There’s something very strange about the anonymity of the Web that brings out the worst in some people. I don’t get it, but it’s something we have to deal with for now. Courtney Stanton, who wrote a couple of posts that drew the ire of a bunch of trolls, had a look at the troll comments versus the sincere ones.
I should warn you that the following content does contain adult themes, but it’s the contrast between the groups that’s most interesting (and the good use of Many Eyes).
Here is the word tree for real comments that start with “I hope.” Notice the use of full sentences, developed thoughts, and sincerity.
Now here’s the word tree, also with “I hope” at the base, but from trolls. Not quite as thoughtful.
How about the words used? Here are regular comments as a phrase net. There’s certainly a focus on rape, but it is intertwined with other topics.
Again though, contrast with troll comments, band there’s not much there.
I mean, really? It’s so strange that there are people like this who exist. Maybe we should all take the lead of sports columnist Jeff Pearlman and track down all of the online haters and tell their moms upstairs what they’ve been up to in the basement.
[Here is a Thing via infosthetics]
So many trolls are weird misogynists :'(
Hence all that “rape” crap.
Here is a very nice article from The New York Times, which discusses the culture of trolling. Pretty scary stuff to be honest:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/magazine/03trolls-t.html
I hope you get gently caressed by dickwolves
If you are interested in the “Debacle Timeline” for this story, see: http://debacle.tumblr.com/post/3041940865/the-pratfall-of-penny-arcade-a-timeline
Thanks, Joe. I was kind of lost on how this all started.
@Flippy: I think “rape” is the meme of the moment with PAX/penny-arcade related content at the moment because of the whole (inane) dickwolves controversy. It’ll die out soon and be replaced by the normal Nazi references, I suppose.
I’m waiting for someone to troll this post. You can’t expect it not to happen.
I hope you get raped by Nazis. The normal kind.
The truly hilarious thing, to me, is that this entire analysis just proves Gabriel’s Greater Internet F-wad Theory. (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/3/19/)
The irony…
What irony? Most of the people attacking the Penny Arcade guys are anonymous/pseudonymous ideologues who can’t understand that context affects meaning. The presence of trolls on both sides doesn’t create irony.
Apologies if I misunderstood your intent.
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