Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
3 years ago · 2 min. reading time · visibility ~10 ·
Thursday Thoughts: Trolls
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)
*****
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And if you spot a typo, please let me know.
Sad to say, I’m not perfect.
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Comments
John Rylance
2 years ago #12
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.
Debasish Majumder
2 years ago #11
#3
sorry sir CityVP \ud83d\udc1d Manjit i don't subscribe with the quote you mention regarding Buddha and i beg to differ as i came across from the historical revelation that Buddha was from a kingly decedent and he was sick with butchery of animals, precisely cows which are extremely important for agriculture on his contemporary times and Hindu kings were indiscriminately killing cows for satiating their appetite as well as far as the myth was concern that a pregnant lady will deliver healthy kid provided she may be fed with beef from a healthy cow. to maintain sustainability in the available Eco-system his doctrine are of immense value and still pertinent too. but in present context i am still in quandary, is he at all pertinent? gift could be equated as a symbol of gratitude too and i do have sense of gratitude for you as you shared a fervor for me and my writings. to me, you are more valuable than Buddha whom i don't know even. rather i would be delighted to quote you sir as you are more precious to me than anybody who encourage and admire me without having any desire to get anything in return.
Franci 🐝Eugenia Hoffman, beBee Brand Ambassador
3 years ago #10
Trolls! Ugh! I ignore them and delete them! I don't let their problems become mine.
Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
3 years ago #9
@Claire Cardwell, the link didn't save for some reason. Now it's there.
Claire L Cardwell
3 years ago #8
Hi Susan \ud83d\udc1d Rooks, the Grammar Goddess - can I have a copy of your book? I can't find the link (maybe I have a SA Version - thanks Google)
Claire L Cardwell
3 years ago #7
#5
@Roland Waddilove - I agree, however it doesn't take more than a few seconds to find out all you need to know about that individual - if you follow the money it's amazing what happens. The Steinhoff fiasco has not been widely reported in the press here... and yet again workers from the biggest co in SA do not get a pay rise or Christmas bonus. If that's not manipulating a situation to try and get at the pot of gold at the end of the radio I don't know what is. The United Kingdom and Commonwealth is back at war again, it doesn't stop. - Johannesburg = Egoli = City of Gold. The man with the midas touch is desperate to go down a gold mine... We have earthquakes here, probably not a good idea...
Nick Mlatchkov
3 years ago #6
#2
Perhaps u're establishing a new discipline - Trollology! ;D
Roland Waddilove
3 years ago #5
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.
Nick Mlatchkov
3 years ago #4
This topic's relevant worldwide now ...
CityVP Manjit
3 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/
Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
3 years ago #2
#1
Oh, good one, Pascal Derrien! Thanks!
Pascal Derrien
3 years ago #1
who is trip trapping on my wall if that's not a troll who thinks he is better than us all :-)