{"id":5865,"date":"2020-04-20T17:09:08","date_gmt":"2020-04-20T21:09:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/?p=5865"},"modified":"2020-12-23T16:38:45","modified_gmt":"2020-12-23T21:38:45","slug":"internet-trolls-monsters-haunting-the-world-wide-web","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/2020\/04\/20\/internet-trolls-monsters-haunting-the-world-wide-web\/","title":{"rendered":"Internet Trolls: Monsters Haunting the World Wide Web"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Wendy and Brian Froud, book cover of ‘Trolls’ (2012).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In continuing our previous conversation surrounding the semantics of tr\u01ebll<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>in Old Norse-Icelandic literature<\/a>, and the evolution of the term in modern English, we turn our attention to contemporary applications of the term, particularly in the context of internet trolls<\/a> and trolling<\/a>. The concept of \u00a0internet trolls<\/a> builds on the image of a goblin or a giant stalking and skulking about in the dark and the implication that these people are perhaps ugly. This produces a harmful stereotype<\/a> of \u201csomebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds,\u201d<\/a> as Donald Trump<\/a> remarked in a 2016 debate, in a diversionary (and rather ironic<\/a>) attempt to draw attention away from evidence<\/a> of Russian meddling<\/a> in his favor<\/a> during the most recent U.S. presidential election<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Harry Potter (Daniel Jacob Radcliffe<\/em>) holding his invisibility cloak in Chris Columbus\u2019s \u2018Harry Potter and the Sorcerer\u2019s Stone\u2019 (2001).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, the reality is that the online shield of anonymity<\/a> operates as a cloak of invisibility<\/a>, not unlike the invisibility cloak<\/a> worn by Harry Potter<\/a> as he explores Hogwarts castle at night or the tarnkappe<\/i><\/a> “cloak of concealment” that S\u00eefrit<\/a> [Siegfried] receives from a dwarf named Alberich<\/a>\u00a0in the\u00a0Middle High German\u00a0Nibelungenlied<\/a><\/i>. Online anonymity<\/a> often renders one’s physical fitness either irrelevant or artificial<\/a> anyway, while at the same time it protects the identities<\/a> of nefarious actors, thereby allowing them to troll<\/a> the internet unseen<\/a> or in disguise. Indeed, the ugliness<\/a> of internet trolls<\/a> has everything to do with their emotionally pathetic behavior characterized by cowardly hatred<\/a> and blind rage<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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BrittMartin, ‘Internet Troll’ (2014 – 2020).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Considering this semantic range, a tr\u01ebll<\/em><\/a> is not much more specific than the general concept of a \u201cmonster\u201d that encompasses everything from sorcerers to goblins and giants to dragons. As we have seen, the medieval tradition<\/a> bears out the vagueness of this term as a category of being. While the giant-tr\u01ebll<\/em><\/a> may be one of the most common applications of the term in saga literature, modern representations of trolls suggest far more uniformity than evidence from medieval literature demonstrates.<\/p>\n

However, even the modern sense of troll<\/a> retains some flexibility, for in addition to the giant-tr\u01ebll<\/em>, much smaller goblin-like representations of trolls (manifesting in the modern troll doll<\/a> phenomenon) also features prominently in modern medievalism from early modern fairy tales, like those in the Grimm brothers<\/a>‘ and Hans Christian Andersen<\/a>‘s collections, to contemporary fantasy literature and film.<\/p>\n

