Monday, February 11, 2013

Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Google Now is the Star of the New Nexus 4 Ad”

Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Google Now is the Star of the New Nexus 4 Ad”


Google Now is the Star of the New Nexus 4 Ad

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 04:21 AM PST


Google has launched a new ad for its Nexus 4 smartphone during the Grammys, and it's all about Google's personal assistant, Google Now.

In the ad, people around the world are using the service to learn about the weather conditions and public transportation, check their appointments and converse in different languages.

The ad is in fact quite similar to the first Nexus 4 video ad, released in October 2012, which also focuses on Google Now.

How do you like the new ad? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Image credit: YouTube/Google

More About: ad, Google, Google Now, nexus 4

Pope Benedict XVI to Resign on February 28

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 03:14 AM PST


Pope Benedict XVI will resign on February 28, the Vatican has announced.

"The pope announced that he will leave his ministry at 8:00pm (7pm UK time) on February 28," said Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi.

The reason for the resignation, cited by the Pope himself, is "advanced age".

"After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry," wrote Pope Benedict XVI in a declaration to the public.

You can find the full text of Pope Benedict's declaration here.

The last post on the Pope's official Twitter account, dating February 10,…
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More About: Bendict XVI, pope, pope benedict xvi

Apple, Microsoft and Adobe Called to Explain Price Disparities in Australia

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:39 AM PST


The Australian government has summoned Apple, Microsoft and Adobe to speak at a public hearing, March 22 in Canberra, Australia, and answer why the prices of their products there are higher than in the rest of the world.

The three companies have so far been reluctant, Kotaku reports, to speak to Australia's House Committee on Infrastructure and Communications, which is looking into price disparities in Australia and other countries.

"The Committee is looking at the impacts of prices charged to Australian consumers for IT products – Australian consumers often pay much higher prices for hardware and software than people in other countries," says the summons document (PDF).

It's e…
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More About: adobe, apple, microsoft

Helicopter Crash Caught on Camera During Filming of Top Gear Korea

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 11:43 PM PST


A race between a supercar and a helicopter on Top Gear Korea got just a little bit too dramatic when the helicopter crashed into the ground.

The two vehicles racing in the video are a Corvette ZR1 and an AH1 Cobra helicopter, with the latter losing control and smashing into the ground towards the end of the video. Luckily no one got seriously injured in the crash, which happened dangerously close to the film crew on the ground.

Top Gear is known for pitting up fast cars vs. various other vehicles; in one episode, a Bugatti Veyron raced a Eurofighter Typhoon plane; in another, a Radical SR3 car was racing a CAP 232 Aerobatic Plane. This last race, however, was definitely the scarie…
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More About: helicopter, Top Gear, Top Gear Korea

Jay-Z’s Joke Was Twitter’s Top Moment During Grammys

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 10:00 PM PST


"I would like to thank the swap meet for his hat," Jay-Z jokingly said to singer The-Dream at the end of their acceptance speech for Best Rap Collaboration at the 55th Grammy Awards.

Jay-Z's remark about The-Dream's hat was the highest tweets-per-minute moment of Sunday night's ceremony for east coast viewers from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. ET -- with the show attracting 13.2 million total tweets during that time span, Twitter told Mashable.

MORE GRAMMYS: 6 GIFs of Carrie Underwood's Animated Dress | Best GIFs

A swap meet is like a flea market -- a place where people sell merchandise at low prices.

Top Tweets-Per-Minute Moments

Jay-Z, Kanye West, Frank Ocean and The-Dream win Best R…
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More About: 55th Grammy Awards, celebrities, Entertainment, grammy awards, grammys, Music, Twitter

Grammy GIFs Rock, Roll and Repeat

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 09:03 PM PST


The Grammys -- the place where music brings us all together, where we put aside our differences and raise our voices in song.

Ha! More like the place where scantily clad musicians throw shade back and forth; dance like they have ants in their pants; make nonsensical, adorable speeches (ahemKellyClarksonahem); have tons of FUN. and the pretty awards are just extra bling.

This year's awards brought sexy back with an old school performance by Justin Timberlake, a tribute to Bob Marley by Bruno Mars, Sting and Rihanna and plenty of other GIF-worthy awkward moments, captured for your pleasure below:

Lena Dunham supported her man -- Fun. guitarist, Jack Antonoff -- as his band took hom…
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More About: 55th Grammy Awards, Entertainment, GIFs, grammys, Music, TV

Carrie Underwood’s Technicolor Dream Dress Is Grammys Showstopper

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 08:25 PM PST


1. Carrie Underwood at the Grammys




Carrie Underwood sings "Blown Away" at the 55th Grammy Awards on Feb. 10. Images via Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Click here to view this gallery.


