I really admire Dr. Grumpy because (among other reasons) I've noticed when people make inflammatory comments on his blog, he just ignores them. It's really hard to ignore trolls. They take something you said, often something totally benign, and twist it as an attempt to get you really upset. Often the attacks try to get personal, although how personal can someone who's never met you get?
It always kind of baffles me. I mean, what kind of person is so pathetic that they need to spend their time trying to upset random strangers on the internet. Get a girlfriend or something.
Now that this blog has gotten more readers, I've gotten a handful of trolls. Less than I thought I'd get, to be honest. (Should I be insulted?) It is SO tempting to take the bait and reply to their inflammatory comments, but then I remember that that's just want they want.
So my new mantra is that when a troll comments or emails me, I just laugh at the fact that this person wasted their time doing this, and ignore it. Thanks, Grumpy, for showing me the way! (And for having the funniest blog on the internet.)
This is just the kind of stupidity I expect from a vaccine-denialist-denialist!!!
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem ignoring creationists. Take the high road....
ReplyDeleteI stopped allowing anonymous commenters which helps. Good philosophy though!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
ReplyDeleteTrollers gonna troll. I agree - seems like a high school prank best ignored. They feed on rage.
ReplyDeleteYep, even some bloggers post "troll posts" looking for reaction. It is amazing what people will say under the cloak of anonymity.
ReplyDeleteI actually feel kinda sorry for them. I think it's not so much that they are constantly looking around the internet trying to upset people. I think that's how they are in every day life as well. You know, people who are so unhappy that they are just incapable of saying something positive or even insipid, and every word out of their mouth is negative and insulting.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, they exist. I've met some. Poor people.
Meh, everything out of my mouth is negative. I'm not a troll, I'm just *bitter*.
ReplyDelete:-P
You know you've made it when the trolls start attacking. Ignore them anyway!
ReplyDelete