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Allen Douglas, ‘The Brothers Gruff’ (2020).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If a troll is principally a monster lurking in the shadows, then the contemporary use of the term to describe a form of cyber-bullying<\/a> is especially apt. Not everyone<\/a> agrees on the precise definition<\/a> of a modern internet troll<\/a>, and it seems that\u2014in this sense\u2014the semantic ambiguity<\/a> of the word endures. For some a troll<\/a> is specifically someone interested in online agitation<\/a> for the purposes of entertainment<\/a>, for others a troll<\/a> is essentially comparable to a cyber-bully<\/a> and internet stalker<\/a>. As with some of their medieval counterparts, internet trolls<\/a> may hunt in packs or prowl alone, though they no longer hide under bridges and caves but instead lurk in the recesses of the world wide web<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The monstrous vitriol<\/a>, stalking<\/a> and harassment<\/a> in which internet trolls<\/a> engage is notorious<\/a>, especially on social media<\/a> platforms such as Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0and has furthered cultural trends in discourse toward antagonism<\/a> rather than cooperation, leading Melania Trump<\/a> to launch a campaign<\/a> as first lady against cyber-bullying<\/a> and online harassment<\/a>, in other words against the internet trolls<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Alexander Pavlov, ‘Internet Troll Sitting at the Computer’ Vector Illustrations (2003-2020).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Internet trolls<\/a> have developed a terrible reputation as being a cowardly group of angry individuals. Bernie Sanders<\/a>, despite unequivocally disavowing<\/a> any internet trolls<\/a> among the ranks<\/a> of his supporters<\/a> and calling for a government<\/a> of compassion and justice<\/a>, suffered<\/a> from a lasting stereotype<\/a> of the \u201cBernie-bro<\/a>\u201d during both his presidential campaigns<\/a>, which characterized his grassroots movement<\/a> as an army<\/a> of internet trolls<\/a>, primarily comprised of angry<\/a> white<\/a> men<\/a> terrorizing Twitter<\/a>. Although a recent Harvard study<\/a> revealed that the \u201cBernie-bro\u201d<\/a> narrative<\/a> was a myth<\/a> and suggested that political trolling occurred by supporters of every Democratic candidate at similar rates<\/a>, this caricature proved impossible for Sanders to shake<\/a> as a result of the public disdain for internet trolls<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Steve Sack, ‘Troll Trouble’ Star Tribune (2020).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This Harvard study<\/a>, however, highlighted a different but related issue<\/a>\u2014namely how ubiquitous trolling<\/a> has become and the damage<\/a> it has wrought upon ethical discussion<\/a> and political conversations<\/a> in this country regardless of which candidate one supports or with which party one affiliates.<\/p>\n

