Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess

6 years ago · 2 min. reading time · ~10 ·

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Thursday Thoughts: Trolls

Thursday Thoughts: Trolls

COLONS

AND

COMMAS
AND
OH, MY!

AMERICAN GRAMMAR & USAGE TIPS

Grammar Goddess Communication

Do you look and sound as smart as you are?Are you familiar with this term? We're seeing evidence of them everywhere on social media, which is a shame.

As a verb, troll can mean “to post inflammatory or irrelevant material on an electronic forum to provoke responses; as a noun, it can mean “a person who posts such material.”


But no matter what the dictionary says, we all know what a troll is, right? TROUBLE!

Have you encountered any of this in your time here on beBee or other platforms? Has someone seemed to feel the need to wound YOU publicly, to make you feel sad … I guess so that person somehow then feels happy?

But what does that say about them? Why does anyone feel the need to attack another person publicly for no reason? Professional jealousy? Feeling “less than,” so need to squash someone else to feel good?

The hardest part of all this is that the minute we ask what’s going on, it can be perceived as an attack, and trolls rarely hesitate to jump in with both feet and attack back with everything they have.

So, most recommend taking the high road, ignoring what is clearly someone acting in a totally ugly and unprofessional manner … even if we’re just dying to say something. Right?

I wonder if some folks come from a mindset of scarcity, so others are perceived as threats who could take away part of something that leaves less for that person. Maybe making someone else seem to be less somehow translates into making the troll feel better … ?

Next to me, he is nothing! So if I can make him look incompetent, surely someone will see how much better I am and hire me!

Really? Doubtful in the extreme! I think that backfires most of the time -- as it should.

I would immediately cross such a person off my list of friends, colleagues, or those whom I’d refer, because I don’t accept acting that way. Then again, my mindset is one of abundance: There is enough business (or whatever else we need) for all of us to have some, presuming we’re qualified. I have no need to put someone else down to feel better about myself.

And as a friend recently posted:

Whoever is trying to bring you down is already below you.

What has been your experience with trolls? How have you handled an attack? What would you recommend others do?

(Picture courtesy of SBVguenter @ Pixabay)

*****

5f2a9c0a.jpg

If you like FREEBIES – and who doesn’t, especially at this time of year – and you’re interested in learning a little more about American grammar and usage rules, click HERE for a FREE copy of my booklet Colons & Commas & Dashes, Oh, My! 

And if you spot a typo, please let me know. 

Sad to say, I’m not perfect.


Comments

John Rylance

6 years ago#6

I found this interesting, to me Trolls are benign Norwegian sprites, and we're all the rage in the  60s or it maybe the 50s. My wife one year put Trolls on her Christmas list. A perverse Aunt gave her several Toilet Rolls. Just shows how perceptions and reputations can change. 
@Claire Cardwell, the link didn't save for some reason. Now it's there.

Roland Waddilove

6 years ago#4

I think the anonymity of the internet, or its appearance, reduces inhibitions and lets people do or say things they would not normally do or say. It's a bit like how you do things when you are drunk that you would never do when sober. On the internet, you do and say things you would not in real life, face to face.

CityVP Manjit

6 years ago#3

The Buddha perspective is interesting in regards to this topic as exemplified by this quote "“Tell me, if you buy a gift for someone, and that person does not take it, to whom does the gift belong?” Context for this quote is here https://beingraluca.com/someone-doesnt-accept-gift-gift-belong/
#1
Oh, good one, Pascal Derrien! Thanks!

Pascal Derrien

6 years ago#1

who is trip trapping on my wall if that's not a troll who thinks he is better than us all :-)

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