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Behaving in the Blogosphere - Dealing With Blog Trolls

Blog Troll

What is a Blog Troll?

According to one of my new favorite Bloggers, Meg Fowler:

"They're the ones making inflammatory and threatening comments, trying to create conflict where none is necessary. They're the ones who send vicious mail to mommy bloggers because they made some cosmic mistake like feeding their child a donut. They're the ones who take other peoples' pictures and writing and pass them off as their own. They're the ones who believe that debate is a bloodsport, whether it be political, social or anything in between. "

There will come a point in your blogging "life" where you will either:

Read a Blog Troll's comments on a blog you are reading, or
Read a Blog Troll's comments on YOUR blog, or
Read a Blog Troll's post, or
Feel like becoming a Blog Troll, because of a Blog Troll

If, er, I mean WHEN one of these things happens to you, you need to be prepared. One wrong move in the presence of a Blog Troll can mean the potential death of your blogging life. Blog Trolls are not limited to political and MySpace blogs. Unfortunately, there are even Blog Trolls in the Real Estate Blogosphere.

I hate addressing issues like these, but, let's face it; these issues NEED to be addressed. And the earlier you learn how to deal with these issues, the better.

Although I read mostly Real Estate related blogs, Technology related blogs and Blog related blogs, every once in awhile I stumble across amazing other blogs. Today was one such occasion.

Meg Fowler is the author of the MegFowler.com Blog, and she wrote a fantastic post (2006) about Blog Trolls that is a MUST READ for anyone who is, or plans to be a blogger:

How not to be an ahole or encourage aholism on the internet: a handy guide.

Thank you Meg, for putting, so eloquently, into words what every blogger should know.

Posted by Mariana Wagner ~ Colorado Springs REALTOR® on 02/27/2008 09:06 PM

Comments (46)

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Post is included in group: BADB-Bloggers Against Drunk Blogging

46 Comments on Behaving in the Blogosphere - Dealing With Blog Trolls

FEB

2008

I think trolls should stay under bridges and off line!

Cheers-

Mike

Boy don't they need to be addressed! I especially like the trollers who look for anyone who blogs on anything they have ever written about before and decide that they now own the term and should be referenced in the subsequent blogs. Get a life!!! We all have ideas, some of them coincide and most of them aren't original anyway..... Good for you for pointing this out!!!

HaHaHa...thanks for the heads up, Mariana. I'll tell you, I never cease to be amazed at gall of the trolls -- truly sad people. I'm off to read Meg's post; thanks for the link.

Mariana -

What a wonderful way to address this "issue" - Meg really does say what we all need to know.

When I first joined AR, I made a comment regarding schools. I was harassed in the comments and received private emails from one particular person *yelling* at me for my point of view. I shunned AR for many months.

I finally realized I shouldn't let this TROLL keep me from this great resource. I've been back ever since.

Mike - We never really know where these blog trolls are ... maybe they have free wi-fi under their bridge?

Chris - LOL! Nothing on the internet is original. Nothing. Well, unless it is actually copyrighted.

Lanette - I hope you enjoy the post. It is AWESOME!

Meg Fowler is definitely a must follow...load up the reader with her.

@Mizzle most excellent post of hers and so appropriate here in this community. Active Bob and Rich can only do so much.

Trolls used to be cute but not anymore LOL

Debbie - We all need to learn how to spot Trolls and deal with them in the best way possible. Glad you came back!

@GotBob - I read this post and immediately thought that it was a MUST READ for our community, here in the Rain.

Carole - Hi! There is nothing cute about Bog Trolls. Nothing.

Trolls need to get a life. If they had one, they wouldn't be spending so much time irritating others.

Life is too short , never let a "Troll" block your ability to reach the other side of the bridge to enlightenment. There is a reason these creatures are "Stuck" under the bridge of life.

There are trolls everywhere, Keep them out of the blogsphere

Thanks, I read her article. Love her blog too! She seems so positive.

Judi - No kidding!

Laura - HOW TRUE!

Steven - No matter how wonderful that would be, trolls LOVE the "safety" of the blogosphere, and will always be a thorn in our sides.

Chrystina - She is awesome. And to think she wrote this over a year ago!