Although Joe Biden<\/a> does not have the same online presence<\/a> as Sanders<\/a>, and has promised to restore decency<\/a>, he nevertheless embodied the trollish spirit<\/a> of combativeness<\/a>, which permeates social media<\/a> discourse, in his everyday interactions with voters<\/a> on the campaign<\/a> trail. Biden<\/a> repeatedly told those who disagree<\/a> with him that they should vote for someone else<\/a>, and at times getting into near physical altercations<\/a> with Americans who challenged<\/a>\u00a0him on his record and policies. Despite both Democratic candidates’ feisty reputations (or in Sanders\u2019 case the reputation of his supporters<\/a>), both Bernie<\/a> and Biden<\/a> were notably amicable<\/a> and referred to each other frequently and intentionally as friends<\/a> during the primary<\/a>. Sanders<\/a>‘ recent endorsement<\/a> of Joe Biden<\/a> for president<\/a> as the\u00a0Democratic nominee<\/a> then comes as no surprise and underscores a shared sense<\/a> of party unity<\/a> with the goal<\/a> of winning back<\/a> the White House<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and former Vice President Joe Biden hug at February’s debate, Getty Images (2020).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When responding<\/a> to charges<\/a> of a \u201cBernie-bro<\/a>\u201d culture among his supporters<\/a>, Sanders has wondered<\/a> if again<\/a>, as in 2016<\/a>, Russian media<\/a> (especially bots and trolls<\/a>) might be targeting<\/a> his campaign<\/a>, though this claim<\/a> has been contested<\/a>. Sanders also noted that in fact some of the most vicious trolling<\/a> has been aimed at his surrogates and supporters<\/a> of his campaign<\/a> and progressive agenda, especially women of color, including his campaign co-chair Nina Turner<\/a>, and the freshmen congresswomen known as \u201cthe squad<\/a>\u201d three of whom have endorsed Sanders, namely Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez<\/a>, Ilhan Omar<\/a>, and Rashida Tlaib<\/a>. In making this point, Sanders shifted the spotlight<\/a> onto some of the most marginalized voices<\/a> in our government who face some of the most vile<\/a> and threatening<\/a> trolls<\/a> haunting the internet<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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US Representatives Ilhan Abdullahi Omar (D-MN), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) hold a press conference on July 15, 2019 to address remarks President Donald Trump Twitter attacks on them. Photo by Brendan Smialowski\/Getty Images (2019).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In our own field of medieval studies<\/a>, we have observed a similar phenomenon<\/a>. Medievalists of color, including junior scholars such as Dorothy Kim<\/a>, Mary Rambaran-Olm<\/a>, Adam Miyashiro<\/a>, Sierra Lomuto<\/a>, Seeta Chaganti<\/a> and others, have become the target of alt-right trolls<\/a> as a result of their speaking up<\/a> against white nationalist appropriations<\/a> of medieval history<\/a>, literature and culture<\/a> and raising the issue of racism<\/a> within the field<\/a> itself (and not without resistance<\/a>). Professional internet trolls<\/a>, like Milo Yiannopoulos<\/a>, have pursued ad hominem attacks<\/a>\u00a0on some of these scholars <\/span>in the guise of pseudo-academic arguments<\/a>, and the internet troll forces involved with the <\/span>alt-right<\/a> movement have taken up his call to arms against our colleagues of color in the name of <\/span>white supremacy<\/a>, masquerading as nationalism (but centered on issues of ethnocentrism and notions of cultural homogeneity). The threat from modern trolls is indeed as serious as encountering a monstrous <\/span>tr\u01ebll<\/em><\/a> in an Old Norse-Icelandic saga.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ashva, ‘Ugly Internet Troll’ Vector Illustrations (2003-2020).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many have argued that Donald Trump<\/a> is a cyber-bullying wizard<\/a>, and his supporters<\/a> notoriously seem to follow<\/a> his lead<\/a>. This characterization marks the president<\/a> as essentially the mesta tr\u01ebll<\/em> \u201cgreatest troll<\/a>\u201d capable of dragon-scale destruction<\/a> via the internet<\/a>, which renders his wife\u2019s campaign<\/a> against online harassment profoundly\u00a0paradoxical<\/a><\/span>. Moreover, whether it’s demonizing undocumented immigrants<\/a>, insulting the squad<\/a>, or attempting to rebrand covid-19<\/a> as the “Chinese virus<\/a>” rather than simply calling it the novel<\/a> coronavirus<\/a>, the president is infamous<\/a> for his straightforwardly offensive<\/a>, racially loaded<\/a> and politically incorrect<\/a> tweets<\/a>, which inflame racial tensions<\/a> and partisanship<\/a>. Trump’s relentless trolling<\/a> of Climate Change activist Greta Thunberg<\/a> is perhaps his most opprobrious <\/span>internet feud<\/a>, surpassing even his decade-long spat<\/a> with Rosie O’Donnell<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Steve Sack, ‘Feeding the Trolls’ (2019).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While it only takes one brief glance<\/a> at Trump\u2019s Twitter account<\/a>\u00a0to recognize his ferocity<\/a>, dedication<\/a> and skill<\/a> in trolling<\/a> his political opponents<\/a>, it is important to recognize that he also receives his fair share of troll-attacks<\/a>. Perhaps as a result of observing<\/a> Trump\u2019s effective trolling<\/a>, Democrats<\/a> and those criticizing<\/a> the president have resorted to similar tactics<\/a>, and have been praised<\/a> for it, especially when Trump\u2019s statements are trafficking in bigotry<\/a> or misinformation<\/a>. Indeed, if the Democratic nominee<\/a> means to best Trump<\/a> in the general election<\/a>, and thereby defeat<\/a> the greatest troll<\/a>, as it were, it will certainly require strength<\/a> of character<\/a> and no small amount of courage<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo by Sofya Levina. Images by Drew Angerer\/Getty Images (2016).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Perhaps the most infamous subcategory of internet troll, which has come under intense scrutiny as a result of their involvement in the 2016 presidential election in the United States, is the Russian troll<\/a>. The involvement of Russian trolls<\/a> (and bots) has received a share of credit for Donald Trump’s surprising victory over Hilary Clinton, and the president’s critics have alleged collusion<\/a> between the Trump campaign and the Russian government, which resulted in a special investigation<\/a> by Robert Mueller centered on whether there was a conspiracy<\/a> (with Russia) or obstruction of justice<\/a> on the part of the administration<\/a>. This produced the famous Mueller Report<\/a>\u00a0that indicted 13 Russian nationals<\/a> linked to tampering with the U.S. election. This Russian strategic operation was organized by the Internet Research Agency<\/a>, which CNN describes<\/a> as “a Kremlin-linked Russian troll group, [which] set up a vast network of fake American activist groups and used the stolen identities of real Americans in an attempt to wreak havoc on the U.S. political system.”<\/p>\n

