It was just an experiment, duh
August 3, 2008 3:36 PM   Subscribe

Trolls unmasked: “Lulz is watching someone lose their mind at their computer 2,000 miles away while you chat with friends and laugh,” said one ex-troll who, like many people I contacted, refused to disclose his legal identity.: The New York Times on trolls, including the one behind the Megan Had It Coming blog (Previously: one, two) and "troll legend" weev. The trolls claim to be trickster gods, schooling the fools; the NYT suspects they're emotionally damaged channels of ambient misanthropy.
posted by bonaldi (49 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: HEY LOOK WHAT I FOUND IT WAS UNDER A BRIDGE -- cortex



 
Quad?
posted by Artw at 3:41 PM on August 3, 2008


OMG WEEV

I trolled that guy in person, it was a thing of beauty.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 3:45 PM on August 3, 2008


Triple/Quad posting = trolling.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 3:45 PM on August 3, 2008


Quad? Damn, those trolls beat me to it.
posted by bonaldi at 3:46 PM on August 3, 2008


but the flags only go up to double! /wah
posted by bonaldi at 3:46 PM on August 3, 2008


well, I sure got my lulz. Was it good for you, too?
posted by Solon and Thanks at 3:50 PM on August 3, 2008 [1 favorite]


Fuck and alas.
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:52 PM on August 3, 2008


I personally blame the blacks and the Jews for this double. Typical.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 3:53 PM on August 3, 2008


meow meow meow meow
posted by pyramid termite at 3:53 PM on August 3, 2008


No, it was the gays.
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:53 PM on August 3, 2008


I blame the dicks putting "Published August 3" on the damn thing, so I didn't search any further back
posted by bonaldi at 3:57 PM on August 3, 2008


can I say something funny before this thread closes?

pumpernickel
posted by Citizen Premier at 3:58 PM on August 3, 2008 [1 favorite]


Lulz detergent, for that clean fresh feeling each time it's posted!
posted by not_on_display at 4:00 PM on August 3, 2008


My girlfriend and I were sitting at a table at my high school reunion, and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table.

My girlfriend asked,' Do you know her?' 'Yes,' I sighed, 'She's my old girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear she hasn't been sober since.'

'My God!' says my girlfriend, 'Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?'
posted by netbros at 4:03 PM on August 3, 2008 [13 favorites]


pumpernickel? I hardly even know her
posted by found missing at 4:06 PM on August 3, 2008


Is that in the biblical sense?
posted by Citizen Premier at 4:10 PM on August 3, 2008


Man, what's up with atheists? It's just a BELIEF like any other! And evolution is only a THEORY!
posted by turgid dahlia at 4:14 PM on August 3, 2008


Bubblegum pie, yum!
posted by maxwelton at 4:14 PM on August 3, 2008


I hope every person in IT remembers Jason Fortuny's name and refuses to hire him.
posted by Liosliath at 4:15 PM on August 3, 2008



Quote from article: When does it collapse into the Babel of trolling, the pointless and eristic game...

Are they calling out the Discordians with that?

We are not amused.

And by "not", I mean, "totally".
posted by Bathtub Bobsled at 4:16 PM on August 3, 2008


I'm here to kick ass and chew bubblegum.

And I'm all out of ass!
posted by fleetmouse at 4:17 PM on August 3, 2008 [1 favorite]




I rarely get into these threads before they're closed. So I feel compelled to say something profound.




Nope, nothing today.
posted by evilcolonel at 4:18 PM on August 3, 2008


In before the end.
posted by nooneyouknow at 4:25 PM on August 3, 2008


Times like these, I wish we had the image tag.
posted by Sticherbeast at 4:30 PM on August 3, 2008


first
second
third
fourth (this)

Still, this one has not yet approached busking or James Brown levels.
posted by Rhomboid at 4:33 PM on August 3, 2008


Weev is totally rich you guys.
posted by Demogorgon at 4:37 PM on August 3, 2008


"Some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. Some men just want to watch the world burn."
posted by jbickers at 4:38 PM on August 3, 2008


Here's my fluid morality
Here's my total disdain for pretty much all of you

I'm available for interviews
posted by Dumsnill at 4:44 PM on August 3, 2008


Whenever I see articles like that (or observe the behavior directly) I'm reminded all over again that after - what, a couple million years of evolution? - the human race is still a bunch of immature, brutish apes.

And no, that's not a troll, just a very depressing observation to be making on a sunny Sunday afternoon when I should be out playing instead of furthering my Confirmation Bias on the Internet.
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:44 PM on August 3, 2008


"Ta-daa! It's... gone!"
posted by Citizen Premier at 4:45 PM on August 3, 2008


calling anti-trollers goats? I think that's a sweet idea. One problem: "goating" is a terrible verb, reminiscent of goatseing.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 4:46 PM on August 3, 2008


*something offensive about Hillary Clinton, Christians or boobies *
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:46 PM on August 3, 2008


Troll sat alone on his seat of stone,
And munched and mumbled a bare old bone;

For many a year he had gnawed it near,

For meat was hard to come by.

Done by! Gum by!

