How to deal with Internet Trolls!?
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Who's trolling you?
I really don't get many trolls. There are lots of people pretending to be me on multiple website/forums & community's. Funny things is they are using my real name as a username and I almost never do that.
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Too many to count...
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The thing that people miss when they say "don't feed the trolls" is that this doesn't just mean "don't respond" it means "don't even read". If you give them attention through reading what they write and getting upset, that still feeds them. Best technique is to use technology to block them, just like you do with spam.
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@Nic said:
The thing that people miss when they say "don't feed the trolls" is that this doesn't just mean "don't respond" it means "don't even read". If you give them attention through reading what they write and getting upset, that still feeds them. Best technique is to use technology to block them, just like you do with spam.
"The new version of NicBlock Plus does all this and more!"
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Seriously, they need a general purpose tool like that for people to use. Block people on all forms of social media who are harassing or trolling. Celebrities learned long ago to get an assistant to open their mail and filter out the shit - today anyone can be a celebrity online in an instant, so people need digital assistants to do that job.
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@Nic said:
today anyone can be a celebrity online in an instant
Like in Laina Morris's Case (Overly attached girlfriend). She just uploaded a video of herself singing and then someone screenshot it to make a meme. Then she was famous. The amount of creepy emails, youtube comments and messages she gets, (mainly from guys thinking she's really like that and somehow thinking they that want an overly attached girl friend) is just insane. I can't believe people waste time like that.
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@thecreativeone91 The internet is indeed a strange place.
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@GregoryHall said:
Your best internet troll / hater story and how you dealt with it please?
FInd a way to not even be aware that they are there. I deal with this a lot on some forums and what I've learned to do is recognize that it is happening, take a deep breath, make a rational statement when available and unsubscribe from the thread. There is a time to respond and a time to walk away. Recognize that moment and leave.
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@Minion-Queen said:
Do not give them any satisfaction they are bothering you. Generally do not respond if at all possible. Report them to those in the know above them (this case I can give you the direct email if needed).
That's big. The biggest "feeding" that you will do is stroking their egos to let them know that posting is making you upset.
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@thanksajdotcom said:
Too many to count...
This is what you don't do. Don't advertise how effective they are. Statements like this just beg to be trolled. Don't make big public announcements to tell trolls how easy it is to get under your skin.
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@Nic said:
Seriously, they need a general purpose tool like that for people to use. Block people on all forms of social media who are harassing or trolling. Celebrities learned long ago to get an assistant to open their mail and filter out the shit - today anyone can be a celebrity online in an instant, so people need digital assistants to do that job.
Not a bad idea. I have thought of doing that. Knowing that people troll is easy. Knowing what they are actually saying and not being affected by it is hard.
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@MattSpeller said:
@thecreativeone91 The internet is indeed a strange place.
Just a reflection of the broader world.
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@scottalanmiller said:
Just a reflection of the broader world.
Nastier one to be sure. 99% of this trolling nonsense would never happen IRL.
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@MattSpeller said:
@scottalanmiller said:
Just a reflection of the broader world.
Nastier one to be sure. 99% of this trolling nonsense would never happen IRL.
No, but what happens in real life is so much worse. I'll take Internet trolls any day.
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@scottalanmiller I'll disagree but I can see where you're coming from.
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The reason there are trolls online is ingroup/outgroup. Our brains are wired to love and respect people we know, and to treat people in other tribes as non-human so we can fight them, kill them, and then go back to our lives without feeling bad about it.
One of the factors that induces this is de-anonymization - typically you'd see that in war with soldiers, uniforms, etc. as a way to make everyone faceless. Online this happens by default. Unless you know someone, you are prone to not see them as a human online.
I don't know of a solution to this problem, other than filtering, moderating or only interacting with people you have a pre-existing relationship with.
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@Nic said:
I don't know of a solution to this problem, other than filtering, moderating or only interacting with people you have a pre-existing relationship with.
Time. Perhaps we will be genetically altered over time to fix previously poor wiring.
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Yeah, although I'm hoping we won't have to wait that long. If we can solve it with technology and online reputation somehow, that would help. Not that I want to do away with free anonymous speech, but you can stay away from those places if you can't handle them.
I'm wondering if the information age will reduce the advantage of being a sociopath, when it's easier for stuff to follow you around. Just like how all the dirty cops are being exposed now with video.
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@Nic You invent a workable system for internet reputation that does not violate privacy and you'll be a billionaire. Conservatively.
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@MattSpeller said:
@Nic You invent a workable system for internet reputation that does not violate privacy and you'll be a billionaire. Conservatively.
Just be sure to quit webroot first. Some companies have strict Intellectual property rules.