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Jeffrey Koterba, Omaha World-Herald ‘Russian Trolls’ (2018).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now in 2020<\/a>, the U.S. again finds itself in yet another battle against Russian trolls<\/a> and the spread of misinformation<\/a> and disinformation. Russian trolls<\/a> seem to be focused on antagonizing and disaffecting groups and individuals thereby turning Americans on Americans<\/a>, as the Mueller Report<\/a> outlines a “strategic goal to sow discord in the US political system.” Although Russian virtual propaganda<\/a> and social media trolling<\/a> certainly may have fanned the flames, the sad truth is the the fire was already burning. What’s worse, anyone and everyone arguing online becomes a potential Russian troll<\/a>, providing scapegoats and discrediting of the hard work and dedication of many Americans<\/a> calling for social, racial, environmental and economic justice, and necessary reform to meet these needs.<\/p>\n

As the loudest and most provocative views often receive the most traction and attention, especially on social media, internet trolls<\/a>\u2014whether an operative<\/a> from the\u00a0Internet Research Agency<\/a> or simply troubled person lashing out online\u2014cast long shadows, effectively silencing all those softer voices and further destabilizing civil discourse.<\/p>\n

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Bryant Arnold, ‘Internet Troll Under a Bridge’ (2013).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In both medieval literature and modern times, we must fight the trolls<\/a> and the horrors they bestow upon human society. While I am suggesting a sort of call to action against internet trolls<\/a> and trolling, it is expressly not a call for tone-policing<\/a>. Critique, even the sharpest criticism\u2014especially of public officials and elected representatives\u2014must be uncensored<\/a> so the people may speak freely and in whatever (and whichever) language they choose, whether vulgar or polite in tone<\/a>. However, I am suggesting that we consider changing our rhetorical strategy as a nation and a world.<\/p>\n

Legendary heroes often fight trolls by matching their strength and ferocity, by fighting fire with fire<\/a>, but I believe a different path might be more efficient. Perhaps it is clich\u00e9 for a medievalist to suggest a hagiographical approach, but I would contend that we could learn a lesson from St. Juliana<\/a>\u2019s contest with a demon (267-558) in the Old English Juliana<\/em><\/a> by Cynewulf<\/a> recorded in the Exeter Book (Exeter Cathedral Library MS3051). As a medieval saint<\/a> might when facing a devil, I believe that it is often best (and more rhetorically effective) to match vice with virtue<\/a>, anger with empathy, belligerence with amicability and hate with love in order to transform political conversations in America toward more ethical practices.<\/p>\n

