# What makes trolls tick?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-trolls-tick/134738>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 31, 2002, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-trolls-tick/134738 "2002-10-31T19:41:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Washte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Washte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washte)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-trolls-tick/134738/21 "2002-11-03T12:45:20Z")

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I’ve had a more indepth look at the paper to which I linked previously. You are certainly correct **jiHymas** in that the paper deteriorates into a far stretched tangent and unscholarly presentation. Perhaps I should have just chosen a few quotes, rather than link the entire paper. Admittedly I had not actually _read_ the entire paper - just skimmed the first bits.

As you were hoping to use something similar, I have done another search but looking specifically for academically acceptable sources. The only one found that seemed appropriate was [Identity and Deception in the Virtual Community](http://smg.media.mit.edu/people/Judith/Identity/IdentityDeception.html) by Judith S. Donath who is an Assistant Professor of Media Arts And Sciences at MIT.

From this paper you can also access the [Communities in Cyberspace site](http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/soc/csoc/cinc/) which also offers all sorts of useful information.

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**Author:** ![jiHymas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@jiHymas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jiHymas)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-trolls-tick/134738/22 "2002-11-03T16:41:42Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Washte \*  
> **As you were hoping to use something similar, I have done another search but looking specifically for academically acceptable sources. The only one found that seemed appropriate was [Identity and Deception in the Virtual Community](http://smg.media.mit.edu/people/Judith/Identity/IdentityDeception.html) by Judith S. Donath who is an Assistant Professor of Media Arts And Sciences at MIT.**

Thank you **Washte**. It’s an interesting paper, albeit a little bit dated at this point. Not quite what I was looking for, though. A group of colleagues, including myself, are running for office in my professional association and use the site to discuss and promote our candidacies. The users of the board are professionals, many if not most of whom will be reading a message board for the first time. The trolls have not yet crossed the line where I am willing to cut off their accounts; but I did want something to reassure the newbies that such nonsense is common in cyberspace and its existence does not entirely undermine the credibility of the board.

So thanks, **Washte**! I enjoyed and appreciated the link, even if I can’t use it!

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-trolls-tick/134738/23 "2002-11-03T18:35:15Z")

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Well, I don’t know how reliable it is, but I did manage to find a [short piece on trolls](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mtroll.html) at [some random website](http://www.straightdope.com).

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