Country crooner Carrie Underwood's grey dress turned into an animated light show during her performance of "Two Black Cadillacs" at the 55th Grammy Awards on Sunday.

Animated patterns such as falling rose petals and soaring butterflies projected onto the dress, at times matching the animations on the digital screens behind her.

MORE GRAMMYS: Jay-Z's Joke Was Twitter's Top Moment | Kelly Clarkson's Amazing Photobomb | Best GIFs | Grammys' Most Exciting Thing Is J-Lo's Leg

"They can do a lot of amazing things with projectors these days," Underwood told reporters backstage (see video below). "I said I should take that home where we can watch movies on it. … You wanna watch movies o…
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More About: 55th Grammy Awards, Carrie Underwood, celebrities, fashion, grammy awards, grammys, Music

Kelly Clarkson Photobomb Wins the Grammys

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 08:05 PM PST


Kelly Clarkson's adorable photobomb of Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres won a relatively humdrum Grammys. With no stage rushing or accidental f-bombs, the original American Idol charmed her way to an Internet win with a big grin.

More About: grammys, Kelly Clarkson, photobomb, Watercooler

10 Unbelievably Romantic Wedding Proposal Videos

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 07:17 PM PST


1. Meme Proposal


This is one of the most genuinely adorable proposal videos we've ever seen. His memes are perfect, and the whole production is heightened by his obvious nerves.

Click here to view this gallery.


As Valentine's Day rolls around, a lot of people have romance on the mind. Some people give the holiday a bad time, proclaiming that it is forced and disingenuous. However, after watching the displays of affection in these proposal videos, I dare any of you not to be in the Valentine's spirit.

SEE ALSO: 10 Apps to Plan the Perfect Valentine's Day Online

We at Mashable have scoured the internet for the best tear-jerking videos, and oh boy, did we find some winners. We've got everything from meme proposals, flash mobs and video game-inspired proposals to pull at your heartstrings. So sit back with that heap of chocolate, grab your box of tissues and enjoy.

Homepage image courtesy of
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More About: features, valentine's day, Video, YouTube

Grammy Awards’ Most Exciting Thing Is J-Lo’s Leg

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 06:48 PM PST


The CBS-imposed dress code made the Grammy Awards a PG-rated affair. Thankfully for everyone who tuned in for possible wardrobe malfunctions, Jennifer Lopez's leg showed up to walk the red carpet.

Twitter -- and Drake -- couldn't help but react to J-Lo's free-wheeling limb.

Jennifer Lopez's leg just made Angelina Jolie's leg irrelevant.— Kingsley (@kingsleyyy) February 10, 2013

Someone should test Jennifer Lopez's leg for deer antler spray— Fake SportsCenter (@FakeSportsCentr) February 11, 2013

Angelina Jolie's Leg is rolling its eyes at Jennifer Lopez's leg.— caprice crane (@capricecrane) February 11, 2013

Image courtesy of Tumblr, gr8tthingstaket
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More About: grammy awards, grammys, Watercooler

How Grammy Nominees Stack Up on Social Media

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 03:15 PM PST


What if Grammys were given out based on popularity on social media? This infographic examines which nominees are dominating Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Going into Sunday's 55th Grammy Awards, for example, Carly Rae Jepsen's viral hit "Call Me Maybe" has the most YouTube views out of fellow Song of the Year contenders: Fun's "We Are Young," Ed Sheeran's "The A Team," Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger" and Miguel's "Adorn." The Grammy Awards will air Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

SEE ALSO: 3 Ways to Enjoy the Grammys Online | If Music Streams Swayed Grammys, These Nominees Would Win

Meanwhile, Taylor Swift has the most subscribers, beating out every nominee in the Best New Arti…
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More About: 55th Grammy Awards, Entertainment, Facebook, grammy awards, grammys, instagram, Music, Social Media, Twitter, YouTube

Top 5 Apps for Kids This Week

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 02:57 PM PST


1. Monkey Preschool Lunchbox




Ages 2-5 Overall rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars Why we like it: Five bite-sized games feature a chatty, quirky little monkey, who doubles as a coach and an entertainer. There's concentration, color matching, jigsaw puzzles, odd one out, and find the fruit that starts with the letter B... nothing new, but tried and true. Need to know: The looping music can get annoying, and there's a bit too much pushing with the interface. But it's playful, playable and very much worth the 99 cent download. Ease of use: 9/10 Educational: 8/10 Entertaining: 9/10 $0.99

Click here to view this gallery.


