Trolling: the art of deliberately, cleverly and secretly pissing people off. Usually via the internet, using dialogue.
It has been described as free speech without any repercussions. Trollers feel no inhibitions. It is a similar confidence one gets when on drugs or drink. Trolling is done on Twitter; Facebook; in emails; basically any online forum where someone can stay anonymous.
So what is the cultural difference between bogans and trollers?
A bogan with a problem will confront a person, offer him the option of taking it outside. After a few blows the ego maybe bruised, but they usually then get on with it. Sometimes they may take grudges against each other. This has happened to me, after a few years it all seems to wear off.
A troller will push this far too far. Some will say things that are genuinely illegal to say to someone in the real world. these things include death threats. Some others will play dumb to try to lead you along.
I’ve taken to Twitter to see if I can be on the end of any of these threatening tweets.
The first one I’ve posted is about atheists.
Atheist Tweet
My view on atheism is a simple one. They are a subculture of hipster, as atheism is trendy at the moment or they have been subject to some form of disturbance in a religious setting or scientists. The former is the most aggressive preacher of atheism on social media.
The worries I had about the tweet that it would be too obvious, like that drunk fifty year old at the Cally on a Sunday night just gagging for someone to make her feel twenty again. My worries were confirmed as I only got one grope from the social media public. The grope was not even worth repeating as it was that tame. So I guess we would call it a tickle, a bad tickle.
I hope the second try would be more effective as this time I was trying to stir up a few feminists.
Feminism Tweet
This would work wouldn’t it?
What kind of feminist lays down while a big bogan tells her that place is in the kitchen?
At the time, there was one tweet of #feminism every three minutes at 3am USA time. I think this is a fair bit considering the USA would be the largest country in the world that would have voice against being born into someone who makes my dinner. If it wasn’t for Germaine Greer, I’d probably be getting my wife, or mistress, to write this for me as I speak.
Yet again, there were no nibbles.
I thought women wouldn’t be able to help themselves.
I was thinking women would take to this like David Boon wrestling fifty-two cans on a flight from Sydney to Heathrow. Why didn’t they reply? Too obvious again? Maybe their masters didn’t allow them any computer time after they had eaten dinner.
I don’t think trolling is a hobby I should take up. The reasons why are quite obvious:
- I am shit at it.
- If I was any good at it I would be causing unnecessary social distress to my targets.
- I’m actually bored writing this blog.
I think the airing of bad blood over social media isn’t a good idea. Things get lost in translation which causes bigger problems in the future, potentially, for all involved.
Just like the banning of eskies in Bay 13. It’s never going to change back.
Trolls, you win!
Bogan 2 – 2 Culture.
Kyle Humphrys.
Bogan vs Culture 