This week I was surprised to see a rather nasty anonymous comment on a blog post. Quite why the person felt the need to leave it, and why they didn’t put their name to it, who knows, but it was nasty, all the same.
Then, yesterday, I heard about another blogger receiving a nasty anonymous comment on her blog.
I know what it’s like to have a troll, because I had a persistent troll problem – until I wrote this post, in fact, when they suddenly stopped.
There is a difference between trolling – anonymous comments designed to deliberately provoke an emotional reaction – and flaming, which is when someone leaves a contrary comment designed to provoke a debate. Trolls are more sinister, their motives nastier. They are bullies.
The best thing to do, as anyone will tell you, is not to feed the troll, by engaging in any kind of conversation with them. I took the route of not publishing my troll’s comments, which of course made them even more cross. Good. That’s called taking the power back.
But what worries me about the trolling I’ve seen in circulation this week is that they seem intent on causing trouble in the mummy blogosphere. As I’ve said before, the mummy blogosphere is not as cosy as some people would like to pretend. But at the same time, it makes me sad that at least two people are currently hellbent on causing trouble.
It is, I suspect, fuelled by jealousy, and in a way, all you can do is feel sorry for them. But they need to stop, before someone gets really hurt. Or at least have the courage to put their names to their nasty comments, so we all know who to avoid in future. They may not read this post, but if they are reading: just stop.
Sometimes trolls just leave me scratching my head. They spend so much time rushing around leaving comments – really, what is the point? As a group we need to turn our backs on trolls and send the message that that kind of behaviour is not accepted. Nothing inhibits troll behaviour more than deafening silence.
I had my first experience of a troll yesterday and I wish I had read this post before! I couldn’t help but respond because I knew he was saying it to wind me up and unfortunately it worked! It’s totally bullying and jealously. I then received a desperate text message from him telling me I should take a break from social media before I tweet myself into a corner! Whatever, I keep in mind that I blog for me and no one else. It’s simple really, of you like it read it and if you don’t like it, don’t bother reading! Grrr, sorry for ranty
I’ve missed all this but agree that nasty comments are unnecessary. And with raising kids, who has time?
Could not agree with you more if I wanted to…
Ever heard Eliza Dolittle’s song Pack Up? Yeah… I’m adopting that posture now… know what I mean? Trouble makers will ALWAYS try and find something to be trolling about… if they want to… well… that’s their issue…
Best answer to it all really is ignoring it… look at it… laugh a little… breathe deeply and keep going…
Maybe one day, when they are the ones being trolled by other trolls they will learn the lesson… It is possible… I’ve seen it happening. 😉
Karma can be a bit of a bitch… (pardon ze French)
I just can’t believe that grown women (and men!) feel the need to waste their precious time typing spite into the internet.
I was shocked and horrified to discover that the perpetrators were people I knew, and people that should damned well know better. Disgusting.
Oh and let this be a lesson to trolls: your IP address will surely find you out!
What on Earth is going on?
This recent “episode” has completely passed me by (perhaps a good thing).
I have only ever had one anonymous comment (on my Butlins post) and I knew who it was.
Sad that people have to be bullies. And yes, I know the bits of the Mummy Blogging community that are not at all cosy, even the bits that would appear so.
Liska xxx
I was made aware of this yesterday and what surprised me most were the people involved. Especially given their standing in the mummy blogger community.