The Psychology of The Spiraling Commenter
There is a moment in every comment thread when a person stops responding to the post and starts responding to their own reflection. You can always tell. The tone shifts. The pace quickens. The messages multiply like worry beads in a restless hand. What begins as “I’m unbothered” slowly unravels into a performance of confidence that grows thinner with every reply.
This one spiraled beautifully. Not loudly… but obviously. The signs are classic. First comes the projection, tossed out like confetti: accusations of “daddy issues,” imagined motives, invented insecurities. A person who cannot steady themselves will always try to shake the ground beneath someone else.
Then the frantic humor appears… GIFs, emojis, and nervous laughter layered over messages that arrive too quickly to be composed with peace. When someone claims victory while typing faster than their thoughts can settle, it is not triumph you’re watching, but tremors.
And finally, the telltale flicker: the attempt to rewrite the interaction. “You picked me.” “You’re spooked.” “You’re avoiding me.” When reality feels too heavy, the spiraling mind crafts a softer version… one where they are centered, chosen, powerful. It is a self-soothing fantasy disguised as conversation.
But the truth sits quietly underneath: a person who feels small will always shout the loudest. A person who feels unseen will post the most. And a person who feels threatened will convince themselves they are the winner long before the game is even played.
Spiraling is not anger. It is fear wearing a louder costume.
#PsychologySeries #OnlineBehavior #CommentSectionStudy #LataraSpeaksTruth