Trolling

Being as involved with the internet as much as I am, unfortunately, attracts a lot of trolls.

In my opinion, a troll is someone who says mean or false things on purpose for attention. There’s no way to avoid them—they’ll come to you, always searching for their next “victim.”

Dealing with trolls is not easy.

Learning how to handle them takes time, and there’s no perfect strategy. Here’s what I’ve found:

• Ignoring them can work, but sometimes they’ll escalate their behavior to grab your attention.
• Banning them feels good, but I sometimes wonder if it just gives them what they wanted—the satisfaction of knowing they irritated or hurt you.
• Arguing with them is absolutely senseless. That’s exactly what they feed on.

My usual strategy? A snarky comeback followed by a good ol’ ban. Is it the best approach? Maybe not. But it sure feels satisfying!

At the end of the day, what matters most is that you feel good about how you handle the situation. Just don’t let them feed off your emotions. Trolls thrive on finding your weaknesses and pecking at them.

Let’s be honest: trolls can hurt.

Sometimes, people on the internet say things that hurt my feelings. Is it reasonable for me to feel hurt? Yes and no.

Maybe they target an insecurity—something you’re sensitive about. If you’re insecure about the shape of your face, for instance, it’s bound to sting when someone calls it ugly. But here’s the thing: don’t stew over it. Stewing is not reasonable.

Instead, take that hurt and use it to become stronger.

Who are trolls, anyway?

Most trolls fall into one of two categories:

1. Pathetic people who get a sense of satisfaction from tearing others down.
2. Young kids who think being assholes on the internet is funny.

The sad reality is that some of these kids never grow up. They become simple-minded adults who hide behind anonymous usernames, hurling uneducated insults at strangers.

It’s honestly sad.

Why does someone feel the need to go out of their way to hurt others? It’s ridiculous—and sick—that they get a sense of well-being from this behavior. People who hide behind the internet to throw insults should feel ashamed of themselves.

It’s okay to joke and tease, but there’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed. I’ve heard and been told horrible things, but one stands out:

"How many tokens to slit your wrists?"

Seriously? I brushed it off because it was so outlandish that it couldn’t bother me. But imagine if they said that to a suicidal young girl—would they laugh then?

Trolling is just as bad as cyberbullying.

And here’s a reminder: it’s easily traceable. Don’t think you’re anonymous just because the internet says so.