trolling.

why?

i mean people have been doing this in person since forever but now that blogs and forums and stuff give douchebags the luxury of anonymity, you can’t even tell the sincerely bigoted douchebags from the trolls anymore. or are they essentially the same, except that one pleads “i’m just trying to offend you [and see how easily offended you are]” as a so-called defense.

so, i want to know. what is the social value of a troll? what delicious thought-provoking advances are made by intentionally provoking people with tired, offensive tripe?

i’m not talking about silly stuff where we try to make cute jokes based on stereotypes and what not that may or may not be offensive. i’m talking about writing into the school newspaper to say “i’m homophobic and proud, gay groups and other liberal groups don’t deserve funds” or saying that all members of a group are useless and misguided while sitting amongst a group of said members. or commenting on a blog about a new baby by saying that women need to shut the fuck up about how much childbirth hurts and “take it like a man.”

(i’m still laughing about the last one… gotta relish the moments when misogynist ignorant assclowns give you something so advanced in its idiot bigotry that you feel like your work is more than done).

so, you’ve got this genius who’s figured out how to piss you off and is parading around in it, who then will cry “why are you trying to impose your opinion on me, who are you to tell me how to think” when you (foolishly) take the bait. (conveniently ignoring that a lot of their messages usually have to do with “feminazis should shut up and get back in the kitchen,” “liberals shouldn’t be given money to advance their opinions,” “another statement that people who disagree with me are stupid and should be silenced”).

and then the really fantastic part is, whether or not they even believe what they’re saying, they manage to inspire others to believe that it’s awesome and acceptable to be sexist / homophobic / [etc] …. ‘cos, y’know, the society for spoiled children who’ve never had to suffer really needs more reinforcement and affirmation…

and that’s how society slips backwards.