Hold your head high, don’t ever let them define the light in your eyes. Love yourself, give them hell. You can take on this world. You can stand and be strong. And then fight like a girl. With style and grace, kick ass and take names. –Fight like a Girl by Bomshel
I have always joked about inventing troll be gone spray. In comments for years, I have joked about how we needed this. How awesome it would be to have some sort of spray that got rid of trolls. Problem is, this is the Internet. Obviously a spray isn’t going to cut it. Who’d want to spray their computer? Not me, that’s for sure.
I’d like to do the next best thing. I’d like to start an anti-troll movement. To let them all know that they are not welcome here. Not just here on my site, but on any of our sites. I’d like us to take back our space. To stand up and say, we are not going to let this happen anymore; we are not going to sit here and take your crap. You are not welcome anymore. Shoo.
It’s gone too far. Especially lately. It seems like every day someone who I love is being attacked for no good reason in their comments. I’ve done my share of troll taunting and attacking, this I will admit to. I despise my friends being attacked though. I’ve gone on the defensive more times than I can count. All it gets me, is more trolls attacking me. It has to stop.
I’ve tried the ignore tactic. Heck people, I moved my blog to WordPress, in hopes that would help, but I still got one on my post about my SIL. Yes, I deleted it. No, I didn’t respond first. It’s still not okay. Nothing about this is okay anymore. It was never okay, but it’s gotten really bad lately. Every day it seems someone is being attacked in their comments by trolls.
It used to be where they attacked because you talked about a certain subject. You discussed breast feeding, circumcision, c-sections, your views on the president, whatever. It still wasn’t okay, but it was generally people who were fanatics about that certain subject. Now, they’ll attack just to attack. Just to be trolls, just to see if they can bring you down.
I don’t attack people in their space. If I read something I don’t like, as long as it isn’t an attack on my friends, in their comments, I hit that bright red X at the top of the screen. How hard is that to do?
It seems like it is very hard for some people.
I want to do something about it. The problem is, I don’t know where to start, what to do exactly, but I know something needs to be done.
Obviously we can’t stop people from commenting. But we can stop dealing with them. We can all agree to delete and block and not respond to them, if we see them elsewhere.
That’s my idea anyway. What do you guys think? Are you in? Any ideas?
21 Responses to Not welcome anymore
Grab My Button!
I’m a joiner
Go Issa, Go!!! Start the revolution. I will follow, as I’m sure many others will too.
I’ve personally never been “attacked” by trolls. And now that I’ve typed that outloud I’m sure they’re coming. LOL
But I have witnessed their trollie activity. It’s insane and just plain mean. And though they may be “anonymous” the internetz are a wonderful thing and they are always “found”. I know many a good Troll Hunters.
XOXO
.-= AmazingGreis´s last blog ..BlogHer ‘09, oh what a weekend! – Part 1: Thursday =-.
i totally think the key is ignoring them. it’s SO hard to do especially when it’s something personal that they’re attacking you about. but just the same…delete and ignore. and i’m sure they’ll never go away anyway. they’re losers. and hopeless. and pathetic. and feed off negative energy. SUCKS.
on my blog i have my comments on moderation. that way if someone DOES troll, no one else is bugged by it except for me.
.-= becky´s last blog ..My Photography =-.
Well, I haven’t heard from my troll since I “outed” her and her place of employment on my blog. Oh, and I threatened to call her boss. I don’t know if that’s the best way to deal with it, but it worked for me.
I honestly don’t know if there is a way to deal with trolls. There are a lot of people out there who seem to have an awful lot of suppressed anger, and they hide behind the cloak of anonymity that the Internet provides in order to vent it onto strangers. It’s not cool, and it’s not ok, but I don’t know how to make a very large number of people stop engaging in a particular activity. If you figure it out, let me know. I’m in.
.-= cindy w´s last blog ..PooBou’s Reviews =-.
I’ve been educated again. Did not know about this particular part of what is out there but I definitely read every comment (the few I get) and decide who will be posted. It makes sense to me. I went to the site Their Bad Mother and saw your keynote and thought it was truly magnificent! Thank you for speaking for all the Uncles and Aunts out there on the streets who have no voice except the unfortunate one’s that they hear in their heads. You are a powerful advocate for them. THANK YOU!
.-= kaydee´s last blog ..Use your noses =-.
I agree if you ignore them-they cant be validated…they want to get a rise out of others…
If ignoring my 4 year old works, I’d think that it *might* work for people who *act* like 4 year olds!
I immediately delete troll-ish comments. I don’t have enough time or energy for that shit.
.-= Bridget´s last blog ..50 Ways to Leave Your Lover =-.
I moderate comments like a champ. It makes my life a lot easier. I don’t have a problem with people contradicting me, especially when its a matter of opinion, but if and only if its done respectfully.
If its not, the comment never sees the light of day, and I don’t bother to respond to it. Feeding the trolls isn’t smart.
