It's official: trolls are narcissistic, psychopathic, and sadistic.

"Chris Mooney reports at Slate that research conducted by Erin Buckels of the University of Manitoba confirmed that people who engage in internet trolling are characterized by personality traits that fall in the so-called Dark Tetrad: Machiavellianism (willingness to manipulate and deceive others), narcissism (egotism and self-obsession), psychopathy (the lack of remorse and empathy), and sadism (pleasure in the suffering of others). In the study, trolls were identified in a variety of ways. One was by simply asking survey participants what they 'enjoyed doing most' when on online comment sites, offering five options: 'debating issues that are important to you,' 'chatting with others,' 'making new friends,' 'trolling others,' and 'other.' The study recruited participants from Amazon's Mechanical Turk website and two measures of sadistic personality were administered (PDF): the Short Sadistic Impulse Scale and the Varieties of Sadistic Tendencies Scale. Only 5.6 percent of survey respondents actually specified that they enjoyed 'trolling.' By contrast, 41.3 percent of Internet users were 'non-commenters,' meaning they didn't like engaging online at all. So trolls are, as has often been suspected, a minority of online commenters, and an even smaller minority of overall Internet users. Overall, the authors found that the relationship between sadism and trolling was the strongest, and that indeed, sadists appear to troll because they find it pleasurable. 'Both trolls and sadists feel sadistic glee at the distress of others. Sadists just want to have fun ... and the Internet is their playground!' The study comes as websites are increasingly weighing steps to rein in trollish behavior but the study authors aren't sure that fix is a realistic one. 'Because the behaviors are intrinsically motivating for sadists, comment moderators will likely have a difficult time curbing trolling with punishments (e.g., banning users),' says Buckels. 'Ultimately, the allure of trolling may be too strong for sadists, who presumably have limited opportunities to express their sadistic interests in a socially-desirable manner.' Perhaps posting rights should only be unlocked if you pass a test."

"It's official: trolls are narcissistic, psychopathic, and sadistic."

Ok... so it's official just because some reasearchers at the University of Manitoba said it is? Where is this University of Manitoba anyway?

Has this study been replicated? Anyone who knows anything about science knows one study proves nothing. It must be replicated before it has merit.

Did we not already know this; even before the study to which you refer was commenced?

So for example. a site with blitz chess playing ability - the relatively fast-paced form of confrontation venue, where sadism naturally finds it´s outlet, automatically should have a lower number of "trolls". (?)

I think it has to go much deeper than the 3-pointed characteristic of a troll phenomenon established here. There have to be many interrelated layers. Which just cannot be overlooked for a sake of simplicity! i.e. The willing to act on egotism and self-obsession can be parted into different "origins" (can´t find an English word for a point which feeds energy into something). But a fatal hollow in our social construct, which for example brutally deny people some natural responses. The more sensitive will act. 

So there will be egotists and self-obsessed people, who will be cleared of charges at the cost of those being triggered and condemned. 

It´s neurotic. 

It's official: Andy's account is closed. Anyone who understands social science research knows that studies must be replicated to have scientific validity.

The account of our minds isn´t closed, right? Before they start shooting those innocent creatures. They should be given a chance to acknowledge, that egotism, and self-obsession is a very common human affair.

"Machiavellianism (willingness to manipulate and deceive others), narcissism (egotism and self-obsession), psychopathy (the lack of remorse and empathy), and sadism (pleasure in the suffering of others)." Sounds like our president.

Sounds like a mirror for most of us. Ever heard of ´silent mirrors´?.. I have not either, but somehow this phrase fits here...

Not this president.  I follow the path of maxism and general cuteness.

For a minute there, I thought you typed "Marxism." Never mind.

Maxism kicks the R's out of Marxism.  You can quote the president on that.