What will I learn about: Trolling is often driven by the pursuit of 'Lulz,' an aggressive form of humor that extracts pleasure from the negative emotional reactions of its targets?

Trolling is often driven by the pursuit of 'Lulz,' an aggressive form of humor that extracts pleasure from the negative emotional reactions of its targets.

What will I learn about: Mainstream internet culture, including the widespread use of memes, originated directly from the unique languages and inside jokes developed by early troll subcultures on sites like 4chan?

Mainstream internet culture, including the widespread use of memes, originated directly from the unique languages and inside jokes developed by early troll subcultures on sites like 4chan.

What will I learn about: Some provocative trolling behaviors, like mocking public memorial pages, simultaneously act as harsh critiques of media sensationalism and performative public grief?

Some provocative trolling behaviors, like mocking public memorial pages, simultaneously act as harsh critiques of media sensationalism and performative public grief.

What will I learn about: Trolls and mainstream media operate on surprisingly similar principles, as both aggressively capitalize on high-profile spectacles to achieve their respective goals?

Trolls and mainstream media operate on surprisingly similar principles, as both aggressively capitalize on high-profile spectacles to achieve their respective goals.

What will I learn about: The disruptive tactics of trolling are not exclusively malicious and have been successfully co-opted for progressive activism, such as saving public libraries and undermining violent extremists?

The disruptive tactics of trolling are not exclusively malicious and have been successfully co-opted for progressive activism, such as saving public libraries and undermining violent extremists.

This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

Mapping the Relationship Between Online Trolling and Mainstream Culture

Whitney Phillips

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Categories:

Society & Culture

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡How did everyday internet memes, like LOLcats, originate as exclusive inside jokes within early online troll communities?
💡In what ways do the seemingly cruel actions of 'RIPtrolls' actually serve as a dark social commentary on mainstream media and 'grief tourism'?
💡How have activists and even government agencies successfully weaponized traditional trolling tactics to drive political change and combat violent extremists?

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Key Takeaways from This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

✓Trolling is often driven by the pursuit of 'Lulz,' an aggressive form of humor that extracts pleasure from the negative emotional reactions of its targets.
✓Mainstream internet culture, including the widespread use of memes, originated directly from the unique languages and inside jokes developed by early troll subcultures on sites like 4chan.
✓Some provocative trolling behaviors, like mocking public memorial pages, simultaneously act as harsh critiques of media sensationalism and performative public grief.
✓Trolls and mainstream media operate on surprisingly similar principles, as both aggressively capitalize on high-profile spectacles to achieve their respective goals.
✓The disruptive tactics of trolling are not exclusively malicious and have been successfully co-opted for progressive activism, such as saving public libraries and undermining violent extremists.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

Mind Map

This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

Definition & Motivation+

History & Evolution+

RIPtrolls & Social Commentary+

Trolls vs. Mainstream Media+

Activism & Real-World Impact+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7

What is the primary motivation for the specific subculture of internet trolls discussed in the book?

A. Generating revenue through website clicks and advertising.
B. Deriving pleasure from producing 'Lulz' through aggressive, provocative humor.
C. Exposing corporate corruption and government surveillance.
D. Creating safe online communities for marginalized voices.

Question 2 of 7

How did the general perception of internet trolls change from the early 1990s to the 2000s?

A. They went from being seen as harmless pranksters to being classified as dangerous domestic terrorists.
B. They transitioned from being corporate marketing tools to independent political activists.
C. They evolved from being viewed as obstacles to online communities into a proud, distinct subculture.
D. They shifted from primarily hacking government websites to creating viral marketing campaigns.

Question 3 of 7

According to the text, what is the origin of internet memes?

A. They began as inside jokes created within internet troll communities using their own specific language.
B. They were invented by mainstream advertising agencies to market products to younger demographics.
C. They started as psychological experiments conducted by early internet developers.
D. They were originally created by the media to sensationalize news stories.

Question 4 of 7

What argument do some people use to defend the seemingly cruel actions of 'RIPtrolls' on memorial pages?

A. They are helping grieving families by providing emotional support through dark humor.
B. They are providing social commentary by criticizing 'grief tourists' and the media's sensationalism of tragedy.
C. They are legally protected under the First Amendment and are simply exercising their right to free speech.
D. They are raising money for suicide prevention organizations through increased page views.

Question 5 of 7

According to the book, what common trait is shared between trolling behavior and mainstream media practices?

A. Both prioritize factual accuracy and objective reporting to build their audiences.
B. Both operate primarily anonymously to avoid legal repercussions.
C. Both take advantage of attention-grabbing spectacles to achieve their respective goals.
D. Both actively try to shut down controversial social media pages.

Question 6 of 7

How did an advertising agency successfully use trolling tactics to help save a public library in Troy, Michigan?

A. They hacked into the local government's financial database to expose misused funds.
B. They created a viral meme mocking the mayor's intelligence.
C. They posed as an anti-tax group and organized a fake book-burning party to spark public outrage.
D. They flooded the local newspaper's comment section with nonsensical and offensive messages.

Question 7 of 7

How has the US government utilized tactics similar to internet trolling?

A. The State Department created a program using humor, logic, and satire to demoralize violent extremists.
B. The military recruited 4chan users to hack into foreign intelligence servers.
C. The FBI set up fake memorial pages to catch cyberbullies and domestic terrorists.
D. The IRS used aggressive memes to publicly shame citizens who evaded taxes.