OT: Dealing with internet trolls
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1wcarter
An unfortunate part of social media is the presence of trolls, even on sites as specialised as Library Thing.
Trolls tend to be of above average intelligence, but they lack empathy and are classified by psychiatrists as having a sadistic or sociopathic personality. They get pleasure from upsetting others and provoking a reaction.
Trolls are very subtle and clever, often starting out to look as much as possible like a genuine poster before slowly upping the odds and drawing people into their web. They will act very hurt if someone suspects them, and appeal to their earlier supporters to help them in their defence.
They will include believable but spurious details about themselves as background information in an attempt to be more accepted.
Following are the accepted ways in which to deal with a suspected troll.
IGNORE THEM
This is by far the best way to deal with trolls. They hate being ignored as the only reason they are on a site is to be noticed and provoke a reaction, and the more emotive and angry the reaction, the better.
REPLY FACTUALLY
If you absolutely must reply to a suspected troll, do so without any emotion and using simple facts. A reply such as this would be appropriate:-
“You are incorrect. The facts are XXXX because of YYYY and my reference is ZZZZ”.
That’s it, no more, no further comment, but you have let others in the group have the correct information.
DIVERT THEM
Trolls are normally active on multiple sites trying to get a reaction, and if one site reacts more than another, they will usually concentrate their attention on the former and they will eventually forget the latter. So it comes back to ignoring them, or replying in an unemotive manner.
BANNING
Trolls love to get banned! They gloat to themselves about it because they have upset not only the members of a group but the administrators too. They may even comment on another group about the banning.
“Poor XXXX got banned from YYYY. I think this is unjust as XXXX was such a nice person and the administrators of YYYY are horrible.”
Unfortunately banning does not work, but only encourages a troll. They rapidly reappear using a different name, and sometimes even a different IP address, and continue their harassment of the group.
The bottom line here - IGNORE THEM - it’s the only thing that works.
Trolls tend to be of above average intelligence, but they lack empathy and are classified by psychiatrists as having a sadistic or sociopathic personality. They get pleasure from upsetting others and provoking a reaction.
Trolls are very subtle and clever, often starting out to look as much as possible like a genuine poster before slowly upping the odds and drawing people into their web. They will act very hurt if someone suspects them, and appeal to their earlier supporters to help them in their defence.
They will include believable but spurious details about themselves as background information in an attempt to be more accepted.
Following are the accepted ways in which to deal with a suspected troll.
IGNORE THEM
This is by far the best way to deal with trolls. They hate being ignored as the only reason they are on a site is to be noticed and provoke a reaction, and the more emotive and angry the reaction, the better.
REPLY FACTUALLY
If you absolutely must reply to a suspected troll, do so without any emotion and using simple facts. A reply such as this would be appropriate:-
“You are incorrect. The facts are XXXX because of YYYY and my reference is ZZZZ”.
That’s it, no more, no further comment, but you have let others in the group have the correct information.
DIVERT THEM
Trolls are normally active on multiple sites trying to get a reaction, and if one site reacts more than another, they will usually concentrate their attention on the former and they will eventually forget the latter. So it comes back to ignoring them, or replying in an unemotive manner.
BANNING
Trolls love to get banned! They gloat to themselves about it because they have upset not only the members of a group but the administrators too. They may even comment on another group about the banning.
“Poor XXXX got banned from YYYY. I think this is unjust as XXXX was such a nice person and the administrators of YYYY are horrible.”
Unfortunately banning does not work, but only encourages a troll. They rapidly reappear using a different name, and sometimes even a different IP address, and continue their harassment of the group.
The bottom line here - IGNORE THEM - it’s the only thing that works.
4Uppernorwood
The best inoculation is to remember that this is the internet, not real life, and you don’t need to look to it for your happiness, well-being or self esteem.
If someone’s being a troll, who cares? If someone claims to be upset by something you posted, who cares?
This forum shouldn’t affect the rest of your life in a drastic way, positive or negative.
If someone’s being a troll, who cares? If someone claims to be upset by something you posted, who cares?
This forum shouldn’t affect the rest of your life in a drastic way, positive or negative.
6Gilded_Tomes1
>4 Uppernorwood: Agreed 100%!
7ultrarightist
Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings: "Kill the trolls!"
8bookfair_e
>1 wcarter:
...Trolls tend to be of above average intelligence...
Luckily, we've never had one of those at the FSDs.
...Trolls tend to be of above average intelligence...
Luckily, we've never had one of those at the FSDs.
9Pellias
>8 bookfair_e: Haha !
10AMindForeverVoyaging
You can click on an undesirable member's name and on the right side there is a link to "Block this member" and then you won't be exposed to their posts. It has made life on LT so much more pleasant for me.
