The Evolution Of The Troll - by Belinda Chiazor

The term “Troll” originally referred to mystical creatures in folklore that were known to stir up trouble and mischief, and if you’re a Potterhead Agbaya Millenial like I am, you would remember the troll in ‘Harry Potter And The Philosopher/Socerer’s Stone’ that was let into Hogwarts by Professor Quirrel. A couple of other movies like “Trollhunter, “Ernest Scared Stupid”, and even a movie called “Trolls” have yup, you guessed it…all featured trolls. It is no wonder, the term describing these fabled creatures known for being rascally as well as slow-witted has in more recent times – and in the context of the internet – come to describe individuals who create discord in online communities. In other words, a troll is an a-hole! Excuse my French. And they seem to be getting more persistent and chaotic. How did they even come about, if we may ask? Well, the evolution of internet trolling has been quite fascinating. I think it first started with pranks and rabble rousing in the early days of online forums and chat rooms. Remember the days of aol and yahoo messenger? Then as time went on and apps like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram came about, trolls became more sophisticated, using various tactics, spreading misinformation, berating other users, and manipulating discussions for their amusement and to push their agenda. As we all know, trolls can basically build fake profiles online to specifically target individuals and even groups and communities. Someone would have a personal quarrel with another person and hide behind a fake account on a medium like Instagram, to continuously taunt the individual they have a problem with. These apps have tried to curb this menace through different means. One of these methods is by sensitizing users, as well as taking down comments they perceive to be offensive and inappropriate. But the downside of the moderation measures like we witness with Instagram, is that it’s taken the fun out of socializing online. The bots that are designed to pick up trolling comments and actions that go against their guidelines; often mistake people with the right intentions for the wrong sort. And before you know it, you’re booted off the platform while the real trolls continue to roam free. Folks who use their online accounts to run businesses and have lost them as a result of these measures, will tell you how painful it is for them. Why Do People Troll Others? I’m no psychiatrist, psychologist, or human behavioralist, but I have small sense and I would say nobody even needs to be an expert in any of the aforementioned areas, to know there has to be something fundamentally wrong with you as a human being; for you to decide to become a troll. People bully others on the internet, because I think it gives them a sense of control. When you’re a bum in real life, hiding behind anonymity and the knowledge that the person you’re making fun of doesn’t know you and can’t get to you, makes people type crazy things on Beyoncé’s internet. A lot of people dealing with low self esteem, frustrations in their personal lives, try to seek validation online by being mischief makers. Unfortunately and as we all know, some victims of their unruliness have been so badly affected, they took their own lives. Of all the comments from trolls I’ve seen on social media, the one that haunts me till this day, is the person who literally wished that a former housemate from the popular “Big Brother Naija” show, would cease to exist and not return from a trip they were on at the time.  I remember feeling chills all over my body. I couldn’t believe just how mean-spirited people could be. We know humans can be nasty as well as evil but when you see it happen up-close, it can be shocking. On the bright side, there are often repercussions for trolling, as we’ve witnessed once in a while. I won’t mention any specific incidents abeg, but we’re all netizens, so we read about these when they do occur. Trolls are sad creatures; fabled or real, and if you’re guilty of trolling others whether on or even offline, you need divine intervention. And throw in therapy while you’re at it. Breaking people’s spirits will not build yours back up, and what you say to others says more about you, than them. In summary; let us all try to be decent users of Mark Nsukka Bread’s internet; as life is hard enough for a lot of people. But if a troll comes for me, I will choose vawulence, always! Till next time…

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