re: What makes one want to 'troll' on the Internet

From Psychology Today:

1. Anonymity
2. Perceived obscurity
3. Perceived majority status
4. Social identity salience
5. Surrounded by “friends"
6. Desensitization
7. Personality traits
8. Perceived lack of consequences

Of these, I think desensitization has the greatest effect. It seems normal to insult someone on the Internet, especially for younger people. We've had easy, almost-universal access to the Internet for only about 20 years. Things could change.