-- it’s full of information and awesome communities.

網路世界充滿各種資訊和很棒的社群，

But, like any cool and kinda-magical place, it has its dark sides…

但，就像任何又酷、又富有魔力的地方一樣，它也有黑暗的一面...

Even its very own trolls.

像是網路酸民。

Trolling is used to describe a lot of different situations. But, basically, it’s when someone

在網路上，酸民一詞可以用來解釋不同狀況。但基本定義就是當某人

posts an off-topic or inflammatory comment to disrupt an online conversation.

po了一則偏離主題的帖子或煽動性言論，目的是為了在網上挑起爭端。

Not all trolls are bad! Sometimes they’re just goofy, like our own dear litojonny and

不過，並非所有酸民都那麼壞，他們只是有點傻。 就像我們親愛的litojonny先生，

his questions about butt hair. But others can be more harmful.

和他關於屁股長毛的蠢問題；然而，其他人可能更具殺傷力。

You might’ve heard the warning, “don’t read the comments” -- to try and avoid potentially

你在網路上可能也看過這類警告性的帖子: 別讀它! —— 為的是試著避免潛在的

aggressive online interactions.

網路激戰。

But who are the people writing these kinds of comments in the first place, and why do

不過，是誰在第一時間寫了上述這種帖子，

they do what they do?

還有他們爲什麼要這樣做?

What goes through the mind of a troll?

到底，這些網路酸民心態為何？

First, let’s talk about different kinds of trolling.

首先，先來討論不同類型的酸文。

We think trolling began in the early 1990s, on discussion boards like Usenet- basically

酸文一詞出現在90年代早期，一開始出現在Usenet上；

early versions of message boards or forums.

Usenet就是早期的網路留言板(例如BBS)。

Experienced users would go trolling for newbies, by asking overly naive questions, or by making

版上的老鳥會用一些方式來釣菜鳥，像是問一些太過簡單明白的問題，

new posts about topics that had been way over-discussed.

或重新po一些早就討論過度的主題。

Veterans on the site would recognize each other’s usernames and realize what was going

其他老手能認出彼此的網路暱稱，明白現在在演哪齣，

on, so only new users would fall for the trap and answer them.

所以，就只有新人會跳入這些老鳥的陷阱而回帖。

This relatively harmless form of trolling was meant to get a laugh from people in-the-know

這類無傷大雅的酸文是為了讓知曉內情的人發噱，

-- they were in it for the lulz.

為此而幸災樂禍(LOL)。

Nowadays, the definition of trolling includes a lot of different kinds of people.

而今，發酸文的定義含括了更多不同類型的酸民。

For example, some people who self-identify as trolls irritate others for the sake of a joke.

例如，有些酸民靠著惹惱網友當作玩笑以尋求自我認同- -

-- like so-called griefers in online gaming communities.

像是愛在線上遊戲中搞破壞、騷擾其他人的玩家(griefer)。

Like when someone gets onto your minecraft server and just puts TNT everywhere.

或像有人登入你在【當個創世神】中的地圖，然後將炸彈方塊(TNT)放得到處都是。

But griefers can also engage in more harmful behavior, going beyond playful rule-breaking

但這些破壞者也可能帶來更多傷害，更勝於原本只為了好玩才破壞規則的行為；

and slinging racial insults and threats to upset other players.

進而丟出一些帶種族歧視的侮辱威脅字眼，讓其他玩家不愉快。

Some groups like Anonymous have grown out of communities that basically celebrate trolling,

有些團體，像是【匿名者】駭客組織，源自於基本上贊成發酸文的論壇，

like 4chan, and use its methods to oppose online censorship, or make political statements

例如4chan論壇，用戶以自己的方式反對網路審查制，或發動駭客行動以表達政治觀點，

through hacktivism, taking advantage of the anonymity of the Internet.

網路匿名的特性有益於這類行動順利進行。

But, other kinds of trolling are essentially cyber-bullying -- like the trolls who descend

然而，另外一種酸文在本質上就是網路霸凌--就像某些酸民突然出現在

on the memorial pages for deceased teenagers to post harassing comments.

紀念某個青少年的網頁上，po一些騷擾性的言論。

No matter the cause, it’s hard for victims to distinguish between empty threats and real

不管是甚麼導致這樣的行為，都很難讓受害者分清什麼只是惡作劇、什麼又是真正的

threats online, which can leave people stressed and scared.

網路恐嚇，這都對受害者造成心理壓力和恐懼。

So, some behavioral scientists are trying to get to the bottom of it.

所以，一些行為科學家試著找到導致這種行為的真相。

The Internet is still a fairly new place, so psychologists are still figuring out how

網際網路相較而言是一個新領域，因此心理學家仍努力找出

online spaces affect our psyche and behaviors.

線上空間如何影響人類的心理和行為。

Some research has started to answer the big question: what makes a troll?

