# Being racist/sexist/whatever vs. just saying racist/sexist/whatever things to troll... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 14, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-racist-sexist-whatever-vs-just-saying-racist-sexist-whatever-things-to-troll/673936 "2013-11-14T22:18:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-racist-sexist-whatever-vs-just-saying-racist-sexist-whatever-things-to-troll/673936/1 "2013-11-14T22:18:29Z")
Which is worse? (Assume — although I acknowledge it may be a stretch — that the trolls in the latter category “aren’t really” racist/sexist/whatever.) This question, obviously, was brought up by grousing about Internet message boards and comment sections. I’ve always wondered how many of the people saying those things _actually_ believe in what they’re writing. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-racist-sexist-whatever-vs-just-saying-racist-sexist-whatever-things-to-troll/673936/2 "2013-11-14T22:47:29Z")
I’d go with the (hypothetical) troll being the lesser of two evils. They tend to use hyperbole, whether it’s their intent or not, to illuminate the ugliness of the viewpoint. But then, as a troll I am a bit biased. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-racist-sexist-whatever-vs-just-saying-racist-sexist-whatever-things-to-troll/673936/3 "2013-11-15T15:43:24Z")
I am not a troll, but I do admit to _desiring_ to throw out a random racist/sexist line every once in a while for kicks. I don’t actually believe any of it, but I do have this belief that the US has too much of a I-love-to-be-offended culture and high-horse mentality that just begs for it. So many of the self-appointed racism/sexism crusaders are wound up so tight it is just somewhat satisfying to see them get frothy at the mouth. This kind of trolling is best done when there is a whole thread of mostly hand holding agreement and the troll just throws a turd on the table. There is not much real discussion or debate going on, so liven up the discussion. The opposite to that is the line after line of racist garbage on youtube that is just worthless and stupid. ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-racist-sexist-whatever-vs-just-saying-racist-sexist-whatever-things-to-troll/673936/4 "2013-11-15T19:35:59Z")
On the internet, they’re functionally identical. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-racist-sexist-whatever-vs-just-saying-racist-sexist-whatever-things-to-troll/673936/5 "2013-11-15T19:42:08Z")
I vote troll as worse because it’s entirely possible to be racist/sexist/whatever through ignorance and therefore it is possible to improve people like that. Trolls are intentionally and voluntarily seeking to anger others and stir up trouble. That’s malignant. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-racist-sexist-whatever-vs-just-saying-racist-sexist-whatever-things-to-troll/673936/6 "2013-11-15T20:05:52Z")
“You are what you pretend to be, so be careful about who you pretend to be.” – Kurt Vonnegut, from _Mother Night_