Toolkit: Trolls

[BloomInWinter]

Here's info I wish I had been made aware of decades ago.

"Winning is all."

"A sociopath has no conscience, no emotional attachment to others, and no ability to love. For a sociopath, Stout says, "life is reduced to a contest, and other human beings seem to be nothing more than game pieces, to be moved about, used as shields or ejected."

"So what does a sociopath want? According to Stout, a sociopath wants only to win." Source: The Killing Joke

 

[NarcSis]

I've read Martha Stout's book and it was amazing because it provided some answers to issues I've had in dealing with certain people at my workplace in the past. Lesson learned, eyes opened.

I read a blog called Psychopathy Awareness which is a really good resource for victims and others.


Dealing with the aftermath of a sociopath is rough, but falling victim to them is not your fault, we're all equally vulnerable to them.

<Edited to remove link as this thread is about trolling>

 

[BloomInWinter]

There are far too many sociopaths working in EMS.

I haven't begun even working on the EMS issues yet...but I witnessed much.

 

[anthony]

Every person has and displays some sociopathic tendencies... though that does not make them a sociopath.

I would strongly advise people to not read a book and take it as fact. That is not fact... especially if the book is completely opinionated, without cited empirical evidence.

Read multiple books on the subject and you will quickly find the similarities, more than likely the facts, then the rest you will quickly assimilate as conjecture and opinion.

 

[BloomInWinter]

It is always a good idea to get multiple sources for information.

I've found many self-help books can provide perhaps a direction to investigate, or a suggestion that seems to fit. But many I purchased over the years would have something I could use, even if only to reject. :>

If it's true for me, and seems helpful, I'll 'try something on' and if it has healthy results, explore it more.

 

[NarcSis]

I agree with Anthony, in priniciple, the only tried and true test of a sociopath is a psychiatric diagnosis unfortunately, as every day people, we are not privy to those documents and the only thing we can do is recognize patterns and take caution.

We can only suspect, even in the aftermath, there is never any "proof" that the person we dealt with was ever a sociopath.

"Experts" can also only speculate based on reported evidence as it is rare that sociopaths ever have the need of a therapist.

Live life with caution, not with fear.

 

[BloomInWinter]

Some interesting descriptions of Trolls. :>

"What Is A Troll?
The term "troll" can mean a number of different things, but in essence, a troll is a person who aims to have 'pleasure' at your expense. There are five main types of trolls. The first four are people who pretend to be someone that they are not - they create personae that you think are real, but they know is fictitious.

• Playtime Trolls: an individual plays a simple, short game. Such trolls are relatively easy to spot because their attack or provocation is fairly blatant, and the persona is fairly two-dimensional.
  
• Tactical Trolls: This is where the troller takes the game more seriously, creates a credible persona to gain confidence of others, and provokes strife in a subtle and invidious way.
  
• Strategic Trolls: A very serious form of game, involving the production of an overall strategy that can take months or years to develop. It can also involve a number of people acting together in order to invade a list.
  
• Domination Trolls: This is where the trollers' strategy extends to the creation and running of apparently bona-fide mailing lists.
  
• Psycho Trolls: These trolls have an unconscious psychological need to feel good by making others feel bad. Such people may use their real names on the internet, and they may not even realise that they are "trolling"."

Source: http://www.teamtechnology.co.uk/troll.htm

 

[Deleted member 12723]

We are lucky not to have this problem so serious on these forums. I love the safety of this site. Thanks to Anthony, and Nicolette and all of the hardworking mods who make this place so secure. Thank you.

 

[Britt.f7]

Just the other day I was dealing with this. I had wrote a comment for a news article I just read. This person, I assume it was a guy but how would I know, felt the need to comment back. The thing is he just kept putting me down. He didn't really argue. It went back and forth and I told him he was not discussing but putting me down. He, of course, retaliated that he said nothing wrong.

I mentioned this on facebook and my youngest son read it. He came downstairs to tell me, mom don't respond to trolls. That guy is a troll. They have nothing good to say. I took his advice and when I got a notice that he made another comment to me I just deleted it. I have no need to go back to the article so I won't have to see it.

I didn't even realize that is what those people are called.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

(((Britt)))) Sorry this happened to you. That is one of the things I love about the forums. No trolls allowed. It is the safest forum I have ever been on. I am glad you deleted him. They just love to stir the pot and cause problems.

 

[Britt.f7]

Thanks Gizmo! It was really frustrating. I really need to learn not to let a stranger bug me that much. Yes, this forum seems very nice. I haven't seen anything questionable. :)

 

[BloomInWinter]

I'm sorry that happened to you, Britt.f7

Good for you and your son handling it well! The next troll won't find you an easy target. That's a victory, for sure!