有些研究已開始探討以下這個關鍵問題: 是什麼原因塑造了這些酸民?

Back in 2004 -- before Twitter, before YouTube, before Reddit -- a scientist named John Suler

回到2004年--在Twitter, YouTube, Reddit出現之前，科學家John Suler

coined a term to describe the loosening of social inhibitions because of the anonymity

發明了一個新詞，形容因網路匿名文化而抵銷社會抑制效應，名為 :

of the Internet: the Online Disinhibition Effect.

「網路去抑效應」。

Basically, people are willing to behave differently online than in real life. This isn’t necessarily

簡單來說，就是人們在網路世界中傾向於表現得和真實生活不同。這並不全然

a bad thing, but it can be.

是壞事，但也未必是好事。

Dr. Suler believed that there were six key factors that contributed to this effect:

Suler博士認為，有六種主要原因誘發去抑效應:

First, dissociative anonymity describes the ability to hide your true identity online.

第一點，「解離式匿名」形容在網路上隱藏你真實個性的能力，

This gives people the sense that their online actions can’t be linked back to real life,

解離式匿名讓人們以為自己在網上的言行不會連結真實生活，

and can remove a sense of responsibility.

因此可以卸責。

Next, because social media and online forums usually rely on text-based communication,

第二點，因為大眾媒體和網路論壇通常仰賴於文字溝通，

this also instills a sense of invisibility.

這也逐漸加強了「不可視性」，

Without eye contact or body language, commenters can become more disinhibited.

不可視性意思是少了眼神接觸及肢體語言，評論者可能變得更缺少顧忌。

Plus, online conversations can have a time disconnect, or asynchronicity, meaning that

再者，第三點，網路對話中，彼此的時間可能是斷開的，也就是「異步性」，意思是

you don’t have to immediately respond to someone.

你不用立刻回覆他人。

You can disengage and re-engage whenever you want, and craft your responses more carefully

你可以隨時參與或離開這個話題，也比起面對面講話，

than in face-to-face conversation.

更能細細雕琢自己的回覆。

It can also be hard to see other Internet users as real people who are affected by the

此外，我們也很難將銀幕另一端的網友視為現實世界中，因我們的一言一行

things we say and do.

而受影響的人。

And one part of that is solipsistic introjection, which means you basically create a character

這便是「以我為中心的投射」，意思是你在心中爲網友創造了

of the other person in your mind. By only having their words to read, you can sort of

專屬角色，藉由閱讀他們的文字，你可能聽到腦中想像出的聲音

hear their responses in an imagined voice in your head. So, the other person has become dehumanized.

輕聲念出那些回覆。結果，這些人轉而變為非人化。

As a result, there’s a disconnect between the real conversation you’re having and

也因此，與網友的實際對話和爲網友創造的形象之間

your constructed version of the other person.

產生了落差，無法連結兩者。

This then can lead to dissociative imagination, where online interactions are seen more as

接著，這也導致「想像分離」，也就是在網路上，人際互動變得更像

a fantasy than a reality. They can almost become a game -- one that’s easy to turn

虛擬想像而非實際交流，那麼這些互動就變成像是一場遊戲- 可以讓人輕易

off and walk away from.

登出離場。

This could be especially relevant to griefers -- they’re just people playing a different

這些與那些愛搗蛋的破壞者(Griefer)尤其相關- 他們把網路社交當作另一種類型的

kind of online game, one that’s more about a social experiment and messing with other players.

線上遊戲，一款有著更多社交需求，更能對其他玩家惡作劇的遊戲。

And when it comes to trolling, a big part is the minimization of authority -- the lack

另外，說到爲什麼發酸文，很大部份是因為網路行為幾乎無法可管- 也就是缺乏了

of clearly defined authority figures online.

清楚詳細的網路管制辦法。

Viewing other users as peers makes it easier to say whatever you want, including toxic

將其他網友看成是自己的同儕容易讓人做出任何想做的事，包括回覆一些毒舌言論，

comments, because there’s no fear of punishment.

只因在網路世界裡根本不用怕被懲罰。

Since the first description of the Online Disinhibition Effect, Internet communities

自從網路去抑效應這名詞發明以來，網路社群

have grown, and so has our definition of trolling.

逐漸成長，我們也爲發酸文的行為下了定義。

But the research on trolling behavior is still pretty sparse.

但關於發酸文行為的研究仍只見於零星論述。

Most studies are completed through online surveys, so they rely on participants to self-report

而且大部份相關的研究都是透過在網路上做問卷，這種方式必須依賴受測者

what they do.

的自我檢測(是否具信度)。

And, since there are lots of different kinds of trolls, the psychology behind the actions

此外，因為網路上充斥著不同類型的酸民，因此，其背後的心理因素

and reactions that they cause can be varied.

