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Why Trolls Start Flame Wars: Swearing and Name-Calling Shut Down the Ability to Think and Focus
Psychological studies show that swearing and name-calling in Internet discussions shut down our ability to think.
2 professors of science communication at the University of Wisconsin, Madison - Dominique Brossard and Dietram A. Scheufele - wrote in the New York Times last year:
In a study published online last month in The Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, we and three colleagues report on an experiment designed to measure what one might call “the nasty effect.”
We asked 1,183 participants to carefully read a news post on a fictitious blog, explaining the potential risks and benefits of a new technology product called nanosilver. These infinitesimal silver particles, tinier than 100-billionths of a meter in any dimension, have several potential benefits (like antibacterial properties) and risks (like water contamination), the online article reported.
Then we had participants read comments on the post, supposedly from other readers, and respond to questions regarding the content of the article itself.
Half of our sample was exposed to civil reader comments and the other half to rude ones — though the actual content, length and intensity of the comments, which varied from being supportive of the new technology to being wary of the risks, were consistent across both groups. The only difference was that the rude ones contained epithets or curse words, as in: “If you don’t see the benefits of using nanotechnology in these kinds of products, you’re an idiot” and “You’re stupid if you’re not thinking of the risks for the fish and other plants and animals in water tainted with silver.”
The results were both surprising and disturbing. Uncivil comments not only polarized readers, but they often changed a participant’s interpretation of the news story itself.
In the civil group, those who initially did or did not support the technology — whom we identified with preliminary survey questions — continued to feel the same way after reading the comments. Those exposed to rude comments, however, ended up with a much more polarized understanding of the risks connected with the technology.
Simply including an ad hominem attack in a reader comment was enough to make study participants think the downside of the reported technology was greater than they’d previously thought.
While it’s hard to quantify the distortional effects of such online nastiness, it’s bound to be quite substantial, particularly — and perhaps ironically — in the area of science news.
So why do people troll in a rude way?
Psychologists say that many of them are psychopaths, sadists and narcissists getting their jollies. It's easy to underestimate how many of these types of sickos are out there: There are millions of sociopaths in the U.S. alone.
But intelligence agencies are also intentionally disrupting political discussion on the web, and ad hominen attacks, name-calling and divide-and-conquer tactics are all well-known, frequently-used disruption techniques.
Now you know why ... flame wars polarize thinking, and stop the ability to focus on the actual topic and facts under discussion.
Indeed, this tactic is so effective that the same wiseguy may play both sides of the fight.
Postscript: Fortunately, it's not that difficult to isolate the trolls and stop their disruption ... if we just point out what they're doing.
For example, I've found that posting something like this can be very effective:
Good Number 1!
Or this might be better if the troll is a sociopath:
Isn't that kind of "entertainment" more appropriate elsewhere?
(include the link so people can see what you’re referring to.)
The reason this is effective is that other readers will learn about the specific disruption tactic being used … in context, like seeing wildlife while holding a wildlife guide, so that one learns what it looks like “in the field”. At the same time, you come across as humorous, light-hearted and smart ... instead of heavy-handed or overly-intense.
Try it … It works.
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Thoughtful debating style, sir!
did this happen in the rose garden? just askin, didn't read the article, as usual.
He didn't need to run away like a bitch - he ought to have stood there like a fucking BOSS and grunted
"Come at me, bro!"
En outre: these animals are awesome, and should not be held in cages (nor should any animal).
I once saw a gorilla heave a branch - from a seated position - at a kid who was teasing it. The branch was at last 8 feet long, had plenty of foliage on it (hence loads of wind resistance) and it fucking near cleared the gigantic ditch that formed the perimeter of the enclosure: probably went upwards of ten yeards.
The kid shit himself, and the gorilla just sat there like a 400lb boss.
garsh, you should've stuck around for the closing scene -- you missed the best part.
that was my kid; and so i withdrew my sidearm, steadied my aim, and popped something hot and hard, thrice, right at center-mass.
hollow-pointed his ass, i did.
believe me, i had no problem clearing that ditch with what i was pitchin.
and so i stood there, breeze lapping at my wispy main, sun setting low in the south-western sky...boss-like.
{sorry geoffery, nothin personal...and i basically agree with you...it was just a funny image that popped in my mind}
king of the mutha-fuckin jungle,
janus
IMO, 'talking smack' falls under another category of troll. The content adds zero value. It's the textual equivalent of a bowel movement.
i was making a joke, you withered vagina.
who's to say you're addressing this particular post? let me then assume you're speaking of the whole janus-corpus-delecti.
as to who adds value around here...who the fuck are you, lore? furthermore, you've conflicted your terms in but two sentences -- 'talking smack' & 'textual'; you could've instead said, "it's the thought equivalent of a shit (see, 'shit' and 'equivalent' and 'thought' have what's called homiletic resonance...thought you should know that. it's how artists string together language to imbue within their prose a certain lyric element...thought you should know that, too. but i wouldn't suggest trying it; it's an inborn/God-given gift and cannot be learnt nor taught.
as far as what janus adds...well, young grasshopper, it doesn't end here on the Hedge...it's sorta like i toss a pebble (or sometimes a boulder) in the midst of a placid lake, where all God's creatures are silently lapping up the wet-stuff, and then KALOOSH!!!...IN-COMMING!!! the janus-fusealage starts raining fire and brimstone from the angry and vengeful quarters of Heaven...and then, well, the waves and ripples do what they do best.
