The Troll's Playground - Attention-Seekers, Grinches, and Devil’s Advocates
Everyday Sadism in the Digital Sandbox: Meet the ‘Benign’ Trolls
Did you know that almost 1 in 3 people you encounter online might be out to upset you?
Troll Town: A Tour of the Internet's Darker Corners
Picture this: You’ve just posted about your excitement for an upcoming movie sequel. Seconds later, a reply pops up: "Wow, you actually liked that garbage first movie? Your taste is as bad as the CGI." It’s not just a random insult; it’s a signal that you’ve wandered into Troll Town—a digital landscape where trolls lurk under every bridge, eager to pounce on any sign of joy or enthusiasm.
But in this playground, we're not dealing with fairy tale creatures or mythic monsters. We're talking about everyday sadism—the small, persistent behaviours that thrive online, turning what could be a fun, communal space into a minefield of snide comments and deliberate provocations.
In this article, I’ll take you through Troll Town, unmasking its residents and understanding the psychology behind their actions. Along the way, I’ll give you the tools to navigate this tricky terrain, so you can keep your sanity—and maybe even enjoy your time online.
Before I Go On: I know I’m using humour to keep things interesting and relatable, but I get that trolling isn’t always just annoying or petty. It can be genuinely harmful—especially in its more severe forms. If you've faced serious online harassment, you know it’s no laughing matter.
The Real Cost of Trolling: Death by a Thousand Digital Paper Cuts
Imagine tending a beautiful digital garden where 1 in 3 "gardeners" are actually there to trample your flowerbeds. Studies suggest that nearly 30% of internet users have engaged in trolling behaviour. It's like playing a twisted game of social media roulette, where every third spin might land you in Troll Town.
At first, these actions might seem harmless—a snarky comment here, a cynical reply there. But these are digital paper cuts that quickly add up. Here’s how:
Normalization of Negativity: When trolling becomes common, negativity becomes the new normal. It’s like living in a world where everyone thinks it’s okay to litter—your digital garden turns into a junkyard.
Silence of the Lurkers: As trolls get louder, others get quieter. A Pew Research Center study found that 27% of Americans have decided not to post online after witnessing harassment. That’s countless voices lost, ideas unshared, and connections unmade.
Emotional Toll and Escalation: Each troll interaction is a small cut to your psyche. Studies, like "Trolls Just Want to Have Fun," show that frequent exposure to trolling leads to increased stress, anxiety, and depression. What starts small can spiral into darker territory. As trolling becomes normalized, the bar for shocking behavior gets higher, creating a toxic race of escalating cruelty.
The cumulative impact goes beyond ruined conversations; it erodes what makes the internet great—the free exchange of ideas, community building, and positive human connection.
Trolls on the Couch: Understanding Everyday Sadism
So, what drives trolling behavior? Enter the Online Disinhibition Effect (ODI), where anonymity and distance lower inhibitions, making people act in ways they wouldn’t face-to-face. It’s like wearing a mask—social consequences vanish, and impulses surface unchecked.
Or, to put it in simpler terms, the Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory (GIFT), coined by cartoonist John Gabriel of Penny Arcade: Normal Person + Anonymity + Audience = Total Fuckwad.
But why does this behaviour seem so prevalent online? In The Arc of Cruelty - Part 1, I explored how everyone experiences flashes of envy or schadenfreude—a sly smile when a rival stumbles, a moment of satisfaction when someone "has it all" faces a setback. These impulses are part of being human, but online anonymity lets them fester and grow.
Research shows that about 10% of people exhibit something more extreme: everyday sadism. These individuals don't just feel a fleeting thrill at someone else's discomfort; they actively seek to create it. Unlike schadenfreude, which is passive and short-lived, everyday sadism involves deliberately provoking, insulting, or sabotaging others for personal pleasure.
The "Trolls Just Want to Have Fun" study also revealed a strong correlation between everyday sadism and online trolling. The internet's anonymity and distance provide a perfect playground for these individuals, where typical social restraints are absent, and their behavior is often rewarded.
Online, these behaviors are reinforced by random rewards—likes, shares, and laughing emojis provide instant gratification, much like a slot machine payout. Each cruel comment pulls the lever for another shot at satisfaction, making trolls more likely to escalate their actions.
Put simply, ODI is the GIFT that keeps on trolling. The anonymity of the internet doesn’t just remove consequences; it creates a stage where negative impulses flourish.
The Troll Family Tree: Millon’s Sadism Typology in the Digital Age
Now, let’s take a tour through the Troll Family Tree with Dr. Theodore Millon’s sadistic personality subtypes. Offline, these might be extreme, but online? They’re the secret ingredients in the Internet Troll soup, often showing up as milder, everyday manifestations of these darker personality styles.
Spineless Sadist: The passive-aggressive coworker who sabotages you behind your back. Online, they’re the ones leaving subtle, backhanded compliments or "just asking questions." These trolls show a milder form of insecurity and indirect hostility, using subtlety to exert control.
