Michael Bang Petersen and Alexander Bor write,
our study, however, suggest that it’s not the Internet that transforms otherwise nice people into angry trolls. People who are jerks online are jerks offline, too. We do find that the kind of people who are obsessed with politics are often frustrated, angry and offensive. But they tend to rant about politics in offline interactions as well.
Who are these people? We find that the biggest factor associated with political hostility — online and offline — is status-seeking. Some people crave higher social status and try to intimidate others into recognizing them.
Are these people angry because of what society has done to them, or because they are just intrinsically angry? The authors seem to lean toward the former explanation, but I lean toward the latter.
I did but prompt the age to quit their cloggs
By the known rules of antient libertie,
When strait a barbarous noise environs me
Of Owles and Cuckoes. Asses, Apes and Doggs.
As when those Hinds that were transform’d to Froggs
Raild at Latona’s twin-born progenie
Which after held the Sun and Moon in fee.
But this is got by casting Pearl to Hoggs,
That bawle for freedom in their senseless mood,
And still revolt when truth would set them free.
– Milton
I used to think angry people were just innately angry but I’ve seen a few who have switched jobs or retired and completely chilled out.
There is probably a sliding scale but bad situations definitely contribute.
OK, bad situations definitely contribute, if in that you include folks who are deluged with deceitful agitprop, which has clearly increased in the last decade.
For a start in understanding such matters, see Taibbi on “Hate, Inc.”