the tiny ants & grasshoppers, much like you, lore, are invariably drown in the fracas. and that works out well for janus...i want to draw the attention of the superior beasts and drown the insects in what would seem to them colossal tidal waves...but they're just ripples, young grasshopper, just ripples...nothing to be scared of.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=671AgW9xSiA
and, btw, your -- ahem -- 'wit' is less appealing than an aged harlot's menstruation.
you sound like a second grade teacher who learned to fear the wrath of my spit-wad...i don't use spit-wads on haters anymore, lore. i want you to know i'm gong very easy on you...but if you'd like to meet the other janus, i know just where to find him.
if you should stand
then who's to guide you?...,
janus
You're full of sound and fury, I give you that. I wasn't addressing you specifically, but for what it's worth, if you mean to exchange barbs, I find yours inefficient. Rgds
then i withdraw, good sir knight.
i always prefer the high-road, and earnestly seek to be gentlemanly; but i'm happy either way.
Jesus absolved me from turnin the other cheek...i got my 490 badge...well, it's more like a medallion -- a lion on the obverse; lamb on the reverse...shiny, too!
Whoa!!
Good one Janus!!
Don't mind the down votes - I think many here may have taken your post seriously (Biblical stuff, and all.....)
Remember - this thread is about people trying to "sterilize" larger messages by posting inflammatory replies invoking personal attacks or inserting religious memes to distract weak-minded readers.
Let's see who takes the bait, and who can carry on the conversation.
B
i appreciate that; and i do what i do for folks like you, B.
i look at my time on ZH very much like an enjoyable round of golf...the score's important -- sure it is. but, a zen-like golfer loves the arc of a soundly-struck shot, as it stretches against the downward trend exhausting the bend of its spin, dropping softly on the green. sometimes (often, in fact) i miss the birdie putt...but it bothers me not; i've still got the ooohhhmmmm of that marvelous approach ringing in my being.
(RIP Harold Ramis)
i'm getting ready to play chess, though. golf is fun and all; but it lacks the satisfcation in besting another man where it counts -- in the testicles.
all the same, and Biblical 'Truth' nothwithstanding, i am a Christain (unaffiliated and a depraved sinner, at that)...but i can't get past that Teacher's teachin...no matter how hard i try (and, Truth be known, i don't try very hard). it's something i want to believe.
with respect to Scripture; it is fair to say that a thing's power is in direct corelation to its relevance to humans; and when we're talking about the world of ideas, that's a powerful thing indeed; when we're talking about 'faith' well, my friend, that's a force immeasurable. nice to know such forces are out there...if, that is, you know what to do with them...zen-like and all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16VdBciUdV4
run a carbon-black test on my jaw/
and you will find/
it's all been said before/
i can swing my megaphone/
and long-arm the rest/
it's easier and better/
to dispute it from the chest/
desire...,
janus
Does it matter if it was the gorilla's own shit or not?
<It would if it were mine. Just sayin'> :)
CD: That was the funniest comment of all!
GW,
I would say that these exchanges back your assertion in spades...
From here
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-02-24/did-imf-just-win-war-ukraine-de...
to here
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-02-24/did-imf-just-win-war-ukraine-de...
Just search for flak on the page...
A text book example....
It ties in with this
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-02-24/bank-america-natgas-topping-mov...
thank you for sharing
I actually saw a variation of this at the San Diego zoo as a kid. Guy was using a vanity mirror and directing it into their eyes. Chimp flung his dung and near hit the guy maybe 10' away. Classic video.
Classic!
Thanks for your time and work.
Someone crossed the red line...
Gorilla tactics.......bitchez!
Hey, that's anti-semantic! I'm telling!
totally agree...some of the best word-play i've seen on the Hedge or anywhere else.
tripple score for that 4thstoogin!
you got semites, simians and semantics all brilliantly bundled together.
bravo!
Well played sir....
when i grow up, i either want to be a "yes man"/ back stabbing / brown nosing twit in the upper echelon of Bankingdom, or a clueless, self ingratiating, corrupt politician/federal blood sucking employee, or maybe even a seasoned, vile, unethical rogue troll here on the Hedge. all are worthy goals in this age of "If you like your-"What does it matter"-"read my lips"-"what is your meaning of the word sex"-"mission accomplished"-you can keep it"...........wtf.
Fuck You Honky Lips!
What about when the bloggers are the trolls?
You push an incoherent, statist agenda (yes, redundant, I know) then complain about all of the "trolls" who point out the incoherence.
In other words, you have absolutely no chance at succeeding, as your threads equate to "trolls squared" and thus shut down rational thinking.
I'm still holding out hope for you, though. Even Charles Hugh-Smith seems to have finally overcome the disease of statism, and his articles reflect his new found coherency.
You just have to stop believing that the violence d.b.a. "the state" can be beneficial to society at large. All you're doing is fighting the professional criminal class for control of the gun.
Ad hom is a fallacious argument, and when uttered it loses the argument right then.
Good post, GW.
Fuck you Soul.
fonstar,
you're just something else; aren't you?
you're like a force of nature, or worse. just so fuckin fiesty, with a ferocity and resiliance that most should envy; i can't help but respect you.
i can't help it...i'm givin in and up-arrowing fonstar (though i've never redded you).
but, fonstar, i must point out that you omitted the comma between 'you' and 'soul. that way he knows who you're addressing.
so consider this like 3/4 of a greenie.
janus
Who is so stupid down arrow very smart funny first post!? Missing part of study is contextually challenged idiot class not understanding irony.
(... or is sarcasm? Boris is forget to which.)