I will also post my opinion in comments on another blogger’s site but I own to them, using my blog address and e-mail and try to stay civil, addressing the idea rather than the person. That’s my two cents.
.-= The Grown Up Teenager´s last blog ..Seven =-.
I have yet to truly have a troll, but I REALLY try to not acknowledge them on other sites. Sometimes, their words are just too hurtful to now acknowledge, though. Sometimes I have to say “You suck. I won’t talk to you anymore.” because they can’t see me stick my tongue out online.
I think that is a great idea. They are trolls because they want the attention. If we stop dealing with them, maybe they’ll all just go away.
.-= But Why Mommy´s last blog ..I Am Hardcore Or Quite Possibly Insane =-.
I’m listening to the blogher keynotes on-line as I read this post. So your voice is really near
I was there, but I’m enjoying hearing the keynotes again.
Trolls…YES, I agree. I wish there was something to be done. Ignoring seems best.
I love your Uncle Mark post. I have a Cousin Brent. I was also a social worker before I stayed at home with my kids. I knew a lot of Uncle Marks and I loved them. Great post.
.-= Heather of the EO´s last blog ..The insides of my cheeks are really fat (and other mysteries) =-.
You go, girl! I haven’t gotten the trolls yet, but I know it’s only a matter of time before they find me. All I can say to them is good luck. Comment moderation ensures that nothing a troll says will EVER be posted on my blog. Like I’ve said before, if they want to publish horseshit, they can do it on their own blog.
.-= avasmommy´s last blog ..Twenty Years On, Part One. =-.
Thanks for starting the revolution. I’ve had a few troll comments on my site and just deleted them right away without commenting back. It seemed to work because they didn’t come back. I’ll continue to ignore away. One day we will have a troll free space.
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Carseat Safety Regulations =-.
People always say “Don’t feed the trolls” but then it seems like we do anyway, because they (rightfully) make us mad. If ignoring them is the way to go, we all need to do it.
What about getting your AllMediocre peeps (and anyone else, of course, but it’s an established group) on board and all of us have a NO MORE day where we tell the world we’re not having it; we’re going to moderate comments and delete the trolls immediately without responding.
.-= Maura´s last blog ..An Unconventional Memory Lane =-.
I’m sticking by that turn to stone thing. We all just need really bright lights shining from our blogs straight up their asses
Seriously, ignoring is probably the way to go. I know how hard it is though.
.-= anymommy´s last blog ..Dear Entire World: I’m Sorry =-.
First I have to tell you I like the new place! And yes, I’m a little slow.
I haven’t encountered trolls myself, but it infuriates me when my friends get attacked. I would love to find a way to stop them.
My issue is a stalker. OH how I wish I could stop HER!
.-= dysfunctional mom´s last blog ..Bits of Brilliance ~ RTT =-.
I think that when someone is truly being a troll (relentless attacks that have nothing to do with the post; attacking someone’s character; just being mean for no reason), they should be ‘outed’ however the blog owner chooses to do it.
If someone just disagrees with you, even if it is strongly, you can either delete their comment or let it slide.
But, I never agreed that someone being tortured by a bully should “ignore it” either. Trolls are doing this b/c they “think” they are anonymous. I say expose them.
.-= Fairly Odd Mother´s last blog ..Summer Stock Sunday =-.
Did that stupid troll leave a real email address? Because that makes me want to sign them up for some delicious spam.
.-= MommyGeek´s last blog ..Lost. =-.
Like AmazingGreis, I’m almost afraid to say (type) it… I’ve been lucky so far. But I’ll follow along with whatever you come up with
.-= Kay´s last blog ..I Ain’t As Good As I Once Was… Six Word Saturday =-.
It must be a sad and lonely world to live in if the only pleasure you get is to trash someone in their own personal space. I don’t get the thrill behind the motives of trolls, but there must be some sort of spiteful gratification otherwise it would be pointless to them as well.
Since blogs are ‘public’ pieces of private lives, it’s easy for pathetic people to come in and spread their misery; pass it along to someone else. The goods they’re pushing are kind of viral though and feeds off of our reaction.
Delete. Ignore. Repeat as necessary and perhaps their payoff won’t be worth their effort.
.-= karen @agentninety9´s last blog ..Teenagers are stupid, blind and delusuional. =-.
Acknoweding them is giving them power. I say delete.
.-= Denise´s last blog ..One Dollar Investment, My Reupholstered Chair Story… =-.
My mom taught me this lesson when I was about 16 and my sibs would gang up and tease me: if I stop reacting, they’ll stop trying to get a reaction. That being said, it’s definitely easier said than done.
However, ignoring them IS the best way. There are forums out there comprised of trolls who find websites/posts and agree as a group to spam. Their sole purpose is to hurt and anger — they feel that they’ve won if they elicit a response, and celebrate said “victory.” Sad, disgusting, but true.
Delete and ignore: they’re not worth more than that.
.-= Chibi Jeebs´s last blog .. =-.