As it had become necessary, I happened to be discussing my troll at work. It seems to have endowed me with a degree of notoriety – someone who has actually experienced one of these here Internet trolls, so I’m subject to some curiosity and much questioning about the facts. I was explaining how this cretin was attempting to threaten and blackmail me by making trouble with my clients and the DSA.
The initial reaction from one colleague was typical of the overall response. He pulled a face and then asked “doesn’t he have a life?”
Given that this is exactly the response I have seen here in the comments and in email correspondence with others affected by this clown, I was amused to say the least. This was followed by the fairly obvious question; what motivates such people? Now that one is a bit more difficult. Clearly there is an underlying malice and spite – not least the attempts to taunt and torment, displaying a sociopathic tendency. But what motivates these creatures? A desire to hurt or damage others, I suppose. It is difficult for a reasonable and rational person to understand. I recall such behaviour from my schooldays – a deep rooted malevolence. I guess the troll is someone who has never matured beyond those schooldays. The Internet troll likes to hide and make his attacks without displaying his face for, like the school bully, he is essentially a coward.
When I explained why he was trying to threaten me – that I had written about my training experiences and was inviting comment – the reaction was one of derision. As I’ve mentioned before, driving instructors frequently discuss their experiences and doing so is not a breach of confidence. Priests or lawyers, we ain’t; and providing the story is either anonymous or the names are changed to protect the guilty, which is the case here, no harm is done. Besides, discussing training matters on an open forum often brings forth new viewpoints and these can be valuable in dealing with future occurrences.
One colleague then posed the question; has anyone discussed a work-based issue on an open forum and some ignorant buffoon pompously declared that they cannot do that?
Discuss.
WTF, LR – this is Magazine Basic. Well done. 🙂
Indeed. You noticed?
“He pulled a face and then asked “doesn’t he have a life?””
I think your colleague hit the nail squarely on the head there.