In a cave in the hills he dwelt alone,

And meat was hard to come by.

Up came Tom with his big boots on.
Said he to Troll: 'Pray, what is yon?

For it looks like the shin o' my nuncle Tim,

As should be a-lyin' in graveyard.

Caveyard! Paveyard!

This many a year has Tim been gone,

And I thought he were lyin' in graveyard.'

'My lad,' said Troll, 'this bone I stole.
But what be bones that lie in hole?

Thy nuncle was dead as a lump o' lead,

Afore I found his shinbone.

Tinbone! Thinbone!

He can spare a share for a poor old troll,

For he don't need his shinbone.'

Said Tom, 'I don't see why the likes o' thee
Without axin' leave should go makin' free

With the shank or the shin o' my father's kin;

So hand the old bone over!

Rover! Trover!

Though dead he be, it belongs to he;

So hand the old bone over!'

'For a couple of pins,' says Troll, and grins,
'I'll eat thee too, and gnaw thy shins.

A bit o' fresh meat will go down sweet!

I'll try my teeth on thee now.

Hee now! See now!

I'm tired o' gnawing old bones and skins;

I've a mind to dine on thee now.'

But just as he thought his dinner was caught,
He found his hands had hold of naught.

Before he could mind, Tom slipped behind

And gave him the boot to larn him.

Warn him! Darn him!

A bump o' the boot on the seat, Tom thought,

Would be the way to larn him.

But harder than stone is the flesh and bone
Of a troll that sits in the hills alone.

As well set your boot to the mountain's root,

For the seat of a troll don't feel it.

Peel it! Heal it!

Old Troll laughed, when he heard Tom groan,

And he knew his toes could feel it.

Tom's leg is game, since home he came,
And his bootless foot is lasting lame;

But Troll don't care, and he's still there

With the bone he boned from its owner.

Doner! Boner!

Troll's old sear its still the same,

And the bone he boned from its owner!
posted by drjimmy11 at 4:48 PM on August 3, 2008 [1 favorite]


Ubu...tits or gtfo.
posted by turgid dahlia at 4:49 PM on August 3, 2008


Trolls provide a useful function. Discuss.
posted by found missing at 4:49 PM on August 3, 2008


Metafilter: emotionally damaged channels of ambient misanthropy
posted by localroger at 4:49 PM on August 3, 2008


"Some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. Some men just want to watch the world burn."

Yeah but if that's the case, why does he feel the need to keep asserting his wealth to us? From his response to the Times piece:

If any members of the media (old or new) would like to give the real story Matt passed over some coverage, they can contact me by sending an email. Also, if you agree with my vision of the future, are an "accredited investor" according to the SEC's regulations or just an investor who is not a US citizen and would like me to start you a private investment trust, you can email gluttony@gmail.com to chat (minimum startup capital, 700k).
posted by Demogorgon at 4:51 PM on August 3, 2008


Sweater stuffers and snuggle puppies!
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:52 PM on August 3, 2008


y so srs?
posted by turgid dahlia at 4:52 PM on August 3, 2008 [1 favorite]


turgid dahia: My first thought on seeing Heath Ledger's Joker was "escaped from the Internet, didn't you."
posted by localroger at 4:54 PM on August 3, 2008 [1 favorite]


found missing: Trolls provide a useful function. Discuss.

TARGET PRACTICE
posted by localroger at 4:55 PM on August 3, 2008


Last in line.
posted by zerobyproxy at 4:56 PM on August 3, 2008


But Greg_Ace, we've evolved with the ability to reach out and hit someone.

On the internet, it's a little bit harder.


Trolls provide a useful function. Discuss.


Well, it don't matter who you are, lawyer, traffic cop, politician, or stuck up MD, at least you can feel morally superior to trolls.
posted by porpoise at 4:56 PM on August 3, 2008


Well, I didn't read it the first time--it looked kind of interesting, but I didn't quite have the time. The second time it came around, I figured it probably couldn't be that interesting. The third time, I passed over it, in an exhausted stupor. But this time, I finally said, fine, I'll go with you on this one, fate, and I read it.

It was okay.
posted by Ms. Saint at 4:56 PM on August 3, 2008


calling anti-trollers goats? I think that's a sweet idea. One problem: "goating" is a terrible verb, reminiscent of goatseing.

Well, one could call it billying. Or gruffing. Or just butting.
posted by Citizen Premier at 4:57 PM on August 3, 2008


Longer boats are coming to win us.
posted by decagon at 4:58 PM on August 3, 2008


this thread needs moar
   / _  | / ___// ____/  _/  _/    / _  |  / __ \/_  __/
/ /_| | \__ \/ / / / / / / /_| | / /_/ / / /
/ /__| | __/ / /___ / / / / / /__| |/ / / / / /
/_/ |_/____/\____/___/___/ /_/ |_/_/ |_| /_/
posted by finite at 5:02 PM on August 3, 2008


See, the problem is they should be called trollers, not trolls. These people are dragging bait looking for bites, they aren't hiding under bridges waiting for goats.
posted by found missing at 5:02 PM on August 3, 2008


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