I’ve posted quite a bit on here since I created my account, posts I consider non-controversial, since I’m not interested in arguing or getting into heated topics like politics. Even so, I still get the occasional snarky comment. Out of curiosity, I sometimes check the person’s post history when I see something like that, and without fail, their profile is full of snarky, negative, or hateful posts overall. It always makes me wonder: do people like this genuinely get enjoyment from surrounding themselves with negativity? What’s the thought process behind it?
You are not going to find a satisfying answer to this question. It’s one I’ve been asking for a long time.
I could say “sadism”, but that’s almost tautological. The obvious follow-up is “but why are they sadists?”, and I don’t know that. It’s likely people who aren’t sadists can’t really know that, and people who are would probably fail at explaining it, were they inclined to try.
The best explanation I can manage is that someone who’s feeling bored and powerless might feel a little less bored and powerless for a moment if they can make someone else sad or angry. A person who actually gets off on that sort of thing is likely not all that intelligent or creative, so they fail at finding better entertainment.
If you’re still left wondering “but why?”, good. You’re probably not a sadist.