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Demon attacks hermit in Smithfield Decretals, British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV, f. 113v.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This rhetorical strategy, meeting vice with virtue<\/a>, is the centerpiece of the late classical Christian epic, Prudentius’s Psychomachia<\/em><\/a>, often regarded as the first medieval allegory which establishes the robust tradition which follows. In the Psychomachia<\/em><\/a>, demonic vices fight against saintly virtues in what amounts to a battle for the soul of humanity, a phrase which is repeatedly invoked regarding our current political moment. Although the Psychomachia<\/em><\/a> frames its narrative in reductive notions of good and evil, it nevertheless argues that the strongest way to combat monstrous vices ira <\/em>“wrath,” superbia <\/em>“pride,” luxuria<\/em> “luxury” and avaritia<\/em> “greed” is with inverse behavior, in other words, the heroic virtues of patientia <\/em>“patience,” humilitas <\/em>“humility,” sobrietas <\/em>“sobriety,” and operatio <\/em>“service.”<\/p>\n

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Sobrietas defeats Luxuria, the vice is ultimately caught in the wheels of her own war-chariot and destroyed, British Library<\/a>, Add MS 24199 f.20v.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course, we must continue the constant battle<\/a> against what can seem like an endless horde of internet trolls,<\/a> and it is all too tempting, and necessary at times, to get into the proverbial mud<\/a> and valiantly take the fight<\/a> to them in their digital lairs (usually located somewhere in the comment section<\/a>) as heroes often do in saga literature<\/a> and fantasy<\/a> novels.<\/p>\n

We might also note that in the Hobbit<\/em><\/a>, the grey wizard Gandalf<\/a> initiates and perpetuates an argument between three stone-trolls<\/a> in an effort to stall and prevent the monsters from devouring Thorin’s company<\/a> (ch 2: “Roast Mutton<\/a>“). Gandalf’s ventriloquism<\/a> mirrors the trolls<\/a>‘ level of discourse, and eventually not only does their bickering delay their eating the dwarves, it causes the trolls to forget about the approaching dawn, which turns them to stone<\/a>. Perhaps there is something of a serendipitous metaphor in the argument between the wizard and the trolls in the Hobbit<\/em><\/a>, which suggests that in order to overcome trolls<\/a>, one must beat them at their own game and hope they self-destruct.<\/p>\n

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DonatoArts, ‘Lunch with William, Tom and Bert’ (2018-2020).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Indeed, like Grettir wreaking vengeance upon the tr\u01ebllkona<\/a>\u00a0mikil<\/em> \u201cgreat troll-woman\u201d\u00a0in Grettis saga <\/em><\/a>(ch. 65), it may be that sometimes the only way to respond<\/a> to a troll<\/a> is to retaliate<\/a> in some form<\/a>. But there is also another kind of strength, kinder but no less powerful. While it is often impossible to starve<\/a> trolls by ignoring<\/a> them, and acknowledging that no single strategy<\/a> will always prove effective<\/a>, it may nevertheless be that the most productive way to defeat<\/a> internet trolls<\/a> is through sustained civil discourse<\/a> in the spirit of generosity. In other words, kill them with kindness.<\/p>\n

Richard Fahey
\nPhD in English (2020)
\nUniversity of Notre Dame<\/p>\n

Texts and Translations<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Andersen, Hans Christian. Fairy Tales and Stories<\/em><\/a>, translation by H. P. Paull (1872).<\/p>\n

Byock, Jesse.\u00a0Grettir\u2019s Saga<\/em><\/a>. Oxford University Press (2009).<\/p>\n

Grimm, Jakob, and Wilhelm Grimm.\u00a0Grimm\u2019s Household Tales<\/em><\/a>, translation by Margaret Hunt (1884).<\/p>\n

Cynewulf. Juliana<\/em><\/a>. In Anglo-Saxon Narrative Poetry Project<\/a><\/em>, translation by\u00a0Aaron K. Hostetter. Rutgers University (2007).<\/p>\n

Margaret Armour.\u00a0The Nibelungenlied.<\/a> <\/i>In Parentheses Publications (1999).<\/p>\n

Mueller, Robert. Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election<\/em><\/a>. Special Counsel Office (2019).<\/p>\n