See what's in store for the best kids apps this week.

More About: contributors, family and parenting, galleries, kids apps, mobile apps, Top Kids Apps

Job Interview Attire: Fashion Horror Stories

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 02:52 PM PST


Josh Tolan is the CEO of Spark Hire, a video-powered hiring network that connects job seekers and employers through video resumes and online interviews. Connect with him and Spark Hire on Facebook and Twitter.

You've researched the company and practiced your interview answers. What else is there to worry about? Unfortunately, many candidates flub their interview attire and make themselves undesirable hires in the process. Here are some of the worst fashion horror stories and what you can learn before you suit up for your next job interview:

You're Not an Employee Yet
Companies come in all different shapes and sizes -- and all different levels of formality. One of the biggest mis…
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More About: fashion, Feature, interview, job, job search series, mashable

3 Ways to Enjoy the Grammys Online

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 02:49 PM PST


Winners of the 55th Grammy Awards, hosted by LL Cool J, will be revealed Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. You can enhance your 3-hour TV viewing experience with our digestible list of three ways to get more from tonight's Grammys.

SEE ALSO: 'Buttocks and Female Breasts' Ban for Grammys Inspires Mockery

Among the performers this year are Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson, Fun, Mumford & Sons, Black Keys, Lumineers, Frank Ocean, Maroon 5, Carrie Underwood, Elton John, Sting, Bruno Mars, Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, Ed Sheeran and more.

SEE ALSO: How Grammy Nominees Stack Up on Social Media

1. Watch the Action at Grammy Live

You can tune into Grammy Li…
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More About: 55th Grammy Awards, celebrities, Entertainment, grammy awards, grammys, Music

Microsoft Surface Pro Sold Out, But There Weren’t Enough to Begin With

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 02:44 PM PST


The Microsoft Surface Pro, the new flagship Windows 8 device that launched on Saturday, is reportedly sold out in many retail locations across the country.

Great success, right? Not so fast. Apparently, as reported by ZDnet, that fact might be misleading. In general, of course, selling out on the day of a product launch is good thing. But not if it only sold out because there weren't enough Surface Pros available.

And that seems to be the problem here. Apparently, stores around the country only received a handful of Surface Pros, so they quickly sold out, leaving lots of angry customers with empty hands.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft Surface Pro Review

Microsoft seems to call it a win, t…
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More About: microsoft, Microsoft Surface, Microsoft Surface Tablet, Surface Pro, surface tablet

Viral Mystery Revealed: The Real Kai, Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 02:41 PM PST


Kai the hitchhiker left netizens wanting more after the drifter became a viral sensation. We knew this much: Kai saved lives. He used a hatchet. He was all kinds of awesome.

But viewers were thirsty for more. Who really is this surfer-turned-hero? What did he do before becoming a source of Internet inspiration? Where did he learn to wield a hatchet?

KMPH News, the same station that scored Kai's first interview, gained exclusive access to the hitchhiker's story. Check out the video, above, for more.

In an interview, Caleb "Kai" Lawrence tells a dark but inspiring story of overcoming a rough childhood. In true Kai fashion, he speaks of guarding and loving his inner child. His p…
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More About: Viral, viral video, Watercooler, YouTube

Map Shows Where 220mph Trains Would Go in the U.S.

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 02:14 PM PST


Whether a high-speed rail system ever gets built in the United States is still up in the air, but if it is, artist and activist Alfred Twu has figured out exactly where those speedy rail lines should go.

Twu started working on this map in 2009, when President Obama's plan to build high-speed rail was unveiled. "There were many such maps being made by various designers," says Twu, but since then he's updated the map with labels and put it on Facebook, and it struck a chord. It's gone viral.

"With the huge response it's generated, I created a petition to the White House to fund such a system," he told Mashable. After just a week, that White House petition already has 27,528 signatures.…
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More About: future tech, High-Speed Rail

MoviePass Gives Android Owners Unlimited Theater Tickets for $30 per Month

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 01:33 PM PST


Going to the movies is often an expensive proposition. Depending on when and where you hit the theater, you may have already spent a decent amount of cash on a ticket even before you hit the concession stand. Go to more than a few movies a month, and you're probably spending more at the theater than you do on your monthly cellphone bill.

