Please don’t feed the trolls
Yes, I know the temptation of calling out a troll (e.g. somebody coming up with some crazy anti-trans stuff). I know the temptation of going over every single negative point they bring up, and trying to use logic to refute their arguments. But, of course, they don’t care about logic, nor do their followers, and they don’t care about understanding other people. These things are TOTALLY irrelevant to them and their followers and they will NEVER listen other than to design a counter attack. They want to WIN — they care about getting attention to get power (for ego, financial, or political reasons) or simply because they’re isolated, depressed, losers. They don’t know how to do anything else.They are BANKING on us responding to them. And so are the social media platforms.
Instead, consider saying something positive, and only referring to trolls in an abstract sense. You certainly don’t need to say their name (I refuse to EVER write or say the name of the asshole who killed John Lennon). And you don’t even need to repeat anything they said — because it doesn’t matter, it’s gibberish. Their statements are are all basically the same — they say crazier and crazier stuff to get attention. And the hamster wheel of social media just keeps spinning faster and faster and the social media companies, LOVE this!
So the next time you have the urge to post something about about a troll, ask yourself the question: Is responding to them helping them, helping the cause, helping social media platforms, or helping you get attention? There are ways to combat this without giving them attention. You can make a statement that there are many trolls out there, mention what motivates them (e.g. getting attention, feeling like a hero because they’re depressed) — because we already know the details don’t matter — and then focus on positive things. You might even throw them a bone and explain that they are depressed or have no other skills but spreading hate…and have a modicum of compassion for them (I’m not sure if they deserve it, but I’m trying to be positive here).
Or just completely ignore them and focus only positive and fun things. The world is what we make of it.
Sure, sometimes a troll needs to be combatted directly (e.g. if they are very well known and influential), but usually that is NOT the case — but many people think it is, when in fact they are really just trying to get attention themselves.
Here is a summary:
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Check out my book (click here):
Instead of complaining about the HORRORS of straight dating/romance, I decided to take a much more positive and fun approach. Why fight a bulldozer.
The book is now a new musical being produced in New York City (In pre-production, we had a sneak preview in early March 2023)
