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 | This page in a nutshell: Recognition is a motivation for vandalism. Trolls require food − don't feed the trolls. |
True vandals and trolls (as distinguished from users who dabble in minor vandalism) usually suffer from chronic alienation and real or perceived powerlessness. They seek recognition and infamy by interrupting and frustrating the Wikipedia project and community. Such users experience exceptional attention as empowerment, reward, and encouragement. This is particularly true for those prolific vandals who have been immortalised on Wikipedia pages, meticulously catalogued by category pages, targeted by dedicated templates, and thereby have become a noted part of wiki culture.[a]
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