Under The Bridge: Getting Past The Trolls

Under The Bridge: Getting Past The Trolls

Jennifer L. Wojcik

@TheJenATX

#TrollBWENY

Jennifer L. Wojcik

@TheJenATX

#TrollBWENY

TROLLSTROLLS

DefinitionDefinitionDefinitionDefinition

• Takes pleasure in sowing discord• Provokes others into taking up

their cause

Profile of a TrollProfile of a TrollProfile of a TrollProfile of a Troll

• Generally male• Young (some exceptions)• Free time• Few outside

interests

Psychological TheoriesPsychological TheoriesPsychological TheoriesPsychological Theories

• Deindividuation

• Groupthink• Distance from target• Less focused on our own identity• More prone to aggressive behavior

Psychological TheoriesPsychological TheoriesPsychological TheoriesPsychological Theories

• Social Learning Theory

• Aggression can be learned through observance / imitation

• “Jersey Shore kind of world with really inebriated orange people running around with scissors and vodka, unsupervised”

~Jen Kim

Psychological TheoriesPsychological TheoriesPsychological TheoriesPsychological Theories

• Social Learning Theory Cont’d

• Motivational• Disinhibitory• Opportunistic

Psychological TheoriesPsychological TheoriesPsychological TheoriesPsychological Theories

• Misattribution Theory of Humor

• Freud (The “Your Mom” guy…)• Tenditious Humor (Victim)

WeaponWeaponWeaponWeapon

FLAMEBAIT

Incendiary comments that elicit flaming

emotional responses from other readers.

TacticsTacticsTacticsTactics

• Ad Hominem attacks

• Online threats• Offline threats• Cyberstalking

Strategies for Dealing with

Trolls

StrategiesStrategiesStrategiesStrategies• Stay Calm• Ignore (See sign)• Establish clear

comment • rules and enforce them.• Grow a thick skin; • refuse to be baited.• When appropriate, • delete the comment.

Case Study: Trolls

TechCrunch: Women In TechTechCrunch: Women In TechTechCrunch: Women In TechTechCrunch: Women In Tech

Q&AQ&AQ&AQ&A

Your Turn…

SourcesSourcesSourcesSources1) http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Internet_troll2) http://www.newscientist.com/blog/technology/2007/11/dont-flam

e-me-bro.html

3) http://books.google.com/books?id=zeP1UdZKYfIC&pg=PA194&dq=internet+aggression&cd=2#v=onepage&q=internet%20aggression&f=false

4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misattribution_Theory_of_Humor5) http://topazbean.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/on-the-psychology-

of-trolls-my-name-is-topazbean-and-i-am-a-troll-fighting-addict/

6) http://larcho.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/how-not-to-get-hooked-by-a-flamebait/

7) http://tantek.pbworks.com/TrollTaxonomy8) http://blog.ezinearticles.com/2007/01/ezinearticlescom-blog-com

ment-policy.html9) http://www.zdnet.com/blog/ratcliffe/amanda-chapel-aka-strumpe

tte-needs-some-tough-love/351

Sources, ContinuedSources, ContinuedSources, ContinuedSources, Continued10)http://www.auburnmedia.com/wordpress/2007/10/11/amandas-bac

kstory-reveals-ugly-character-did-you-know/11)http://www.cyberguards.com/CyberStalking.html12)http://blogs.cornell.edu/newmedia10cbp42/2010/04/07/dont-cross-

the-line/13)http://thomaspainescorner.wordpress.com/trolls/14)http://www.ehow.com/about_5449900_social-learning-theory-

aggression.html15)http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/valley-girl-brain/201002/

your-first-amendment-right-be-mean

THANK YOUTHANK YOUTHANK YOUTHANK YOU

Jennifer L. Wojcik@TheJenATX

@Pinqued@PinqSheets

http://Pinqued.comhttp:///PinqSheets.com