Prudentius. Psychomachia<\/em><\/a>. In Prudentius, with an English translation<\/em><\/a> by H.J. Thomson\u00a0(1949).<\/p>\n

Rowling, J. K.\u00a0Harry Potter and the Philosopher\u2019s Stone<\/em><\/a>. Bloomsbury (1997).<\/p>\n

Tolkien, J. R. R.\u00a0The Hobbit, or There and Back Again<\/em><\/a>. Allen & Unwin (1937).<\/p>\n

Further Reading<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ashkenas, Jeremy. “Was It a 400-Pound, 14-Year-Old Hacker, or Russia? Here’s Some of the Evidence<\/a>.” The New York Times<\/em><\/a> (2017).<\/p>\n

Coaston, Jane. “Jacob Wohl, the Trump Internet Activist Cashing in on Conspiracy Theories, Explained<\/a>.” Vox<\/em><\/a> (2019).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Chaganti, Seeta. “Statement Regarding ICMS Kalamazoo<\/a>.” Medievalists of Color<\/em><\/a> (2018).<\/p>\n

Fahey, Richard. “Medieval Trolls: Monsters from Scandinavian Myth and Legend<\/a>.” Medieval Studies Research Blog<\/em><\/a>. University of Notre Dame<\/a> (2020).<\/p>\n

Grendell, Alexis. “Should We Have a Right to Troll Politicians on Twitter?<\/a>” The Nation<\/em><\/a> (2019).<\/p>\n

Hanson, James. “Trolls and Their Impact on Social Media<\/a>.” University of Nebraska-Lincoln<\/a> (2018).<\/p>\n

Jones, Brandon G. “Harvard Scientist Analyzes 6.8 Million Tweets, Finds Bernie Sanders Supporters Are NOT More Abusive<\/a>.” ABC 14 News<\/em><\/a> (2020).<\/p>\n

Kim, Dorothy. “White Supremacists Have Weaponized an Imaginary Viking Past. It’s Time to Reclaim the Real History<\/a>.” Time<\/em><\/a> (2019).<\/p>\n

\u2014. “Teaching Medieval Studies in a Time of White Supremacy<\/a>.” In the Middle<\/em><\/a> (2017).<\/p>\n

Klempka, Allison and Arielle Stimson. Anonymous Communication on the Internet and Trolling<\/em><\/a>. Concordia University (2017).<\/p>\n

Kosoff, Maya. “Why the Right’s Dark-Web Trolls Are Taking Over Youtube<\/a>.” Vanity Fair<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(2018).<\/p>\n

Lahut, Jake. “Joe Biden Gets Away with Yelling at Voters, and May Even Benefit from It<\/a>.” Business Insider<\/em><\/a> (2020).<\/p>\n

Leigh, Kira. “Fantastic Internet Trolls and How to Fight Them<\/a>.” Medium<\/em><\/a> (2017).<\/p>\n

Lewis, Simon. “Bernie Sanders to Online Trolls: Stop ‘Ugly Personal Attacks<\/a>.” Reuters<\/em><\/a> (2020).<\/p>\n

Lindgren, \u00c9melie Vangen. “Trolls in Your Comment Section and How to Fight Them<\/a>.” Medium<\/em><\/a> (2017).<\/span><\/p>\n

Lomuto, Sierra. “White Nationalism and the Ethics of Medieval Studies<\/a>.” In the Middle<\/a><\/em> (2016).<\/p>\n

Martin, Tess. “Racism 101: Tone Policing<\/a>.” Medium<\/em><\/a> <\/span> (2018).<\/p>\n

McQuade, Barbara and Joyce White Vance. “These 11 Mueller Report Myth Just Won’t Die. Here’s Why They’re Wrong<\/a>.” Time<\/em><\/a> (2019).<\/p>\n

Miyashiro, Adam. “Decolonizing Anglo-Saxon Studies: A Response to ISAS in Honolulu<\/a>.” In the Middle<\/em> <\/a>(2017).<\/p>\n

