Why Do We Bash Uwe Boll?
It's pretty obvious why we do but psychologists have decided to do a study on 'internet-bashing' anyway. Dr. Kahn explains that 'Boll-Haters' are 'by far the most outstanding and interesting and fascinating because it is by far the biggest, most exotic and intense case one can find on the internet today'. I feel special.
The American medical journal "NEW PSYCHOLOGY POST" interviewed Dr. Ann-Rose Kahn who is in charge of the study.
NEW PSYCHOLOGY POST: Dr. Kahn, a scientific research based on only one real case isn't that a quite unusual and unrepresentative way of learning more about the roots and motivation of Internet-Bashing?
Dr. Ann-Rose Kahn: Well, in the beginning it was more to learn about the new phenomenon itself, its origin, who these so called internet-bashers are and what motives drive them to write these things. So we decided to start with a prominent and up-to-date single case to have a start. The case of Uwe Boll and the so called Boll-Haters are so outstandingly interesting and fascinating because it is by far the biggest, most exotic and intense case one can find on the internet today. Based on this high level of anonymous aggression it was an ideal case to start with.
NEW PSYCHOLOGY POST: Your research was based on which method?
Dr. Ann-Rose Kahn: We started to analyse qualitatively and quantitavely. In the beginning the texts were analysed on the statistical frequency of certain words, word groups and word forms. What mainly interested us was to learn how big the used variety and vocabulary of certain words was. We soon learned it was not very big, it repeated itself constantly.
NEW PSYCHOLOGY POST: Does that mean the average internet-basher has a low IQ?
Dr. Ann-Rose Kahn: No, on the contrary. The quality analyse of the texts showed that the average internet-basher has an average IQ, can communicate intellectually but is not using this ability or is unable to use it. The average internet-basher has a higher than average level of education but is limited to use and communicate the learned skills. The very intense and concentrated use of superlatives or negative connotations is very interesting too. Those are typical indices for strong deficits in self-esteem. It also underlines the fact that these persons take their time to bash on such an intense and very emotional level with one single person. They try to create closeness to the person they bash on. This is, of course, artificial. None of them has a real contact to the people they bash on.
NEW PSYCHOLOGY POST: Mr. Boll is famous for adapting video games for the big screen. So those are persons that hate him for doing so?
Dr. Ann-Rose Kahn: That does not explain the level and the intensity that is used in the Internet-Bashing towards Mr. Boll. It was the trigger to begin with, but is definitely not what is motivating these anonymous persons to continue. The very distinctive usage of swearwords as well as negative superlatives underlines how helpless these people are in real life. They are typical victims in their own created internet world. They compensate their own inability of dealing with themselves and concentrate their emotions on prominent persons. This can create sort of a domino effect: Finding others who jump on this too is creating an artificial union, a made up family on the net. Chat rooms and internet boards deliver a perfect meeting place for such individuals. It is about getting attention, being noticed, being someone one cannot be outside the home.
NEW PSYCHOLOGY POST: Any further noticeable cognitions in your research?
Dr. Ann-Rose Kahn: Yes, it stands out that homoerotic intensions/feelings seem to play a huge part in this new internet phenomenon. The very high level of very concrete sexual connotations is a clear hint for that. So far Internet-Bashing is a mainly male dominated phenomenon.
NEW PSYCHOLOGY POST: Is there something like a typical Internet-Basher?
Dr. Ann-Rose Kahn: Surprisingly, yes. The average Internet-Basher is male, single, between 20 – 30 years old. He has a low social competence, lives on the net. He has a strong homoerotic intention which he is unable to live out and distinctive inferiority complex. Most of these men still live at their parent’s home or close to it.
NEW PSYCHOLOGY POST: Thank you, Dr. Kahn for this interview.
NEW PSYCHOLOGY POST: Dr. Kahn, a scientific research based on only one real case isn't that a quite unusual and unrepresentative way of learning more about the roots and motivation of Internet-Bashing?
Dr. Ann-Rose Kahn: Well, in the beginning it was more to learn about the new phenomenon itself, its origin, who these so called internet-bashers are and what motives drive them to write these things. So we decided to start with a prominent and up-to-date single case to have a start. The case of Uwe Boll and the so called Boll-Haters are so outstandingly interesting and fascinating because it is by far the biggest, most exotic and intense case one can find on the internet today. Based on this high level of anonymous aggression it was an ideal case to start with.
NEW PSYCHOLOGY POST: Your research was based on which method?
Dr. Ann-Rose Kahn: We started to analyse qualitatively and quantitavely. In the beginning the texts were analysed on the statistical frequency of certain words, word groups and word forms. What mainly interested us was to learn how big the used variety and vocabulary of certain words was. We soon learned it was not very big, it repeated itself constantly.
NEW PSYCHOLOGY POST: Does that mean the average internet-basher has a low IQ?
Dr. Ann-Rose Kahn: No, on the contrary. The quality analyse of the texts showed that the average internet-basher has an average IQ, can communicate intellectually but is not using this ability or is unable to use it. The average internet-basher has a higher than average level of education but is limited to use and communicate the learned skills. The very intense and concentrated use of superlatives or negative connotations is very interesting too. Those are typical indices for strong deficits in self-esteem. It also underlines the fact that these persons take their time to bash on such an intense and very emotional level with one single person. They try to create closeness to the person they bash on. This is, of course, artificial. None of them has a real contact to the people they bash on.
NEW PSYCHOLOGY POST: Mr. Boll is famous for adapting video games for the big screen. So those are persons that hate him for doing so?
Dr. Ann-Rose Kahn: That does not explain the level and the intensity that is used in the Internet-Bashing towards Mr. Boll. It was the trigger to begin with, but is definitely not what is motivating these anonymous persons to continue. The very distinctive usage of swearwords as well as negative superlatives underlines how helpless these people are in real life. They are typical victims in their own created internet world. They compensate their own inability of dealing with themselves and concentrate their emotions on prominent persons. This can create sort of a domino effect: Finding others who jump on this too is creating an artificial union, a made up family on the net. Chat rooms and internet boards deliver a perfect meeting place for such individuals. It is about getting attention, being noticed, being someone one cannot be outside the home.
NEW PSYCHOLOGY POST: Any further noticeable cognitions in your research?
Dr. Ann-Rose Kahn: Yes, it stands out that homoerotic intensions/feelings seem to play a huge part in this new internet phenomenon. The very high level of very concrete sexual connotations is a clear hint for that. So far Internet-Bashing is a mainly male dominated phenomenon.
NEW PSYCHOLOGY POST: Is there something like a typical Internet-Basher?
Dr. Ann-Rose Kahn: Surprisingly, yes. The average Internet-Basher is male, single, between 20 – 30 years old. He has a low social competence, lives on the net. He has a strong homoerotic intention which he is unable to live out and distinctive inferiority complex. Most of these men still live at their parent’s home or close to it.
NEW PSYCHOLOGY POST: Thank you, Dr. Kahn for this interview.
