Serious concerns have been raised in the United Kingdom, over the future of online satire as an art form, a development which has also caused consternation in the United States.
In the UK, a number of high profile court cases have resulted in successful prosecutions of internet trolls, much to the disgust of genuine satirists, who feel that they in turn are suffering as a result of trolling.
The trolls target the famous, the recently bereaved, and basically anybody they feel like being nasty towards.
Their comments are usually deeply personal, and designed to cause maximum hurt.
All of which is a cause for great concern among those interested in writing humour.
“Nobody seems to know what is and isn’t acceptable these days,” said self described ‘humourist’ Martin Shuttlecock. “It must be an absolute nightmare for site administrators, having to fine tooth comb every submission for fear of being prosecuted. And it’s just as bad for the writers. We know there are certain high profile individuals who take being mercilessly lampooned in good spirits, but there are also those who are likely to sue at the drop of a hat. Like Elton John and the Jackson family. No names mentioned of course.”
So who is to blame for this sorry state of affairs? And are we experiencing the final death throes of online satire?
“I blame the trolls,” Shuttlecock told Skoob News. “They really are sick puppies – probably infected by brain beetles – who think they’re hysterically funny and mischievous. But they aren’t. They’re a pain in the arse. And the worst of it is, that many of them sign up to ‘write’ for online humour sites, in the mistaken belief that they have something funny to say.
“Truth is, that most of them can’t write for crap, and they’re about as funny as third degree burns. These idiots are ruining the art of satire and humour writing, and I really feel for the administrators too. They have to try to sift through a mountain of submissions – often badly written, not remotely funny, and riddled with typos, and often get kicked off search engines for carrying misleading content. And don’t even get me started on forum trolls…”
Forum trolls?
“The people who infest online satire discussion forums in order to create discord and disruption,” Shuttlecock helpfully supplied. “Or they intrude on Farcebook where they’re not wanted. It’s always the same tired old mantra with trolls. ME!ME!ME! Anything for a bit of attention. They’re pathetic really, the kind of people who talk about sex all the time, but are probably impotent.
“The kind of people who slate the gay community with venomous comments but probably dance around the house in a pink tutu after dark, taking pictures of themselves, which they then fantasise over. They just try their damnedest to make life intolerable for people who just want to write genuinely funny content. If you ask me, they need to get a life. Or order viagra. What a bunch of limpdicks.”
US based satirist, Frankie DuBois thinks that there is still hope for genuine satire/humour, although he admitted being deeply concerned about what the future holds.in store.
“I think there is still hope for genuine satire stroke humour,” he reported. “Although I am deeply concerned about what the future holds in store.”
So what to do with the trolls who are doing their level best to destroy satire and humour?
“I’d love to say that they should be tortured,” Shuttlecock said. “Preferably in the most brutal ways imaginable, with sharp things, and pointy things – but they’d probably get a buzz out of that. So what I’d really suggest is the use of child psychology against them. They should be forced to read every inane comment they’ve ever made online, and every so called ‘article’ they’ve ever submitted, a thousand times. If that doesn’t shame them into realising how crap they really are, then I’m afraid we’ve lost the battle.”
Final word to DuBois:
“Yeah. Whatever he said…”
More as we get it..
This article itself is nothing more than a troll post when you read it….homo lover!
rfreed – Thanks mate. Hail fellow, well met.
Turk – My mother dressing me? I’m 93 years old. My mum’s long gone.
Barb – Doing my best to persuade the world to waste a couple of minutes a day to read mine and others twisted skew on the world.
Regards
Skoob.
PS – Anyone got a Clint Eastwood/empty chair story going cheap?
Seems to be all the rage in certain circles.
I find it very disturbing that trolls would want to destroy satire and humo(u)r. Why can’t they leave that to the rest of us?
Then where’s a troll to go? Under a bridge….heeeeeeey!
Please don’t ban me, I just got here. Good satire piece.
I hate your writing skill so I must break you, Skoob. Get ready to get flamed. Let’s see, oh yeah, “This article is as funny as your mother dresses you.” Yeah, that’s the ticket! Now hang your head in embarassment.
(Sorry for the long comment, but the article was pretty long itself).
Three thumbs up, Skoob.
(I had to borrow someone elses thumb to help out.)
An admirable line Brian. Being English, I don’t really get much of what is being said here, but it’s a good site, with good people, and I’ll continue to try to support it in any way I can.
I do have serious concerns that the trolls who just write lurid headlines on sites, or barrage search engines with utter rubbish in search of clicks do every genuine satirist/humourist a grave disservice.
The worst of it is, that some of them seem to think they’re funny.
They aren’t. They’re egomaniacs who get a kick out of ‘hits’ with no regard whatsoever for content. I’ll see if I can whip up something amusing for GN in the near future.
Thanks to your good self and Patti for your support.
Skoob.
I’ve worked hard at times to keep this site troll-free. When they come in, they get a warning. If they don’t knock it off, they get banned.
Of course, now that I say that some jackass is going to test out this theory.