Enter MoviePass, a service that attempts to cut costs for movie buffs, allowing you to go to the theater and see a 2D movie every day for a single monthly price, ranging from $29.99 to $34.99 depending on your location. Available for iOS for a few months, the MoviePass app launched for Android this week.

According to MoviePass CEO Stacy Spikes, Android…
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More About: android, apps, moviepass

How the Grammys Audio Team Ensures an Award-Winning Show

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 01:04 PM PST


The Grammy Awards broadcast (Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET on CBS) is arguably the largest musical event of the year, featuring live performances from some of the biggest names in music.

What you may not realize while you're watching the event at home Sunday evening is that each one of the 21 live performances during this year's show were only rehearsed with the live crew just a few times.

SEE ALSO: 3 Ways to Enjoy the Grammys Online

Every Grammy performer was given between an hour to an hour and half Thursday through Saturday to rehearse in LA's Staples Center. Take away time spent on things like figuring out how to get gear on and off stage and selecting camera shots, and you'…
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More About: 55th Grammy Awards

Awkward: ‘You’re Not Invited’ Wedding Invitations Apparently A Thing

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 12:37 PM PST


What's worse than the stream of engagement alerts on the top right section of your Facebook newsfeed? Reading all about said engagements on the social media platform and being sent "you're not invited" notifications to confirm you're not, in fact, important enough to attend the big ceremony that has been flooding your feed.

But according to Today, it's probably nothing personal. The trend, which is a direct result of our over-sharing culture, can be chalked up to brides and grooms being on too tight a budget to invite, say, every one on their Facebook friends list to the wedding. And that's understandable, given how many throwaway friends everyone has on the site.

"Nine out of 10 times
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More About: online invitations, weddings

Viral Video Recap: Must-Watch Memes of the Week

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 12:20 PM PST


This week's Viral Video Recap features the Internet's usual suspects, cats and kids. But there are some surprises, too.

In the classic cats viral videos department, there's a very relaxed cat sunbathing. Warning: You'll wish you were that cat if you watch the video. As for kids, there's a toddler who can make ridiculous trick shots, and a little girl, peacefully sleeping, until a certain viral song prompts her to dance.

SEE ALSO: MORE VIRAL VIDEO RECAPS

Oh, and there's also a crazy science experiment with a scorching hot ball of nickel and a video of the world's best magician-pickpocket in action.

What was your favorite video this week? Let us know in the comments.

Homepage t
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More About: Viral Video Recap, viral videos

What’s Love Got to Do With BlackBerry?

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 12:04 PM PST


Valentine's Day is coming up, and many of us are looking for that special someone -- including the BlackBerry Z10.

Our friends Nitrozac and Snaggy at The Joy of Tech illustrate what might become a regular occurrence for the new smartphone. Would you give up your current mobile relationship for the new BlackBerry?

BlackBerry Z10 Comic, The Joy of Tech

SEE ALSO: More Sunday Comics

Comic illustration provided by The Joy of Tech. Published with permission; all rights reserved.

More About: blackberry, BlackBerry Z10, comics, Mobile, Sunday Comics, The Joy of Tech, Watercooler

Top Comments: Applebee’s Firing, Hate-Speech Teacher and More

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 11:51 AM PST


Alabama Teacher Caught Ranting About 'Fat Butt Michelle Obama' and 'Queers'




An Alabama teacher's diatribe against homosexuals and Michelle Obama was recorded on an iPhone by one of his students. Reader Smoe S argued that opinions have no place in a classroom

Click here to view this gallery.


It was a hot week for comments at Mashable, and we've found the best for you here in our weekly wrapup.

A recent study by a graduate student at the University of Colorado Denver Business School suggested that 40% of people say they would avoid someone who unfriended them on Facebook. Our readers generally argued that the close to 600-people sample size of the survey taken on Twitter wasn't large enough to be conclusive. As the conversation developed, however, many began arguing about the larger issue of who you decide to "friend" on Facebook in the first place.

An Applebee's waitress never suspected that a receipt she posted on Reddit would go viral. In our comments, some readers def…
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More About: community, Facebook, Jobs, Startups, top comments

Which One of These Concepts Is the Apple Smart Watch?

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 11:39 AM PST


iPhone Wrist by Yrving Torrealba




Graphic courtesy Yrving Torrealba

Click here to view this gallery.


After new details emerged about an Apple smart watch on Sunday, we were wondering what such a timepiece might look like.

