The Bloggers With The Most To Say
Trolls, trolls, trolls! They couldn't be more aptly named.
Hi fellow 20SBs,
I have kind of a weird comment problem which I never could have anticipated. I guess it's less of a problem than a sad fact of online life, really. For a long while, I was happily blogging away on my own, enjoying the occasional kind word from a family member, a friend, a 20SB blogger, or a friend of a friend. Then I got an amazing opportunity to write a daily column/blog for a legit website, which is mainly a local news source but is trying to be more. Suddenly, I had readers and commenters! And those commenters....hate me. Well, no, not all of them at all. I've come to the conclusion that it's not many more than 1-3 despicable people who post incessantly throughout the day, but I've got me some serious trolls. He/they say horrible, anti-Semitic, explicit, revolting things, and there isn't much the site administrators can do about it at the moment other than reactively take stuff down. So where I used to be thrilled to get that little Wordpress email announcing a new comment, I have now trained myself not to look at my pieces throughout the day and just rely on my friends to pass along the positives. I know a troll can't be taken personally, but it's rough to read that stuff day after day!
Anyway, I thought it was an interesting angle to bring up on this topic, and not sure whether some of you have had a similar experience. I feel like it's not something most of us have to deal with and it's not a problem I thought I'd ever have.
Phew, this is long. If you read this far, I'd be grateful if you check out my column and leave me some love if you like it! I won't know what blog you come from (I don't think), so email me here and I'll be sure to return the favor!
My columns here:
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/tag/nina-in-new-york/
Nina
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Anjanie on -
Hey Nina,
The great thing about the internet is that everyone can voice their opinions and be heard, which is also its disadvantage, especially when people abuse the comment button. It's terrible that you've had to suffer horrible comments, especially when comments are what bloggers live for!
Have you considered changing the settings or turning off comments? Other popular bloggers have done it when the amount of negativity has become too much, along with a post explaining why (http://galadarling.com/article/honesty-space-staying-true-why-i-tur...)
I hope you start getting some nicer comments soon! Do come visit me at www.anjanieblog.com -
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Permalink Reply by Tim B on -
Trolls can be best dealt with in one of two ways:
1. Ignore them
2. Bait them with replies for your own amusement
It depends on the type of individual you're getting who's trolling your blog as well as the persona you wish to set forth as the blogger as to which response you should go with. On my current blog, I tend to portray more of a devil may care attitude as the author, so if someone comes around the site trying to troll, I respond directly and intelligently to them and it usually scares them away. On the other hand, I previously handled a blog for a radio station, and as a result I was more diplomatic in my responses, usually choosing to ignore the troll crowd.
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