of mine who played an online game called Runescape who was a bully. He and I would go around the virtual world talking to people, and would just get into virtual "bullying" fights, and he would find NO way in which he was wrong. Compliments from me just seemed to barely effect him deep down. "Bullies are in-love with themselves. They have little to no empathy, and are only interested in their own activities, and their own power." (Shibashake)
In conclusion, people like this are just pathetic. They find ways to demean people's opinions for example, and they find ways to demean your feelings. A forum bully would NEVER attack another person of prestige status on the forum, and therefore is how you can spot a forum bully (or troll).
My name is, Steven Sherman, I'm a college student and I'm studying to become a journalist.
8
Comments
I've seen some of the worst cases of bullying, or trolling, or whichever fits better at given situation, on various sites of the internet, some being very common (Youtube for instance)
As far as I am concerned, there are several ways to counter this bullying :
1) Don't mind them - if you do not, they'll leave you alone because you're a "spoilsport" to their eyes. Of course, this is a very short term victory as the bully will still operate onwards.
2) Report them - nothing nearly as effective as the Banhammer +10. Deals extra acid and fire damage against trolls as well!
3) (the least intuitive) Counter bullying - I've seen it at work once, someone I know very well (and someone that is on these very forums) once countered a bully-troll from another site. It was... quite impressively effective. I feel like those bullies are several times the most susceptible to bullying than anyone else is.
Question is though - WHY on Earth would you do that? Frustration? Anger? Trauma from your kid life? Or simple fun? I would understand in the former cases, in the latest - definitely not.
Trolling, bullying and such has a negative impact on the human being. And if you do it, you should feel bad - not only because you're ruining someone, but also because you'd ruin yourself on the long run. It bites back, there's no running away from it. /karma's a thing
A very good post, and I think very timely. As impressive a site as this is, it is not immune.
Bullying includes, of course, abuse of power, and can only thrive when other people give them tha power,l or allow them to retain it.
Bullying includes using the in-group and out-group technique, sadly celebrated by some as a manegement tehcnique called the Contingency Approach. Some people are rewarded for suporting the bully while others are punished for failing to comply.
Extremely relevant for a forum such as this, bullying includes control of information; restricting the flow of information that may challenge or threaten the authority or power of the bully.
Anonymity is also a power ingredient in allowing bullying to flourish, so in settings such as this there has to be clear lines of accountability and transparency.
And clear rules so that everyone can see that everyone is treated fairly, and can easily demonstrate when this is not the case.
This is a good summary ot the choices available when confronted with bullying.
However, all have pitfalls, depending on the circumstances.
1) This is by far the easiest approach. It saves you hassle and you learn to watch out for the individuals. The trouble is silence gives consent, it gives a message that what they're doing is somehow acceptable and that they can get away with it. It also means that someone else will ex[erience an embolded bully.
3) Counter bullying can often seem to be the only option when the bully's power is unchecked or they have control of the environnment. It also gives bullies room to breath and flourish, and increases the chances of multiple bullies co-operating and gaining more power. This increases the chances that those who have authority over the bully, or bullies, or who have ultimate responsibility for the environment, abdicate their responsibility, or are themselves afraid of or are manipulated by the bully or bullies.
2) This by far is the best approach, but the least comfortable, and the one that will make you the least popular. However, it can only work if there are clear lines of communication with those in authority, or who have authority over the bullies with authority, and if they are willing to stand up and be counted, and willing to reapond to your communication, without taking the easy way out (number (1) above).
If those in authority are not up to the task, then it does make another option more appealing:
4) Leave the environment. If it's an unhealthy environment, it will get to the stage when it's best to just walk away. And if enough people do so, they'll eventually set up another place with better rules.
On a lighter note I propose they should invent a technology that records your comments and sends them to your mum if someone finds them offensive. Forum bullying would vanish overnight lol.
That's usually not the case, and this is coming from someone often perceived as a bully.
When it comes to cyber-bullying, it usually comes from a place of abject terror in the person who's doing it. In the real world, they have a lack of power. If you can set yourself up as important to a place or as an expert or whatever, it gives power. ALL HUMANITY WANTS POWER. Everyone. Especially white people, because it's assumed we're supposed to have power from a cultural standpoint.
Let's not get into a discussion about racism AGAIN, okay? It's honestly getting boring.
The meta-narrative of the United States is that white people don't have any culture. That's not true. Part of being ethnically "white" is being successful and having a voice. A white person in a position of poverty is substantially more likely to behave violently than a member of another race, if we strip away other more pressing factors like the environment one was raised in.
It's also why white people who kill are always "psychopaths" and "morally bankrupt" while a black or hispanic man who kills does it because of "racial societal factors" or terrorism. This is merely referring to the perception among people in our culture and the way the media talks about these kinds of situations. A white man can be as much of a terrorist as any other race but he'll get labeled a "gunman" rather than "terrorist." It's kind of weird.
I'm looking at this purely academically. Go figure, I'm studying the semantics of language as a major in college, and part of that is looking at how cultures utilize language in framing discussions.
Well my opinion so far:
The guy try to define internet as a new 90 years high school, the only difference is that he call the jokers of trolls. You can't compare a school to a forum, there are huge differences between them, some people already stated this but lemme point a huge differences:
- In an forum, physical strenght isn't taken in account, it's inteligence and wisdom that define our argument power inside a forum (planescape? ^^).
