Trolls
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Trolls – not the Lord of the Ring Type
Trolls are a type of cyberbully who enjoy inflicting ridicule on other people and humiliating them. Their aim is to try and make people angry and they do this by trying to deliberately provoke a reaction from you.
Why do they want to do this?
Because when you get angry at them and react it gives them the attention they are seeking. Many trolls have an inflated sense of their own worth. When they can make other people angry towards them, it helps them feel superior.
Where do Trolls hide out?
Trolls are found where people comment, post, and share online, for example;
- On social media.
- Internet chat rooms.
- Email groups; &
- Discussion forums.
How do you know you could be dealing with a Troll?
- They will try to make you angry. They do this by making offensive or personal comments that attack your character.
- They exaggerate and use strong words like “never” or “all the time”. Using exaggerated or extreme language is one-way Trolls try to get a response from you.
- As mentioned above they have an inflated sense of self-worth and will talk a lot about themselves.
How to deal with a Troll
When dealing with a Troll, the important thing is not to give them what they want, which is a reaction.
- Best thing is to ignore the Troll. This can be difficult when you are feeling angry and upset at their comments. However, if you “feed the Troll” by your reaction, they will keep coming back to attack you. Do not respond to their comments. Deprive them of what they want, which is a response.
- Don’t take it personally. Again, this can be difficult to do when you are feeling angry, and someone is saying unkind things.
- Surround yourself with a group of supportive friends. It is easy to feel isolated and alone when you are dealing with a Troll. Having a group of supportive friends who have your back is important to help you keep balance and from over-reacting.
Report. Remember you can report abusive behaviour to the various social media