This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

Résumé du livre

Whitney Phillips earned her PhD in communications at the University of Washington; This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things is a revised version of her dissertation. Her findings on trolling have appeared in numerous publications, including Scientific American, NYMag, The Atlantic, VICE and The New York Times.

To understand trolling fully, it’s crucial to trace its evolution from a term of condemnation in the early internet era to a subculture embraced with pride by the mid-2000s. Initially, trolls were seen as threats to online communities, using anonymity to disrupt communication. Over time, trolling developed into a subculture with its own language and customs, contributing to the creation of memes that began as inside jokes but eventually became mainstream, aided by platforms like 4chan. While trolling often evokes images of harmless pranks or humorous memes, it has also extended into activism and societal critique. Examples include Anonymous’ Project Chanology protests against the Church of Scientology and the use of trolling tactics to save a library in Troy, Michigan. Even governments have adopted trolling strategies, such as the US State Department’s Viral Peace initiative to counter extremism. However, trolling’s darker side is evident in cases like RIPtrolls, who targeted public mourning groups to critique performative grief and media sensationalism, raising questions about the broader societal impact of such behavior. This complex interplay between trolling, media, and culture continues to reveal uncomfortable truths about human behavior and communication, a theme explored further in the next section.

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