I have been trying to find something to post about this whole week. Maybe, I was struggling because this topic is so broad. Online and anonymity. There is so much to say about this or at least there should be, but I am having a really hard time. Maybe it’s because I don’t know very many trolls. I might come across a comment from one once in awhile, but my experience with Internet trolls is actually very limited.
We have grown up in an environment surrounded by the Internet, and people who are mean to each other for fun. There are lots of nice people too. Comments are not always negative, but the mean ones always seem to stand out. People gravitate towards rude, hostile comments. They get angry, and they argue. They start to poke at one another and it becomes such a negative place to be. It becomes exactly what the troll wants. They post negative comments to provoke others and to gain attention, so reacting to it would be fueling their entertainment. The only way to stop them would then be to ignore them right? If no one responds, then trolls would eventually get bored and leave. I get that this might sounds simple, but it is so much harder to do. When someone starts attacking your own beliefs or identity, things become personal, so you would want to attack back.
How do you respond to trolls? Is there a correct way? I really doubt it. Do you come across trolls very often?
I have had the same experience as you. I am not online very often, and most likely not as much as most of my peers. Therefore, I usually do not see people trolling or understand what runs through their minds when they post negative, anonymous comments online. When I do see trolls writing degrading or rude comments it is often on the social media pages of celebrities. However, I never thought anything of it because I assumed celebrities did not even check their comments or if they did, they would just brush off negativity. Also, I think the only way trolls can operative is if they are acknowledged and attention is brought to their rude comments. Perhaps the best way to beat the trolls is to not respond to their comments, and not give them the attention they are looking for.
ReplyDeleteLizzie, I totally agree with your statements as well as the point that you and Tiffany both raise about trolls feeding off of the attention they get from responses. What could possibly be the point if not to evoke reactions? I don't typically come across trolls but if I did, I likely wouldn't reply. In think the only circumstance in which one should reply would be if a troll were to say something extremely defaming and then one should probably set the record straight in a way which avoids further conflict with said troll.
Delete"Also, I think the only ways trolls can operative is if they are acknowledged and attention is brought to their rude comments."
Delete*operate
I wish it were as simple as to just ignore the devious trolls, but at times they start to criticize and point out the worst things. Not only that, but at times they tend to become personal about it as well, which only makes it ten times harder to ignore. We always feel like we need to fight back and stand our ground to implement a change, when in reality it really is as simple as to walk away. However, it's hard to imagine ignoring a person who is saying the most hurtful things. Personally, I have never been trolled before or had the though or even slightest desire to troll. I feel like the resolution is pretty easy. For instance, I don't get trolled because on any sort of social media I keep my page on private and only accept requests from people I know. Maybe, part of the problem is that the society is so stuck on gaining followers and friends that they don't realize the hazard it is to have a million followers without knowing them or their intentions. We could solve the problem by being much more aware rather than being careless. The internet is a web full of lies, gossip, and trolls and we shouldn't feed into their obnoxious, hurtful ways.
ReplyDeleteI respond in a mellow and logic way so that they can't say anything back. If you say something in a common sense style, they can't really argue back. I've seen a few, maybe not the super bad ones that make really bad comments, but I've seen enough to say that I know how they work.
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