Trolls, what are they good for?

[*Dean* 1,594]

Hey everyone.

There's been a few trolls lately. Dropping in to share the love. Obviously the whole point of the exercise for them is to get a rise out of people with name calling, off topic remarks yadda yadda.

I'd like to propose we have a go at not giving them what they want. IE if someone is obviously posting something to stir things up either ignore them, or give them some love. My guess is they're going without at the moment.

Something like -

Troll "blah blah blah you losers"

Us "Hey, welcome"

or emotion labelling

Us "Hi friend, you seem angry. Sit and chat"

The main thing for me is when / if we "fire up" (as I call it) we're giving them EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT.

Just a thought,

Deano

[bethxxx 304]

I agree with this, I see no point in arguing with someone who is obviously doing it on purpose. I think ignoring them is the best option

[Fallenangel2904 494]

Totally agree!

Don't feed them!

[*Dean* 1,594]

In part of my job, I'll be talking to someone for up to a couple of hours. At times they'll be abusing me and worse, trying to bait arguments etc. I'll just ask a question that has nothing to do with what they've just ranted about like 'so what did you get up to today?' It's amazing, they can't keep the ranting up for very long

[joseph 40]

i don't mind messin wid em

[*Dean* 1,594]

i don't mind messin wid em

Yeah I'm the same, but most of the time it's a battle of wit with an unarmed man

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

Many years ago I was doing online weight watchers. The support board was not the official site, but rather a very open and honest forum visited by people with more then 100# to lose. That forum was hit by a small pack of trolls who liked to go find sensitive people and hurt their feelings.

I will never forget one woman standing up for herself (and all of us really)just basically saying that her whole life she had been put down and made to feel bad and she just wasn't taking it anymore. She didn't beg for them to stop, she didn't argue, she poured her heart out to the trolls.

Weirdest thing - a few apologized and then they left - off to go look for cancer survivors or some other group they could pick on.

Anyway, I think the best way, in general, to deal with trolls is to just ignore and report. Who needs the freaking drama? Some of us may feel tough enough for the fight, but what about all the people in fragile emotional state going through this process who you know are reading EVERYTHING???

[Rootman 1,101]

Trolls, huh, yeah. What are they good for. Absolutely nothing. Uh-huh.