Why Trolls and Flames Happen

AnonymousHack writes "New Scientist examines why people are in general more rude and abusive online. 'Psychologically, we are "distant" from the person we're talking to and less focused on our own identity. As a result we're more prone to aggressive behavior' says one psychologist, who also cites research showing messages received by email are always perceived more negatively than on the phone." Just more proof for the Greater Internet F***wad Theory.

Comments

have to say it...

[downix]

Let the flame wars begin

hi twitter

[dedazo]

You're big on this "M$ is stalking me on teh interwebs" deal, do you have something more recent? This millenium perhaps?

After all, you're implying a pattern of behavior here, obviously. I'm not saying that your claim Microsoft "pays people to be rude" for whatever reason is invalid, but surely in a 10-year span since 1998 someone, somewhere has obtained proof of that?

I think it's interesting that so many of these are pre-2001, which is a long time. You'd think maybe they tend to stop doing things after they are caught. Like JBoss, for example. Wouldn't you agree?

Again, I have no proof that they are not doing it, but the onus is on you, realistically, to provide proof that they are.