Trolls and shitbirds

[pecunium]

I just got one of the rare trolls I get.

Back here Times like this I'm glad I don't have a rifle 24/7 I spoke my piece on soldiers being manipulated and misrepresented for agit-prop.

I had an anonymous response. I granted a dispensation to my normal policy of requiring some form of identification, and unscreened it.

I also, probably silly, responded.

Somehow I think the nuances of my reaction will be lost on them.

Comments

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

I'd just like to know why he lacks the guts to stand behind his words.

I do. My name is right up there. A google search will lead to other things I've written in other places.

But this guy... he hides behind the power of anonymous vitriol... I don't know if he want's me to think he's everywhere; might be lurking around the corner to shoot me (good luck) or he's afraid he'll get a real savaging.

I know where I'd put my money, on those two options.

TK

[mcduff.livejournal.com]

There's a bunch of informal research been done on the "trolling" phenomena, the fact that people feel safe and protected by anonymity and so feel free to say things which normal common decency would prevent coming from their mouths.

There's no point reasoning with someone in a trollish mindset over the internet. If you found them and confronted them point blank about it in real life they'd invariably curl up into an insecure ball and say sorry -- like all life's bullies they're often hideously insecure about something else behind the facade.

Personally, I don't get trolls on my blog because only five people read it, but elsewhere I deal with it in... creative ways. Like editing their comments to read "I AM A TROLL I WEAR MY SHOES ON MY NOSE DURR DURR DURR." Or posting the entire Treaty of Westphalia to their email account (Why the Treaty of Westphalia? Why not?).

It can be hard to resist the temptation to respond to the deliberately inflammatory comment, and your response to this guy was top-notch, but if you've got the ability to treat these people like the six-year-olds they are, I'd do that rather than respond. Really, a response to a troll is more for everyone else in the thread than it is for the troll itself. First post gets a "here's why you're a fucktard" post, all posts after that get edited or disemvowelled.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

The trouble with LJ is that I can't do that.

Actually, looking at it, I can do that. I can repost the Anon crap, as anon crap, with editing.

Regrettably I don't have the e-mail of anon posters (though this one's IP says he is in the general area of USC), so a little heads up e-mail isn't possible.

If you know how to trace his e-mail, I'd be more than happy to learn.

But yes, I posted more for my pleasure than any attempt to persuade. In part because if he comes back, he will know I chose to let his anonymous self be published. I was willing to share his thoughts, such as they were. In short I was not afraid to let him speak his piece (which freedom he seems not so willing to extend to those in opposition, but we already know he's anti-American).

TK