Have you ever given ammunition to a troll? My definition of a troll is someone who has nothing better to do than leave ridiculously annoying comments on blog posts and online newspaper articles, picking up on every other comment left, and always needing to have the last word. Part of me feels sorry for these people. They obviously have such a desire to crave attention that they feel a need to do it aggressively, upsetting innocent bystanders along the way. They show no remorse for their opinionated clap-trap, are always right and will never agree with anything anyone says. It's beyond sad to be of this nature. It screams desperation to interact, to find someone out there who might be just as annoying and will therefore be happy to join in the confrontation. I've been noticing it a lot recently on different blog posts and many articles I've read. One blogger in particular seemed to be hounded by a troll who had quite obviously spent all day on her blog, replying to every comment. It was beyond pathetic. But it also stopped me leaving a comment. I don't like confrontation and I certainly won't feed trolls. Commenting on someone else's blog is a simple way to interact, whether it be an agreeable or disagreeable comment. But when a troll comes along and starts to get personal, rude and abusive, for me, right or wrong, that's the time I back away.
In the past I've given a short response to a troll's comment that I felt would be justified but I've never directly replied to a troll. I don't see the point. Blogging isn't always about happy, fluffy, I-agree blog posts; it is about you, your personal feelings, your opinions, needing advice, feedback, suggestions, getting to know people, showing off your pictures, letting the world know about your child's achievements. I read such a huge variety of blog posts, some sad, some happy, some laugh-out-loud, some so well-written they deserve an award and some that are written from the heart. To think someone could come along and trash your blog post with their venomous drivel is pretty despicable. I guess we'll always have trolls on the internet. Some don't need feeding, they just enjoy their given right to "freedom of speech" as they pull everyone up on their opinions. But if you do get a troll on your blog, don't reply to them. Ignore them. They don't deserve your time, and they certainly don't deserve to sit behind a computer screen grinning at the thought of having wound you up. That's when they know they've won.
Trolling on that scale sounds a bit scary. Very sad indeed, I hope the blogger blocked them.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if they did. I personally wouldn't know how to.
DeleteI haven't suffered trolls on my blog - yet but I have experienced them on twitter. Recently had to block a 'lady' for persistently picking on things I tweeted and telling me it was a pointless tweet or dragging me into arguments that I had nothing to do with whilst being grossly offensive to someone else and implying that I agreed with her. I shudder at how sad her life must be to live with such anger and bitterness.
ReplyDeleteYes, I've experienced them on Twitter - and FB - but I always think it's easier to get rid of them on FB than Twitter. Sad and bitter woman indeed.
DeleteWhen toddlers don't get the attention they crave, they misbehave. The reason we give to this is that any attention, even negative is better than none. If these people have continued to 'mature' without appropriate love, guidance or correction maybe it becomes a habit. Maybe they actually get the same psychological reward as you would do from a more positive interaction. Then there is also the lack of tone and context that commenting has that can cause problems. Maybe some people don't know what they say comes across as harsh in writing. Life though is very short and delete, block and move on seems a very good path to take.
ReplyDeleteThe part of me that feels sorry for these people is what you have described here. Though I do think most of them do realise how they come across otherwise they wouldn't keep doing it, even when they are told how ridiculous they sound.
DeleteTotally agree, CJ.
ReplyDeleteI think it's sad that bloggers then have to employ comment moderation fo block them, but needs must.
The majority of bloggers are lovely people!
I think it's sad as well, Mimi. I've used word verification once and stopped anonymous comments, but really, I'd rather keep my blog open. Plus I really don't like word veri (and esp Captcha) and sometimes people comment who don't have a blog so therefore use Anonymous. If anyone is horrid I just delete the comment.
DeleteTotally agree, don't feed them and then block them!
ReplyDeleteSo many people feed them and don't seem to realise this is just asking for trouble.
DeleteI don't mind a bit of healthy disagreement and debate, but trolling on the level you describe is just a bit .... weird, IMHO. Unpleasant as well, obviously. Clearly people with too much time on their hands, I'd say.
ReplyDeleteI love a bit of healthy disagreement and debate and do try to make it happen on here, though it isn't my strong point! It is weird isn't it.
DeleteThe best way to deal with trolls is to delete their comments and pretend they don't exist. They can do serious damage, like make people think the right to freedom of speech is not as good of an idea as it seems. By no means am I saying we shouldn't have this right, what I'm saying is it should be limited to people that posess a brain. Sorry, but I'm hard on stupid people and I would wholeheartedly support an effort to burn the lot of them and rid the world of their idiocy. A world with no unintelligent idiots who need to bring others down to feel they have some sort of worth (= trolls) would sure be boring (who are we gonna laugh at?) but it would also be sooooo much better!
