Trolls. We see new ones every day, thanks to the explosion in cheap, broadband Internet combined with the cost of computers coming down nearly every day. Someday, I've often said to myself, it'd be nice if trolls would just get hobbies other than starting argumnents on the Internet, but instead of learning that there's more fun to be had elsewhere, they've not only stuck to their form of fun, but they've forgotten something:
Trolling sites like Facebook means that the people trolls try to play their favorite game with know exactly who they are. It used to be that when you wanted to shake a troll it only took about 5 words: "I know who you are." That particular post usually led to trolls shutting up and seeing how fast they could disappear.
Well, with the transparency of identity on sites like Facebook, we know who the trolls are, like the guy (he has a name but I see no need to post it or the picture of himself he used as an avatar) I had to deal with tonight. Once I realized that instead of having a discussion involving 2 different viewpoints, I'd run into a creature I didn't think could exist on Facebook: my little troll friend. That's when I basically patted him on his pointy little head and went on my way. He's still on the same page, ranting to himself and calling me names for refusing to give him the attention he lives for, just like they did before we could figure out who they were.
All I can think is that it sucks to be him as I spit out this short commentary on Net culture--to be so lonely that you don't feel better until you start an online fight with someone who not only doesn't know you, but really doesn't care that you exist. The only reason it needs venting is because he's being a troll on the FB page of a friend of mine that I know is having a rough time. It's really not my problem, but I do care about my friends and wish this guy weren't shitting all over one of my friends.
I've done all I can though--not feeding him should have shut him up and eventually it will. And who knows--maybe my friend will get a chuckle out of his idiocy. I just hope it doesn't upset the person more to see Captain Asstacular's raving lunacy.
So, what's my point? I guess it's that some things never do change--they just become refined and expand into new corners of the Intarwebs. Maybe someday I'll find somewhere they haven't encountered. If I do, I'd be hesitant to post it anywhere--
After all, there's trolls out there looking for new places to raise hell.
1 comments:
So I guess my question is why is it hard to get rid of a troll on FB? Mind you, I barely use the thing. But, can't you set your privacy so you don't have to talk to people you don't know? And if you friended the troll, just unfriend, right?
I'm tired of arguing with people that don't get it. I TRIED to have a discussion (with a little ranting) on someone's blog and the idiot totally missed the point. Oh, well, some people don't know how to debate.
Post a Comment