Can't we have some blog troll guards or something? Bouncers maybe? hmmmm

Mariana - I don't like trolls... under a bridge is a good place for them!

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha......................................

Mariana:

That was an excellent article - fun to read but right on target I think.

Jeff

FEB

2008

Blog Troll! What a great term...

Feature!!! Active Rain needs this disclaimer: no grumpy old trolls need apply.

Hey Mariana - and to think I didn't even know what a blog troll was until I read that article. No doubt, I've seen them around, and I used a slightly different term in my head for the,m, but now I have a new term to use - 'blog troll'. Meg's post was terrific, and it really should be a 'must read' for all. Thanks for sharing that link to her here so we could go read it, too.

'Blog Troll' - what a term! Certainly have seen a few of those out there and even around here of late, too....

Ann

Butterfly - by the way, PERFECT graphic for this post!!

Ann

There is not way for it to just disappear...there will always be someone out there who just doesn't get it. Those ugly suckers!

Like Ann, I love that graphic. I've seen a few trolls around...they must have pretty boring lives!

I read Meg's post, yes it happens everywhere and in every sphere. Is your advice to ignore them.

Kim- Bouncers! That would be funny.

Laurie - Meg wrote this post in 2006, but it is funny how I only JUST found it. Great timing?

Jeff - Thank you. It is a geat post.

Troy - I LOVE that term!

Ginger - the blogosohere, in general, needs that disclaimer.

Ann - I have seen them here and there, but I think that maybe the current market has brought more trolls out of the woodwork.

Neal - You are right. Our job is to just deal with them effectively and not flame their fires.

Monika - I think they DO have awfully unsatisfying, boring lives, at least at the time when they are acting Troll-Like.

Missy - I would acknowledge valid points, but ignore troll-like bahavior.

I love the term "Blog Troll." I'll bet it's added to the dictionary by the end of 2008.

Mariana,

I really hope that people who read this post will click onto Megs post and read what she has to say. It's actually written very well in a "fun" way, but definitely gets her point across. This really should be required reading before people start blogging.

Karen L - That wouldn't suprise me.

Karen H - I hope that many people DO read it. Maybe it would nip some things in the bud.

Hello Karen - Nice post, especially since any of us who have been blogging for awhile have run into one of these characters (I love the new name - Blog Trolls). I have my very own, who follows me around and then posts nasty things about me on his blog....he is a very ugly person but I have learned it is easier to ignore than fight back.

That is why I like active rain....I have never had a negative or nasty comment ;-)

Julie Jalone

Julie - Thank you. The longer I am a blogger, the more I see them ...

Mariana - great post. Love the visual of a troll - so true. I am particularly uncomfortable with people who are inflamatory myself.

Mariana - Thanks for great description and graphic. I've noticed the Blog Troll a few times, and hope to avoid getting too close. I guess I'll have to stay away from the bridges. Thanks for sharing.

FEB

2008

Cyndee - Me too! ... and that goes beyond just in the Blogosphere...

Lynn - There are several Blog Trolls around the blogosphere, with a few here in the real estate realm as well.

I'm a little late, I know but this is one of my alltime favorite posts - a must read for everyone blogging. I am not happy to say that I have been victim to a few blog trolls - it's part of the blogosphere. Now how do we make reading Meg's post mandatory?

Ines - Meg now has a T-Shirt @ CafePress that reads: the internet will not make up for what happened in high school LOL! http://www.megfowler.com/2008/02/29/just-sayin/

I bet it's easier to be "popular" on the Internet that it was in highschool. :)

I guess ... It is also easier to be a jerk, as there is no one to pummell you in the playground after school for being one!

You can be a nerdy little skinny wimp with no personality and still be a bully! go figure!

LOL!

MAR

2008

I just finished reading Meg's post about this. There have been a few posts recently about people harassing others on AR...what is wrong with people?! Good post and I like the picture!

SEP

2008

Never argue with an idiot. People may not be able to tell the difference

DEC

2008

I confess- I think I became a "Blog Troll" recently when I wrote something not so nice after getting sick of a bully blog troll writing negative comments on my posts. Momma told me that two wrongs don't make a right, yet I failed to listen.