Trolling vs. Cyberbullying

[Stilkon]

So the question here is fairly straightforward: Is there a fundamental difference between someone trolling and someone cyberbullying?

To me, I can't really see a difference between the two: both involve someone using the Internet to deliberately antagonize someone else, usually for the benefit of the antagonizer. If there is a difference, could someone explain to me what that is?

 

[staika]

theres an obvious difference, Trolling is done for the "lulz" and cyberbullying is done for.............. the "lulz" BY GOD THERE THE SAME!

If we wanted to get deeper in it trolling is done to make people angry at something so you can laugh at them while their angry, and cyberbullying is done more to hurt the other persons feelings and make yourself feel bigger than you are because you can hurt some 11 yr olds feelings. But that's only what I think they want out of it, seeing as I don't troll or cyberbully I don't know.

 

[MasterOfWorlds]

Not really much of a difference seeing as the result can be more or less the same. At least, as far as I've seen, that seems to be true.

 

[F'Angus]

the way I see it cyberbullying is specifically aimed a a person. Trolling can be done to random people.

 

[Snork Maiden]

Trolling originally meant antagonising someone online such that anonymity was required to do the act. For instance posing as a stubborn christian on a strictly atheist board - trolling *can* be funny because it takes advantage of the fact of people getting really angry over something that in the grand scheme of things doesn't really matter, like team killing in Counterstrike. Cyberbullying is just an extension of regular bullying and involves being a dick and making someones life miserable both offline and on.

Granted the lines between the two are often really blurred. If someone says someone is "trolling" but it looks like they're just being a fucker and it isn't funny, it's probably because they are and it's not.

 

[HerbertTheHamster]

trolling is funny.

pretty simple really.

 

[Stilkon]

the way I see it cyberbullying is specifically aimed a a person. Trolling can be done to random people.

I'm not too sure about that. If you can even figure out one aspect of a person that is different, you've got yourself a target for bullying (or at least one would think).

 

[neonsword13-ops]

Trolling is just whining about a subject. Cyberbullying is being mean directly toward one or more person

 

[Feralcentaur]

Trolling is for amusement, Bullying is to raise your self esteem or to attempt to place you in a higher place in the social ladder.

Bullying: Done to be popular and to feel better about yourself.
Trolling: Done for your amusement and entertainment.

That and usually bullying is more relentless and targeted at a specific person or people and is done over and over again whilst Trolling is usually done to a different target each time.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Any difference would seem to be vague and tenuous, yeah. I guess you could say bullying is an extended thing aimed at person/s in particular, whereas trolling is a short stab in the dark, hoping to hit someone.

 

[JustCallMeAlex]

Cyber-bullying is when you know the person you are hurting.
Trolling is totally anonymous.

Thats the line I draw anyway.

 

[Griffstar]

Cyber"Bullying" doesn't exist.

 

[Speakercone]

I'd say that the substantitive difference is that bullying is about humiliating someone else to elevate or reinforcing one's own perceived position. They're not joking, they mean to humiliate and degrade you.

Trolling, meanwhile, appears to be closer to a practical joke in most cases. A troll isn't trying to humiliate someone, they're trying to make someone rage for comedic effect. The fun part is laughing at how riled up people get.

In summation:
bullying: no lulz. serious business.
trolling: lulz in potentia. do it for them.

This is why I always found that laughing at people trying to bully me was a good strategy. You can troll a bully, but you can't bully a troll.

 

[kingcat1]

cyberbullying is most hyped rubbish from people that no shit about the internet

 

[Peteron]

Trolling seems to be just about annoying people and hearing their angry reactions. Cyber-bullying is about hurting them as much as possible. They aren't kidding around, unlike trolls, who are just looking for a funny reaction.

 

[JasonKaotic]

Pretty much what's been said. Trolling is just annoying people for fun, cyber-bullying is saying things with the intention of upsetting them.
News companies seriously needs to learn the difference.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

trolling is funny.

pretty simple really.

No it isn't. It's obnoxious and annoying.

OT: For all intents and purposes, no there really isn't much difference.

 

[Ryengu]

The way it strikes me, trolling is just aggravating whichever random stranger takes umbrage first, and cyberbullying is going after someone specific. The bullying is more personal I guess.

 

[Griffstar]

trolling is funny.

pretty simple really.

No it isn't. It's obnoxious and annoying.

OT: For all intents and purposes, no there really isn't much difference.

Your implying that being obnoxious and annoying on purpose isn't funny?