We don't accept it because it's abhorrent behavior but these people need mental health help. Getting them to seek help is a nearly impossible task though.
What's the difference between personality and personality disorder? Is there anyone who is not mentally ill?
Ultimately, everyone has their foibles. It's what makes humans human. Only when someone become Internet Famous, though, do we start diagnosing them with illnesses. Why is that? Why can't we say, "wow, this guy has chosen a pretty worthless hobby. too bad he can't use his time to build model trains or something"?
I agree - we're all a bit crazy; ironically, being aware of this fact is probably the most sane way of being.
The problem is, sometimes the way we interact with the world becomes so obtuse it inhibits our ability to communicate effective and form healthy meaningful relationships.
A diagnosis of what's traditionally classified as a personality disorder isn't necessarily going to elucidate any kind of universal truth, but it might provide context for self-improvement.
> The problem is, sometimes the way we interact with the world becomes so obtuse it inhibits our ability to communicate effective and form healthy meaningful relationships.
In this particular case, when the reporter caught up with the guy he appeared to have a wife and young child. So he seems to have at least one "healthy meaningful relationships". He's probably not a complete jerk when face to face with people. It's probably more along the lines of this: http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19
I'd say the line between personality and personality disorder is when you derive pleasure out of hurting people who have done nothing to you. Even more so when they are already grieving.
I think the concept of lulz to me is funny when it comes from a place of humor rather than hatred. Perhaps it's a gray area for some people at what point it stops being funny and starts being simply malicious.
Or, more likely, people don't believe that actions on the internet do/should have any consequences.
I'm somewhat inclined to agree, especially when it's something a simple as a website comment that can be permanently erased with a single click.
It's like the people who play games like League of Legends and then help the other team or team kill or generally just play to tick folks off. There was a Wired article about this some time ago that had one line which stuck out in my mind: "They're playing the same game you are.. they are just playing to a different objective".
Personally, while I agree that trolling an obituary page is in >>incredibly<< poor taste and someone should probably clout the guy on the back of the head , invoking the government to do it is a step down a road that nobody wants to go down.
Kill the comment, report the loser, and move on. That's how you deal with idiots on the internet. Any of the other solutions mentioned here are below optimal for a number of reasons.
We don't accept it because it's abhorrent behavior but these people need mental health help. Getting them to seek help is a nearly impossible task though.