Image courtesy Howard Lyon.com
I cannot help remarking on the shadow side of J-land, now that I realise that nearly half a dozen of the journals I read appear to be beset by trolls.
Each and everyone, they're among the nicest and least deserving of J-landers who are bedevilled by what is termed trolls. A troll is a detractor, often changing screenies faster than I change socks, harassing, bullying and pursuing someone.
It is often the more outspoken, popular and capable writers that find themselves endowed with a troll. A troll can be someone in their private life that has taken to pressing any points they claim to have home on-line. Why? Envy, personal enmity, or having so little going on in their lives and between their ears that this is the only thing that'll grant them satisfaction.
What should we do with trolls? I was searching for an image of a troll, when I came across this little gem from the same website that I borrowed the image from.
| Abuse them, it's all they can understand | [ 1 ] |    [5.26%] |
| Bait them, they will explode | [ 5 ] | [26.32%] |
| Explain the flaws in their logic, they will learn | [ 3 ] | [15.79%] |
| Ignore them, they will go away | [ 8 ] | [42.11%] |
| Be nice to them, they just need love and understanding | [ 1 ] | [5.26%] |
| Join them, they need company | [ 0 ] | [0.00%] |
| I'm already a troll, we will eventually rule | [ 1 ] | [5.26%] |
The best policy is block, ignore and delete. I do understand, that if you are in any way vulnerable, either physically or emotionally, that those messages from hell will hit home like a hammerblow. In the more extreme cases, notification of AOL or in a last resort police may be called for to stop a troll.
I had a nasty troll once upon a time..way before I had any reader's. It was a shock to read her comments as I could see no justification in them. I deleted her and began a journal on MSN. I didn't enjoy that as much as AOL as it took so long for pages to download and read. Even though it had more toys to play with than AOL.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't long before I decided that I was going to ignore any future nastiness. I could always delete her if she turned up. So back I came to AOL and I have gathered more friends since then. I still keep my MSN journal for the couple of friends who visit with me there to read my occasional entries, as they are just copies of the AOL one. I still remember the gut wrenching feeling to be on the end of this sad persons 'internet tongue'. It is not nice. I feel for those who are being trolled but the anwer is to just delete and not give them any 'feedback'. They soon get bored.
Jeanie
p.s. We have brilliant sunshine too....<smile>
I only had one, and it was a horrible man who made fun of others who commented in my journal. He got the boot real quick. These people, if that is what they are, have no life...feed on the issues of others, and hurt on purpose. Had sad they are...but your picture depicts them well. Hope they just go away...leave everyone along...have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteJoyce
I agree with the block,ignore, delete. Do not give them what they want...15 secs of fame on your blog...don't do it. Don't let them see how they have affected you!
ReplyDeleteI had 2 trolls...last year...but each only left one bad comment, then moved on after seeing I wasn't going to get bent out of shape ove it. :)
Have a good wkend.
Sug
Great entry Guido... I've ignored for months and nothing seemed to change.. block and the reappear with a new name.... GRRRRRR It's been a year. A year!!! For what? Must be the only excitement in their life.... At times I get weak and play their game... but if I made reference to it everytime it happened I'd have no time to what I like to do ... or read anyone else. LOL
ReplyDeletehugs
d
Love the troll graphic by the way!!
I'm all for ignore them,cause all they want is to rile someone,if they can't then they move on...
ReplyDeleteI just love that picture,looks exactly what you would think a troll would look like(not the cute ones you get at the store with the brightly colored fluffy hair,LOL).
I once deleted my whole journal because of a comment someone made.....guess I was caught in one of "those" moods.I have regretted doing it ever since....gave them what they wanted.
Another reason why I am glad I have a new screename......
No one that I had as followers before(except those I let know) can find my journals..................LOL
Ohhhhh scary picture! My mama always told me "if you can't sat anything nice, don't say anything at all." Too bad other moms neglested to pass that on to their kids. Linda in Washington state
ReplyDeleteLoved the pic best way to decribe them!
ReplyDeletebella x
Great image ,and yes delete block ignore ,I have experianced a couple but think if I ignore Im not giving them any credance ...love Jan xx
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm one of the lucky ones...haven't had one yet....June:)
ReplyDeleteGood sound advice wrapped in a fun wrapper! - Barbara
ReplyDeleteThe thing about trolls is they don't have the courage to actually leave a comment in your journal. They don't want anyone to know how ugly they truly are so they tend to send numerous emails, cutting you to the bone and gutting you. They live for your response, so they can continue the vicious cycle and hurt some more. Having said that, I've learned to delete the offending emails and block them, instead of giving them what they want. When someone tells me to get over it, or I'm looking for a sympathy vote, I remember numerous others who have been helped by my open and revealing entries. I'm deaf , not dumb by a long shot. Great post. Thanks for the link to this site. (Hugs) Indigo
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started my journal I had a troll. I found out it was someone from my past. So that is why my journal is now private.
ReplyDeleteLove the picture you posted LOL!
Pam
Even when ignoring them and deleting their emails...they still find very clever ways to get through and yes....their words cut you to the bone and I can only take so much of their bs. Going private, and like I said even having them blocked hasn't done anything to help....making up different screen names that look like one of your friends, so you will open it! My reactions are from their actions.
ReplyDeleteLisa
I agree, ignore them.
ReplyDeleteKrissy
http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink
Hi there I came over by way of Joe's message.I have had the nasty experiance of these people.I wrote a post in rhyme back to my Troll saying I would pray for them.Maybe it worked,I havn't had any more visits from them since.Thanks for you message.Have a lovely weekend .Great graphic LOL!!Take Care God Bless kath
ReplyDeleteastoriasand http://journals.aol.co.uk/astoriasand/MYSIMPLERHYMES
Trolls have been around since the beginning and I see no effective way of ridding the blogosphere of them. They are cowards. And almost always prey on the most popular. Some very fine journalists have left because of them. Beware.
ReplyDeleteTrolls exist for one thing, and one thing only: to provoke a reaction. Any reaction will do. Those who are get the most attention from trolls are those who are most bothered by them. It doesn't matter what the reaction is. Anything from a polite letter to a vitriolic rant will do. Any reaction of any kind is simply fuel for the troll fire. I have been attacked by trolls in the past, but made short work of them by simply not responding to them in any way. I did not respond to their comments. In most cases I didn't even delete their comments. That's the worst. Leave their comments in place, and ignore them as if you can't even see them.
ReplyDeleteTroll pathology is very similar to R.L. stalker pathology. The only way to stop them is to never - ever - ever - respond to them. Never acknowledge their existence in any way. Ever. Even referring to them in the third person while talking to someone else is enough attention to encourage them to continue.
-Paul
http://journals.aol.ca/plittle/AuroraWalkingVacation/
Hi Guido....
ReplyDeleteCame here thru Joe. Love the graphic. I agree with ya. Block, ignore, delete. Don't let them see you "sweat". That's where they get their kicks. I've only had one troll. It was my own soon to be ex-SIL! She & I finally had it out a few months ago. I cut her out of my life, ignored her emails, turned them over to AOL for cyber bullying and even took all her threatening emails to the police. Let them deal with it. I closed my other journals down on my other s/n, made this new s/n, and I haven't heard a peep from her. My Dad lives with us and if she calls, he'll pick up the phone and until my brother's divorce is final, he's being nice to her. I don't sign my full name in comments unless you're private even though I have a public journal. It's the comments where she can find me thru google. Thank God she doesn't have AOL.
~D
http://journals.aol.com/heavenlybama/journey-to-success