Whether they’re bots trying to sow discord in online communities or just people having a bad day and wanting to lash out at others, online trolls can ruin your experience on social media and other online platforms. But if you know how to deal with these types of people and comments, you can rise above and not allow them to take you down to their level.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for dealing with trolls on the internet.
Recognize The Signs Of Someone Trolling
The first thing you’ll need to do when interacting with people online is to know what signs to be on the lookout for in order to determine if someone is being a troll. Sometimes, especially for people of older generations who go online at places like their assisted living facilities, it can be hard to know if someone is being a troll because the idea of trolling online just seems so foreign. But if you can recognize the traits, it can be easier for you to know how to respond.
Generally, if someone is trying to troll people online, they will do things like not even appearing to listen to evidence or reason from the other side, resort to name-calling or other disrespectful acts, and try to redirect the conversation away from the original topic. If you notice any of these things happening on posts you see, it’s fair to say that this is troll-like behavior.
Don’t Dwell There
One of the main objectives of online trolls is to get a rise out of people and get people worked up about something. So when you can avoid doing this, you take away a lot of their perceived power.
To help you in doing this, you’re going to want to take steps that will keep you from dwelling in the space where the trolls are. This might mean blocking people from your social profiles or feeds, unfollowing certain groups, or just taking a break from being on social media for a while.
Try To Maintain Respect
If you do feel impressed to respond to a troll online or something that seems to be intent on stirring things up and hurting people’s feelings, the best thing you can do is attempt to respond with respect. If you’re able to empathize with this troll and understand that something bigger might be at play in their lives that they need real help with, it can help you to take a step back from what’s going on and gain some perspective.
If you’re having a hard time dealing with trolls online, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you do this more successfully.