- In forum's the inteligence power doesn't prevent others from express themselfs, it's the lack of arguments or reasoning that make it.
- Being a online acquaintanceship a forum don't force itself on the individual personal life.
- in a clash of minds, it's usually difficult to define who's the aggressor and who's the victim.
From my point of view, label general classifications in personal relations based in ethical or moral reasons is always problematic, even more when those relations comes from internet and everything you have to evaluate a person is his/her words posted inside the forum. Lack of self-criticism is most of the times a personal difficult that someone has to review and reevaluate his/her acts, not a lack of character.
I can securely say that at least 50% of the people here at least once trolled someone, including myself (who here remember of our friend GueulEclator and his controversy statements?), troll isn't a class that someone choose, it's an action, normally (with few exceptions) no one is a troll, people just troll in certain moments.
In essence, i disagree with the author of the article on the way he try to label behaviors in general, by another side i agree that exist some people in forums that only rejoice in make conflicts for the pleasure of discord.
I have to say that his article is like read a 90° age high school teenager survival history, funny in most parts but lack commitment in give solutions to discord in forums and focus more on his personal (and non-neutral) view of the matter. An serious evaluation of this behavior and a proffesional study in this matter can maybe give good results, but the article quoted only put more wood on the fire.
Internet undesirables? Nice subject.
Ok! Let's talk about trolls.
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/5097/do-not-add-any-new-npcs-for-baldurs-gate-ii/p1
A kid who holds an unpopular opinion might be a troll. MAYBE.
A kid who holds an unpopular opinion JUST TO START FIGHTS on the internet is very likely to be a troll.
You can tell the difference after three or four of his posts... two if he's a very bad one.
A kid who suggests something that makes him happy, and not everybody else, when (PAY ATTENTION) a solution that could make everybody happy is possible, is certainly a troll.
A kid that, when somebody points out (at the second answer of that same thread) the possibility of said "everyone's happy" solution... consciously DECIDES TO OVERLOOK IT, like if the interlocutor never spoke, and like if the point was never made... is definitely a troll.
A kid who, actually, DECLARES THE DISAGREEING PERSON TO AGREE WITH HIM, to confuse distracted readers and make it look like he has support from somebody, is a clumsy and shameless troll.
A kid who continues holding the unpopular opinion when basically THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY (well, everybody who cared to answer, at least) disagrees, is pretty much surely doing it just to argue, and thus he's a troll.
A kid that, when somebody points out the errors of his ways (and that's when I come in), and is called upon his incorrect behaviour... AGAIN decides to avoid staying on the very subject he's called upon, and just goes for a string of incoherent, generic, finger-pointing accusations... well, that kid is an obvious troll.
A kid that, when faced with FACTS and DIRECT OBSERVATIONS of something that is under everybody's eyes, continues playing the victim, while REFUSING to actually respond to them, in a cheap attempt to shift the attention from points that he would be unable to counter, is a desperate troll.
A kid who goes on to fight with another user immediately afterwards, to the point that both posts need to be edited out... is a WILD troll on a rampage.
A kid who, after everything he did, keeps shooting PETTY provocations ("dont' cry yourself to sleep at night" and similar amenities) to anyone who still has the patience to answer him... is an impenitent troll.
A kid who, in the end, after he realizes that EVERYONE IS ONTO HIM tries to go back on his words and, with his last post, tries to convince everybody else that "he meant something else entirely" (yeah, right! XD )... well, that's a classic, HANDBOOK troll.
A kid who, STILL NOT HAPPY, goes on to PERSONALLY PERSECUTE one (or maybe more??) of the people that called him on his behaviour OUTSIDE of said thread, is an obsessive, dangerous troll (almost a stalker)... and a bully. What do you know? I'm actually not off topic! Yay!
A kid who decides to hit another (equally new, and equally entitled to his own opinions) forum user by creating an APPARENTLY neutral thread, but actually linking that person to said thread ("Here I wrote this about you! Congratulations, you're famous!" ---> THE FORUM BULLY), in a venomous attempt at shiftly, subtly striking sideways from the shadows... is a troll of the worst species. AND A COWARD!
A kid who DECLARES to be "making a study" (and claims it's for homeworks, and similia), but ends up doing a quick Google search on a subject, sharing a couple of links, and completing this little thing of beauty by giving his own personal opinion, which is NOTHING BUT INSULTS ("people like this are just pathetic")... is a badly organized (and not believable) troll.
In conclusion...
YOU, STEVEN SHERMAN (if that's even your real name), ARE A TROLL!
......or maybe not... maybe you REALLY ARE studying to be a journalist, and at the moment you're testing the reaction times, the patience, the behaviour and/or the possible internet rage of people who have to face a continuous and personal-space-invading troll assault.
It's a coin flip.
In both cases, LEAVE ME ALONE.
PS: And OF COURSE, you've been reported. Have a good day, troll! d_(^_^)_b
Anyway, people do things and say things to people on line that they never would in actuality. Part of this is because, for some situations, the computer isn't a person, so the antagonist doesn't feel like they're attacking a person.
In general, the worst trolling occurs whenever discussions approach political correctness discussions, most of which just don't belong in a forum about a game. I try to difuse that with humor, if I can. Aside from that, I'm not intimidated by such people, so I don't go into depression or anything else over it.
The more people I meet (present company excluded), the more I love my dog...