3 Rules for Dealing with Trolls
By Derek Neighbors on February 7, 2015
Spotting a Troll Victim
I see it time and again. Someone has their feelings hurt on the internet (or real life). They spend time obsessing or feeling the victim. Often times pleading for sympathy or trying to villianize the offender. While noble, it is not very effective.
An Example
Troll Victim
Let’s take a play out of the play book of a famous wise man, James Dalton. Let’s lay down the rules for dealing with these trolls, so we can stop being the victim. People who want to enjoy life won’t tolerate these trolls.
Sound too good?
Rule 1: Never Under Estimate Your Opponent, Expect the Unexpected.
Your offenders will come in all shapes and sizes. They will say and do things that hurt you in ways you can’t currently comprehend. They will cross the line and take another hundred steps. They will be relentless. They will infuriate you. They will involve people you don’t want involved.
Rule 2: Take It Outside. Never Start Anything Inside. Unless You Absolutely Have To.
Don’t take the bait. Keep your incoherent emotional tranmissions to yourself. If you feel like you are going to explode if you don’t respond, that is a great cue to NOT RESPOND. Keep your cool and move the conversation to a place and time where you won’t damage yourself or the things you care about.
Rule 3: Be Nice.
Yeah, that’s right, I said it. Be Nice.
“If someone gets in your face and calls you a cocksucker, I want you to be nice.”
That might sound impossible to do, but think about it. If someone says something to you that isn’t true; why do you let it bother you? If it is true and it bothers you, maybe you need to change something about you, not be mad at the offender. If you struggle with this ask for help.
Remember your offender is only trying to illicit a response. Don’t give them the satisfaction of providing one.
