http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/Chion/Colin%20McEnroe%20Show%2007-24-2012.mp3
It's tough to generalize about internet trolls. If there's a common denominator, it's that they thrive on attention and response. An internet troll who is not making anybody crazy is not a happy troll.
In 2009, a troll calling himself Bob M. took up residence on the comment threads of my newspaper column. He was uncommonly vicious. He even took it upon himself to do a little research, find out that my father had died of cirrhosis and taunt me about that.
"Maybe you'll start hitting the bottle, like daddy," he wrote.
That was a low point. At other times, he would make lewd and aggressive remarks to women on the thread. He was a little man in real life, but he had created a online hell and made himself king of it. Attempts by the company to ban Bob M. were unsuccessful. He was a very successful troll. He made me crazy. He hurt me. But why did he want to?
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***This episode originally aired on July 25, 2012***
