SINGAPORE: No online community is immune from “trolling”, where people make fun of or harass users, particularly those they disagree with or dislike.
The torrent of hateful comments, which at worst include death threats and doxxing, have a dehumanising effect on the people being targeted. When trolls band together to bully someone, they normalise such behaviours, enabling and encouraging more to join in.
For online personalities who share a large chunk of their lives on the internet, trolling can easily spill over to the real world.
Case in point is online personality Kurt Tay, who was heckled as he left court, having just been charged with distributing sexual content on Telegram.
ASKING TO BE TROLLED?
Based on the video’s comments, people are divided on Tay’s hecklers. Some defended the hecklers, justifying their actions through Tay’s history of eccentric behaviour, and that he has dared people online who dislike him to say it to his face.
Conversely, many people felt it was childish and excessive for those hecklers to hound someone already going through a difficult time.
I agree with this group. People may behave in a particular manner for various reasons, and we can afford to be kinder even if we do not agree with them.
Tay might think that challenging his trolls to come find him in real life is an act that would assert dominance over them. But to the trolls, it is a clear sign that their words are getting under his skin, further encouraging more harassment. After all, trolls thrive on eliciting emotional responses from their targets and enjoy the control that comes with it.
People might engage with their trolls because they want attention and validation, no matter how toxic and harmful it may be. They might do it to increase their following and engagement or reinforce their image as a controversial figure. Other psychological factors such as narcissism, impulsivity, or mental health concerns could also play a part in driving such behaviour.
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A FINE LINE BETWEEN TROLLING AND CALLING SOMEONE OUT
For trolls, it is easy to feel a sense of moral superiority over infamous figures who have online forums and wikis chronicling their eccentric behaviour. Consequently, with such wide coverage, some trolls may even develop parasocial relationships with their target, believing they know them and can judge their character.
A vicious cycle forms when trolls feel justified in provoking an online figure, and the online figure keeps rising to the bait.
But I believe there is a fine line between trolling and calling out outlandish behaviour that could be criminal or harmful to others. It boils down to intentionality: Calling out someone is driven by the desire to protect them, while trolling is done to hurt and demean the people being targeted.
Internet personalities, no matter how controversial, do not deserve to be treated cruelly. No one does.
In the hyper-connected world we live in, entertainment in the form of pseudo-real-world drama is easily available on social media. Controversy fuels outrage, debates and everything in between, which makes us feel a part of something larger than ourselves.
This discourse is not inherently negative but can be harnessed for good as long as we remember to be kind, respectful, and constructive when engaging with people online.
Dr Jonathan Kuek is a mental health researcher and co-founder of Total Wellness Initiative Singapore, a prevention-oriented health and wellness social enterprise that aims to encourage people to be more proactive with their well-being.
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