和因不同因素造成的反應，也非常多樣。

What motivates someone to consistently comment about butt hair is almost definitely not the

不過，那種堅持評論屁股長毛這類主題的網友，他們的動機絕對和

same thing that motivates a troll to spam someone with death threats.

寄死亡威脅給別人的網友不一樣。

Some recent studies have focused on more aggressive kinds of trolls, and the presence of traits

一些近期研究開始將重點放在更具攻擊性的酸民，以及他們的人格特質和

associated with the so-called Dark Triad or Dark Tetrad.

所謂的「暗黑人格三特質」之間的關聯性。

And the name is... uh… pretty fitting for this group of personality traits:

暗黑人格三特質這名詞就是...爲三種黑暗性格發明出的名詞:

For example, one personality type is known as the Machiavellian -- which is predisposed

例如，其中一種人格特質的代表性人物是馬基維利- 這種人的個性更傾向於

to being cold and detached in order to manipulate others.

讓自己看來冷酷、對他人漠不關心，為的是操控他人。

Narcissism, on the other hand, indicates an inflated sense of self and lack of empathy toward other people.

第二種特質: 自戀型人格，也就是說，這類特質的人過度關注自己但對他人缺少同情心

You might also have heard of the term psychopathy. Psychologists refer to this more accurately

第三種，是你可能也聽過的精神病態。對心理學家而言，更正確的說法是

as antisocial personality disorder -- it results in an inability to feel empathy or guilt,

反社會人格障礙- 它的成因來自無法感到同情或有罪惡感，

and a tendency to take advantage of other people.

而且習於利用他人達到目的。

And sadism describes the tendency to take pleasure from other’s pain.

除了這三種特質，還有一種叫虐待狂，傾向於從別人的痛苦中得到快感，

….which is some pretty dark stuff.

這又是另一種暗黑小玩意兒。

In 2014, in an online survey of over 400 people, those who said they enjoyed trolling other

2014年，一份網路問卷調查了400名聲稱喜歡發酸文作弄他人的網友-

people -- for example, by linking them to jump-scare websites, or griefing in games

例如，愛在貼文裡放恐怖圖片網站網址，或在遊戲裡搞破壞的人；

-- had positive correlations with several of these personality traits.

- 這些人和上述提到的人格特質具正相關。

And people who spent the most overall time posting comments online tended to have more anti-social motivations.

而大部分時間都花在上網po文的網友，最容易有反社會動機。

Rather than participating in message board conversations and online gaming to make friends,

比起加入各留言版聊天或玩線上遊戲來交朋友，

they were in it for the trolling.

他們更偏好發酸文或搞破壞。

But also, only around 5% of survey respondents specifically said that they enjoyed trolling,

不過，問卷調查中只有百分之5的受測者特別提到他們以發酸文為樂，

out of the 60% that said they interact with people online in some way, like by posting comments.

其他超過百分之60的受測者則認為po文、回覆是他們和其他人互動的一種方式。

So this suggests that mean-spirited trolls only make up a small fraction of Internet

因此，這份調查也告訴我們懷有惡意的酸民只佔了發文者中的小部分，

commenters, and an even smaller fraction of everyone online.

而在網路世界其他地方佔的比例更低。

These results may sound pretty intuitive, but it’s still interesting that there’s

這份結果看起來有些直觀，但仍有些値得探究的地方，像是

some correlation between some self-identified trolls and these personality traits.

尋求自我認同類型的酸民和其人格特質之間的相關性。

Plus, it highlights how the Internet can provide an outlet for some individuals with these

此外，它也強調網路提供了一個發洩管道，讓一些在現實生活中不討喜的言論能在

social tendencies that are less acceptable to express in offline interactions.

網上發表。

Of course, this doesn’t mean that all self-identified trolls are sadistic or narcissists.

當然，這不代表尋求自我認同的酸民就是虐待狂或自戀狂。

But it is causing more psychologists to ask interesting questions about the motivations

但這也讓更多心理學家想知道這個有趣問題的答案: 這些愛發酸文的人，心裡動機

of people who troll.

是甚麼?

Their research could help everyone understand online trolling a little better -- and, how

他們的研究可能可以讓我們更了解發酸文的動機- 以及如何處理那些

to deal with the harmful ones.

存有惡意會傷人的評論。

Many people think that toxic online interactions stem from a lack of meaningful social feedback,

許多人覺得，毒舌言論和酸文相互攻訐根源來自於缺少了有意義的社交反饋，

to help people adjust their behavior.

無法導正這些人的行為。

After all, the Internet is still pretty new -- new enough that it’s not always clear what the social rules are.

畢竟，線上世界還是一個全新領域- 新到沒有一個清楚的社交規範。

And it’s really big -- so there are a lot of different kinds of communities where different

而且網路空間無限寬廣- 有很多不同類型的社群，能容納或不能容納

behaviors are acceptable, or not.