Of course, the Internet was more than happy to oblige, burgeoning as it is with various design concepts that purport to predict what Apple fans might be wearing on their wrists some day in the near future.

As you can see the gallery above, one of the concepts uses the curved glass screen that unnamed sources mentioned to The New York Times. Others look a lot like predecessors of the current iPod Nano strapped to a wrist. All seem useful in a variety of circumstances.

Take a look at these four imaginative concepts, and then let us know in the comments which one yo…
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More About: Apple Smart Watch, Design Concepts, iwatch

How Grammy Performers Are Helping Musicians In Need

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 11:25 AM PST


While the musicians who are headlining the Grammy Awards often appear to lead glamorous lives, that hasn't always been the case for many of them, nor is it the case for the musician community as a whole.

SEE ALSO: 3 Ways to Enjoy the Grammys Online

In a profession that almost never comes with health insurance or a steady paycheck, musicians who fall upon hard times are often faced with losing everything. When that happens, the Musicares foundation is often there, providing musicians with resources and funding to overcome obstacles and get back to performing. It recently created a fund to help musicians affected by Hurricane Sandy with everything from getting new equipment to getting…
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More About: 55th Grammy Awards, Lumineers, MusiCares

‘Thrift Shop’ Parody With Dogs Is ‘Ruffing Awesome’

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 11:03 AM PST


What happens when you combine a Batman onesie, DeLorean and some kibbles? Hipster dogs abound in "Pet Shop," a parody of hip-hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' hit single, "Thrift Shop."

The spoof from the Pet Collective, the same group that gave us Corgi Rae Jepsen, takes on the Billboard single with Barklemore and his pug partner. Cue the famous intro with a chorus of "meows" and Barklemore singing, "I'm gonna rock some tags, I'm so happy that I got adopted."

The video features adorable pooches in a shower of boas, bowties and costumes as well as their humans in thrift-shop garb. Dogs bathing in bubbles, frolicking in the grass and sitting at the piano -- there's really little…
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More About: dogs, macklemore, parody, Video, Watercooler

The Worst Type of YouTube User

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 10:57 AM PST


YouTube User by Drew, Toothpaste For Dinner

We've all encountered the type -- those YouTube users who don't even bother watching a video before agreeing (or disagreeing) with all of the comments. Don't feed the trolls!

SEE ALSO: More Sunday Comics

Comic illustration by Toothpaste For Dinner. Published with permission; all rights reserved.

More About: comics, humor, Sunday Comics, Toothpaste for Dinner, Watercooler, YouTube

Hands-On With The Week’s Top Apps

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 10:46 AM PST


This week brought with it some fantastic apps.

Both GetGlue and Stitcher Radio released significant updates this week, and EA brought The Simpsons to Android in the form of a SimCity-style game.

MoviePass, the app that lets you see a movie at the theater everyday for a single monthly price, finally launched for Android. And the BBC made it easier to keep up with all your favorite sports with a new app for iOS.

Curious what these new apps really look like? Check out the video above for a visual run-through of some of our favorite apps of the week.

Have you given any of this week's top apps a try? Tell us in the comments about your favorites.

More About: android, apps, iOS, iphone, weekly app roundup

Apple Said to be Experimenting with a Smart Watch

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 09:55 AM PST


Rumors of Apple developing a so-called smart watch -- think of a small, wearable smartphone wrapped around your wrist -- have been thrown around the Internet for some time now. But a New York Times story today suggests there is actually some truth to it.

The Times spoke with sources inside Apple's Cupertino headquarters, and they have confirmed Apple is working on a wristwatch made of curved glass. That kind of technology already exists, so using glass that can bend to make it wearable seems like a real possibility, even today.

"You can certainly make it wrap around a cylindrical object and that could be someone's wrist," Pete Bocko, the chief technology officer for Corning Glass Tec…
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More About: apple, smartwatch, wearable devices, Wearable Tech, wearables

Why Do Internet Trolls Exist?

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 09:22 AM PST


As you've probably discovered, there are people lurking all over the web who find great joy in humiliating and attacking others. This insightful infographic describes the inner workings of Internet trolls, explaining why they decide to spend their online time in attack mode. Tapping the expertise of psychologists and experts, it offers solid reasons why this scourge of the Internet continues.

We all like to think that most people mean well, and are inherently good. Even if that's true, the infographic shows us instances where even some good people can quickly turn bad, all because of a variety of situations related to mob behavior.

When people think they're anonymous, they do things th
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More About: infographic, infographics, trolls

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