That is not what I implied at all. Obviously children, dependents, families etc of addicts suffer at their hands (whether due to direct abuse or indirect neglect), like 'victims' of trolls suffer. The hurt felt by the former are more personal and long lasting. So addicts don't just harm themselves nor have no affect on people other than themselves.
After all my presenting of my side of the viewpoint, you still did not seem to grasp that and maintained that trolls were somehow evil and a disgrace to humanity. Pretty inappropriate in the context of the OP seeking help. Hitler is a disgrace to humanity. It doesn't matter if you don't really want to talk about the OP and just want to make a general statement, what you are saying is targeting the OP and saying that he makes you lose faith in humanity, which is an insult itself. I'm sure he knows what it does to people. I wouldn't butt in a conversation involving an alcoholic and tell him that he makes me lose faith in humanity.
Ok so you are not a bleeding heart liberal. Fine.
Actually the exact thing you said was, and pardon me for quoting I wouldn't do it unless I felt it was necessary;
''And I think children who suffer at the hands of addicts would disagree with being less offended.'' Maybe it was a unfortunate choice of words, but is sure looked like you were implying just that. I just told you that I was exactly one of those kids, and was still less offended by their behavior (now) because of the motives involved.
While alcohol/drug abuse does tend to have a more substantial effect on the person/audience than for-the-lulz trolling, the source cause of it is also a lot stronger. You just can't compare compulsive need for taunting with a aggressive internal chemical struggle that literally devastates your body. And bare in mind that drug/alcohol abusers aren't pardoned for their behavior either.
As far the OP goes, I have nothing personal against him. But what spurred my initial post is the reasons indicated for change. Namely the quantity or trolling, and loss in grades, not the harm done to the people. With all due respect, those are selfish reasons. And he didn't ask for help, he asked for similar experiences. Relation, rather then constructive ways of changing. While you might see that as some kind of cry for help, I see it as a prod of understanding a compulsive behavioral quirk. Perhaps it is the start that leads to change for the OP, and with that I wish him nothing but luck.
However, it seeming as mere curiosity thread, and the trolling didn't seem hardwired in origin and rather seemed like personal empowerment, I continued to make a comment about how I think trolling is the same thing as bullying. And perhaps I didn't say it in a very politically correct or sugar coated way, but forgive me for being human once in while. I still stand behind that statement.
If a psychopath kills someone, it doesn't make the victim any less dead because this person has a mental illness. In the same way if a person were to troll out of reasons of mental illness, it doesn't change the damage on the other side. If a psychopath kills someone he/she is still a murderer, if someone with mental illness pesters others he/she is still a bully.