Tyrannical Sadist: The power-hungry boss from hell. Online, they’re the forum moderator on a power trip or the Twitter user who thinks their follower count makes them royalty. Here, the dominance and need for control manifest in less severe but still troubling ways, like verbal aggression or micromanagement of online spaces.
Enforcing Sadist: The neighbor who reports you for letting your grass grow too long. Online, they’re the self-appointed "grammar police" or the ones who love to point out the tiniest factual errors in your posts. This is a subclinical version of hostility framed as righteous enforcement of rules, often seen in nitpicking or pedantry.
Explosive Sadist: The person with a hair-trigger temper. Online, they’re the ones who go from zero to nuclear in the comments section faster than you can say "keyboard warrior." While less severe than offline expressions, these trolls display milder, more frequent outbursts of anger when triggered.
In the digital playground, these subtypes blur and blend. The anonymity of the internet allows people to mix and match behaviours they might never dare in face-to-face interactions. Understanding these subtypes helps you recognize and respond to different forms of trolling behaviour.
The Troll Petting Zoo: Three “Benign” Troll Subtypes
Welcome to the Troll Petting Zoo! I’m using the word benign loosely, as in like a benign tumour; they might not be life-threatening, but they can cause a lot of discomfort.
The Attention-Seeker (Spineless Sadist):
Characteristics: Posts inflammatory comments to get a rise out of people; loves to stir up drama, then sit back and watch.
Example: A Regina George of the internet world—thriving on attention, any attention. They’re the online equivalent of a toddler throwing a tantrum.
Wow, you really wore that on purpose? Bold choice. Bless your heart!
The Grinch (Enforcing Sadist):
Characteristics: Responds to positive posts with cynicism; loves to point out flaws in others' happiness.
Example: The Grinch who sucks the joy out of social media. These trolls deflate others' enthusiasm, maintaining a negative status quo.
Oh, the bus is on time? Give it five minutes before it breaks down or you end up next to someone who thinks deodorant is optional.
The Devil’s Advocate (Tyrannical Sadist):
Characteristics: Argues against popular opinions just for the sake of it; enjoys derailing discussions.
Example: Like Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada, but in every online discussion—sharp, condescending, and relishing in intellectual domination.
You’re one of those who thinks neon is making a comeback? Fascinating. And if not, well… bless your commitment to being behind the curve.
These trolls may seem harmless at first glance, but their cumulative impact is significant. By consistently chipping away at positivity, they contribute to a toxic environment where negativity becomes the norm.
Your Digital Armour: Combating Everyday Sadism Online
It’s time to arm ourselves against the forces of everyday sadism! Here’s your digital self-defence toolkit:
Identify the Troll Type and Limit Engagement: Recognize whether you’re dealing with an Attention-Seeker, a Grinch, or a Devil’s Advocate. Tailor your response accordingly:
For Attention-Seekers: Deny them the reaction they crave. A light reply like “Nice try! 😊” or ignoring them can stop them in their tracks.
For Grinches: Counter negativity with positivity. Share more about why the topic excites you, spreading joy in response to their cynicism.
For Devil’s Advocates: Set clear boundaries. If they derail the conversation, say, “I appreciate different viewpoints, but let’s keep this constructive,” and disengage if necessary.
Practice Digital Self-Care: Know when to step away. You don’t have to engage with every troll. Take breaks or seek support when online interactions become overwhelming. Protecting your own well-being is crucial in navigating the digital landscape.
Use the THINK Method: Before responding, ask yourself: Is it True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind? If your response doesn’t tick at least three of these boxes, consider holding back. This can get trickier with certain types of advocacy, as what is helpful to some may be seen as harmful by others—such as when advocating for trans rights in a space full of anti-trans sentiment [Looking at you, X/Twitter].
Be the Change: Model positive, constructive interaction in your online communities. Understand that there’s a human behind every screen name, and a compassionate response can sometimes defuse tension and transform a potential troll into a more constructive community member. Your actions can set the tone for others to follow, creating a healthier digital space.
Conclusion: The Road Ahead
We’ve explored the outskirts of Troll Town, unmasking the everyday sadists who lurk in our digital playgrounds and learning how to counter their toxic behaviours. Each time we choose empathy over antagonism and positivity over cynicism, we cast a vote for the kind of digital world we want to live in.
But we’re just getting started. Ahead lie the mid-level trolls—Concern Trolls, Griefers, Rage-Baiters, and Sealions covered here. We’ll dive into these trolls' tactics, motivations, and how to handle them without losing your cool. They’re more cunning, more insidious, and just as eager to ruin your day.
Until then, remember to stay vigilant and stay kind. Be the digital citizen you wish everyone else would be. Together, we can stand against even the darkest forms of online sadism.
I'd love to hear from you: Have you recognized these "lesser species" of trolls in your online experiences? How did it go when you tried these tools to handle them? Share your stories or thoughts in the comments and let us know if these strategies were helpful. Your insights could help others navigate their own digital landscapes!