Noor, Poopy. “Trump’s Troll-in-Chief? Once Again, Nancy Pelosi Bites Back<\/a>.” The Guardian<\/em> <\/a>(2019).<\/p>\n

Perry, David. “How to Fight 8Chan Medievalism\u2014and Why We Must<\/a>.” Pacific Standard<\/em><\/a> (2019).<\/p>\n

Rambaran-Olm,<\/span>\u00a0Mary. “Misnaming the Medieval: Rejecting ‘Anglo-Saxon’ Studies<\/a>.” History Workshop<\/em><\/a> (2019).<\/p>\n

Ray, Alison. “The Psychomachia<\/em>: An Early Medieval Comic Book.<\/a>” British Library<\/a> (2015).<\/p>\n

Read, Bridget. “I’m Sorry, What Did Biden Say to This Voter?<\/a>” The Cut<\/em><\/a> (2019).<\/p>\n

Roll, Nick, “A Schism in Medieval Studies, for All to See<\/a>.” Inside Higher Ed<\/em> <\/a>(2017).<\/p>\n

Sarsour, Linda. “Yes, Women of Color Support Bernie Sanders. It’s Time to Stop Erasing Our Voices<\/a>.” Teen Vogue<\/em><\/a> (2019).<\/p>\n

Silver, Nate. “Donald Trump is the World’s Greatest Troll<\/a>.” FiveThirtyEight<\/em><\/a> (2015).<\/p>\n

Spencer, Kieth A. “There Is Hard Data That Shows ‘Bernie Bros’ Are a Myth<\/a>.” Salon<\/em><\/a> (2020).<\/p>\n

Sax, David. “‘If You Fight Fire with Fire, Everyone Burns’: How to Catch a Troll Like Trump<\/a>.” The Guardian<\/em><\/a> (2016).<\/p>\n

Sebenius, Alyza. “Russian Trolls Shift Strategy to Disrupt U. S. Election in 2020<\/a>.” Bloomberg<\/em><\/a> (2020).<\/p>\n

Stratton, Erica. “6 Ways to Fight Trolls Instead of Starving Them<\/a>.” The Airship<\/em> <\/a>(2014).<\/p>\n

Vinsonhaler, Christine. “The Hearmsca\u00dea and the Handshake: Desire and Disruption in the Grendel Episode<\/a>.” Comitatus<\/em><\/a> 47 (2016): 1-36.<\/p>\n

Waters, Lowenna. “AOC Destroys ‘Misogynist’ Twitter Troll with One Simple Comment: ‘I Don’t Give a Damn<\/a>.” Indy100<\/a> &<\/em>\u00a0Independent<\/em><\/a> (2019).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In continuing our previous conversation surrounding the semantics of tr\u01ebll\u00a0in Old Norse-Icelandic literature, and the evolution of the term in modern English, we turn our attention to contemporary applications of the term, particularly in the context of internet trolls and trolling. The concept of \u00a0internet trolls builds on the image of a goblin or a … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Internet Trolls: Monsters Haunting the World Wide Web”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1886,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[43988,56012,483881,73957,264201],"tags":[324817,12594,73644,264321,324821,324833,67703,324826,22,324651,324673,246728,324831,23,129,324834,324829,324828,324832,12,324812],"class_list":["post-5865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-digital-humanities","category-english","category-monsters-wonders","category-north-seas","category-the-future-of-the-humanities","tag-cyber-bullying","tag-election","tag-fairy-tales","tag-grettis-saga","tag-grimm-brothers","tag-hans-christian-andersen","tag-harry-potter","tag-hobbit","tag-internet","tag-juliana","tag-medievalism","tag-monsters","tag-nibelungenlied","tag-online","tag-politics","tag-propaganda","tag-prudentius","tag-psychomachia","tag-russian-interference","tag-social-media","tag-trolls"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5865","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1886"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5865"}],"version-history":[{"count":149,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5865\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6799,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5865\/revisions\/6799"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}