MOST people assumed to be internet trolls genuinely believe their hateful, demented statements, it has been claimed.

Researchers at the Institute for Studies interviewed alleged ‘trolls’ and found their postings were not deliberately antagonistic, but that they actually believed all Youtube users are gay and the ‘EUSSR’ is a political entity.

Professor Henry Brubaker said: “It’s easy to assume that someone is trolling when they make an implausible-sounding hateful statement, for example that albinos caused the banking crisis.

“But statistically it’s more likely they believe that melanin-deprived people snuck into the Bank of England and took all the money to buy sunglasses.

“So maybe the world is not so much hateful, just full of fucknuts.”

Alleged ‘troll’ Wayne Hayes said: “When I repeatedly post comments saying that the 2.4 per cent Muslim population of the UK is planning to take over, I am not making a rhetorical point.

“I do actually think that Mr Ishani from the shop down the road will one day cut my hands off and feed them to his cat.”

Housewife Carolyn Ryan said: “When I went on a cancer victim’s Facebook memorial page and accused her of being a paedophile, that was based on hard empirical research, namely seeing her touching up a kiddie in Asda.

“Or maybe that was her husband who is quite short. Thinking back the child did have a beard and a bald patch.”