ReplyDeleteI think the internet can do without trolls and especially on personal blogs where a blogger is just enjoying their hobby.
DeleteI totally agree with all of the comments here. Personally I have not encountered too many trolls because only my blogging friends seem to comment.
ReplyDeleteSame here. I've had a few rude comments but nothing I can say could be classed as trolling.
DeleteTrolls are sick people who have nothing better to do in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteTotally!
DeleteSometimes I engage, if they're making a complete fool of themselves; it's quite fun to highlight their stupidity. For the most part however, I just either kill 'em with kindness or ignore them completely. I haven't yet had to delete anything but my breaking point is if they insulted my other commenters. They can pretty much say what they want about me, but not my peeps!
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree. I had one person back in the early days of blogging that did actually upset some of my regular commenters and I did notice one or two of them never came back. I was pretty upset about that if I'm honest and I do remember mentioning it in a blog post but I gave the person no ammunition to keep coming back.
Deletei figure they are just out for attention...i have gone after them a few times but honestly it is fruitless and there is really little to no accountability online
ReplyDeleteJust attention seeking idiots they are, and they won't give up because they feed off our responses.
DeleteAny time I have engaged with a sick person of the type who would troll relentlessly and cruelly I have regretted having done so. Definitely, ignoring this type of person is probably the best way to deter them. It's a little bit scary to me when someone strikes out in such a venomous way. I had a friend who actually stopped blogging because he was being stalked online by an angry friend of an ex-girlfriend and he was very shaken by the experience.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine that was scary and a shame he felt it necessary to stop blogging because of it. Unfortunately, that's when these trolls have won.
DeleteI've come across ppl on fb who demand to know your opinion on somethng (having joined a thread you commented on) and contradict everything you say. Who's got time to engage in such nonsense. After the second question I tell them to google it. A favourite ploy is for them to then come back with: Have I offended you in some way, relax, no need to get upset, etc... It's all very manipulative.
ReplyDelete*smiles* I've come across many ppl on FB like that! I get a few people trying to wind me up on my wall posts and occasionally I bite if I think they are being ridiculous, but yes, there are certain folk who think by saying they didn't mean to offend will make it all okay. It doesn't.
DeleteWell said! I haven't come across any trolls on my blog, but I know they are there trolling on other blogs. Some people are just unhappy, mean, spiteful, or have nothing better to do with their time. It's quite sad actually. I have a few blogs I follow, and some I come across by blog hopping. I rarely leave comments, preferring to enjoy the commentary. However, blogs are a reflection of someone; their life, thoughts, family, etc. If you don't like what someone wrote, then quitely leave. You don't have to visit again. There's no need for someone to be rude or ugly. We have free will, so use it.
ReplyDeleteI used to love blog hopping! Haven't done it for ages now but did meet lots of fabulous bloggers, especially in the US. I totally agree with you; if you don't like someone's blog then don't read it!
DeleteSorry auto correct had made my comment ridiculous to say the least. So sorry you have troll problems, life is too short to tear others down. I hope the trolls return to beneath their bridge. I have goats that could be used as bait to lure them away? :)
ReplyDeleteIt isn't actually me who's had the troll, I've seen lots appearing on other blogs though so I guess I'm biding my time!
DeleteI moderate comments so I don't have to deal with them - I have been stalked by a troll before. I ask you, who could be that bored, that they get their kicks like that?
ReplyDeleteI have no idea; they either need a job, or a life! Sorry to hear you've experienced trolls and I can understand why you moderate comments. It's such a nuisance to have to do it though and all because of some lowlife.
DeleteI agree, a good rule of thumb: don't feed the trolls. I pity them too, that they apparently have nothing constructive to do with their time. Their desperation for attention is, as you say, pathetic. I guess they derive some sense of power out of having a negative impact on others, no matter how foolishly attained. But we can only live our own lives. Hang in there and don't let them slow you down. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you. It is easy to let them win sometimes because it's human nature to want to retaliate and defend ourselves.
DeleteI can't help myself...If I see a friend getting unfairly attacked, I'm compelled to jump in...I don't "feed" them...I simply give them a gentle expression of how their comment made me feel and how I Know it makes the blog friend feel...I'm a Leo...Hahaaa...It's what I do...Lololol
ReplyDelete(((HUG)))
You're a lioness!! I would gladly defend a friend if I thought they were being unfairly attacked and have done on many occasions, but on the occasions I'm talking about it was more a case of sad individuals just attacking for no reason except because they could. Shameful really, for a human race. And thanks for the hug xx
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