Trolls and Trolling
May 1st 2008 13:43
Until I started blogging, I thought trolls were some creatures out of fiction. You know, "cave trolls" from the Hobbit books and brigde trolls from old riddles. Big, ugly, knuckle-dragging monsters of mythology were the only trolls I knew about. Then I heard the term "Feeding the trolls" and didn't know what to make of it. Some other bloggers were nice enough to explain it to me. It refers not to creatures called trolls, but to the activity of trolling. Wow, learn something new every day!
I have recently noticed that there are other bloggers who do, indeed, troll. They go from one blog to another, making insulting remarks and trying to cause a stir. I have watched helplessly as they have succeesed in driving away good people with something to say. These trolls don't eat people, they devour the spirits of gentle folk who can't deal with the ugliness and rage that the trolls inflict. The trolls try to steal the freedom of speech that others are exercizing by pretending to be the victims of the others rights.
The knuckle-dragging trolls of the blogesphere are a frightful nuisance and a royal pain in the A?? but they do serve something of a purpose. If one is willing to answer back to all the ugliness and stupidity, it presents an opportunity to hone your arguments and positions. If you can outwit a witless troll and stand your ground, you have accomplished something impressive.
I have been watching as one particular troll moves its baiting manner from blog to blog, obsessing (or abcessing!) on one blogger after another, pretending to be injured and offended where nothing of the kind was intended. This one is more than just a mere troll, of course. It's what passes for a stalker in the internet.
So, to those of you who are being beset by this creature, take heart. It's only weapon is words and you are certainly capable of defending yourselves with the same weaponry. Remember, the trolls only attack you because they have nothing of their own to say and want to feed off of your blogs to make themselves seem like more than they are.
I have recently noticed that there are other bloggers who do, indeed, troll. They go from one blog to another, making insulting remarks and trying to cause a stir. I have watched helplessly as they have succeesed in driving away good people with something to say. These trolls don't eat people, they devour the spirits of gentle folk who can't deal with the ugliness and rage that the trolls inflict. The trolls try to steal the freedom of speech that others are exercizing by pretending to be the victims of the others rights.
The knuckle-dragging trolls of the blogesphere are a frightful nuisance and a royal pain in the A?? but they do serve something of a purpose. If one is willing to answer back to all the ugliness and stupidity, it presents an opportunity to hone your arguments and positions. If you can outwit a witless troll and stand your ground, you have accomplished something impressive.
I have been watching as one particular troll moves its baiting manner from blog to blog, obsessing (or abcessing!) on one blogger after another, pretending to be injured and offended where nothing of the kind was intended. This one is more than just a mere troll, of course. It's what passes for a stalker in the internet.
So, to those of you who are being beset by this creature, take heart. It's only weapon is words and you are certainly capable of defending yourselves with the same weaponry. Remember, the trolls only attack you because they have nothing of their own to say and want to feed off of your blogs to make themselves seem like more than they are.
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Comment by Anonymous
In your case it looks like its two of the latter going head to head.
Comment by S.L. Bradish
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
it is always interesting to see a good debate of the actual issues and i think most people welcome that . . . i think the recent debate between you, me, ruby and raven on gun control was a good example of how to remain civilised while putting your position forward, i know i learnt a few things . . . i think the name-calling etc that sometimes goes on isnt constructive and detracts from the issues . . . and (as ive said to you before) it seems the nastiest comments are often from anonymous posters
Morgan
Comment by S.L. Bradish
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Yes indeed. Almost as impressive as outgunning a gunless ghoul, oufoxing a foxless feline, and outcunning a cunningless cu....rmudgeon.
Comment by S.L. Bradish