各種行為。

So how can we make more spaces on the Internet fun and more comfortable for communities,

所以我們要怎麼做能打造出一個能享受網路樂趣的空間，讓更多社群感到舒適，

and avoid the worst kinds of cyber-bullies and the more vicious trolls?

而且還要防止不好的網路霸凌和各式的酸文?

Many activists say that well-moderated communities tend to have more civil conversations.

許多提倡網路社交規範的運動者認為，好的社群應該要有更多文明理性的對話。

This is linked to the concept used by some social scientists, known as the Broken Windows

這個概念引用自一些社會學家所謂的「破窗效應」。

Theory. This says that, for example, areas that have already been hit by vandals are

例如，已被暴徒打破一角的窗戶，

more likely to be targeted again.

比其他扇窗戶更可能淪為攻擊目標。

In other words: where there’s already lots of mean-spirited trolling, similar trolls will congregate.

換句話說，在那些充斥惡意朝諷酸文的板上，更容易聚集其他酸文。

On the other hand, communities that already have and enforce civil conversations, will

另一方面，網路社群如果事先規範且強調對話要理性，

discourage more harmful trolls.

那麼就會遏止滿懷惡意的酸民出現。

But intense moderation may make free-speech activists cringe.

但過度導正可能讓捍衛言論自由的運動者卻步。

Some people argue that everyone has the right to express themselves however they want, even

某些爭論認為每個人都有權力表達他們想說的，

if others find it offensive or upsetting.

無論是否會冒犯或傷到他人。

So there are still lots of unanswered questions about the ethics of moderation and anonymity

所以網路環境中，關於言論規範的準則和匿名性爭議仍待解答。

in online environments.

所以網路環境中，關於言論規範的準則和匿名性爭議仍待解答。

But what we do understand about the psychology of trolling can help combat its more serious forms.

但如果我們能更了解發酸文的心理動機，就更能幫助我們打擊那些帶有惡意的文章。

For example, if the anonymity of the Internet is part of what fuels aggressive trolls, then

舉例來說，假如線上出現愛火上加油，匿名的酸民，那麼

one way to stop them is to un-do the Online Disinhibition Effect.

阻止他們的辦法就是不要助長網路去抑效應。

If a victim manages to humanize themselves, then it might become harder for a troll to

如果受害者把自己表現得人性化，那麼酸民就很難把線上身分和真實的自己分開，

keep dissociating, and then they might realize they’re doing real harm.

因此他們會了解到自己正在傷害他人。

Feminist activist and writer Lindy West was trolled repeatedly by a man who was imitating

從事女權運動的作家Lindy West 曾被某人發文攻擊，發文者不斷在Twitter上

her deceased father on Twitter.

模仿Lindy已逝的父親。

She wrote a poignant piece about the experience. And to her surprise, the man behind the Twitter

她寫下這段令人痛苦的往事，然而，出乎意料的是，那個隱身在twitter帳號後的人

account reached out to directly apologize.

出面向她道歉。

In further conversation, he said that after he read her writing about the experience,

在更進一步談話中，他告訴Lindy他看到那篇文章後，

he was actually able to recognize that she was a real, living human being who was receiving

突然了解了到: 她並非虛擬的，而是個活生生的人正在接受

his insults and cruelty.

他的侮辱和殘酷虐待。

So it’s pretty clear that there are a lot of different flavors of trolling, and the

藉此，我們了解到有各式各樣不同特色的酸文，而引發這些行為的

mechanisms behind it can vary, too.

背後機制也各不相同。

Some of it’s pretty harmless, derailing conversations to get a laugh or mess with

有些酸文不怎麼有害，只是用些脫離主題的言論博得大家一笑，或在遊戲中對其他玩家。

other players in a game. But some of it can turn into bullying and have serious consequences.

惡作劇。但一些酸文最後可能發展成網路霸凌或其他嚴重的後果。

Psychologists are trying to understand where this behavior comes from, and how these interactions affect our minds.

心理學家目前正試著了解這類行為的起因是什麼，以及這種方式的互動如何影響我們的認知。

Hopefully in the future, we’ll reach an equilibrium where people on the Internet can

希望有一天，我們能讓網路世界達到公平性，

feel free to express themselves anonymously without hurting others.

匿名網友能暢所欲言卻又不會傷害他人。

And in the meantime, just remember: don’t feed the trolls.

同時，切記，別回應那些酸民。

Thanks for watching this episode of SciShow, which was brought to you by our patrons on

感謝您收看這集的SciShow，本節目由Patreon贊助。

Patreon. If you want to help support this show, just go to patreon.com/scishow. And

如果你想捐款支持我們的節目，請上patreon.com/scishow。

don’t forget to go to youtube.com/scishow and subscribe!

還有，別忘了上youtube訂閱我們的頻道。