Trolls: a different kind of Halloween monster

Trolls: a different kind of Halloween monster... a hard lesson learned about not giving into the dark side.

If you feel anonymity is an appropriate way to comment through social media, you're most likely an online Troll.

In the world of social media those who spit venom and comment anonymously are referred to as trolls and for good reason. They often lurk in the darkness of their anti-social angst; ready to ambush, badger, and bully their way through conversations they disagree with. Pulling anyone down they can set their slimy self loathing claws upon. Their target, unsuspecting bloggers and commentators who think that everyone deserves to have a voice and express themselves.

Anatomy of A Troll...

It's not enough for a troll to simply disagree with someone, they must insert a level of misanthropic " foaming at the mouth" madness into their verbal attack as there is no reasoning with them. They have made their mind up long ago about what they hope to achieve while stalking their prey and honest debate is not what they are after.

The troll's modus operandi is to lure their victims to the edge of reason with an initially simple statement of disagreement peppered with the slight stink of antipathy. It is here that a troll uses his cunning to set a trap, engaging their unsuspecting prey with the potential for debate. And then... they strike. 

Identifying a victims weakness and exploiting that weakness is where they focus the thrust of their hack and slash attempt to undue the unsuspecting. They often are adept at recognizing the emotional vulnerability of their intended, because of a history of abuse in their actual lives. Often the victims of bullying themselves these psychological monsters were often reared by the very same.

Having been suckled on the teet of hate, these lonely solitary creatures are ravenous for more and anyone that appears to be empathetic or altruistic has an alluring scent the troll cannot resist. The irony lies in that they truly wish they could posses the very thing the seek to destroy, Humaneness. It is at this perilous juncture that the victim either peers over the edge into the void below or quickly crosses the bridge and deletes, deletes, deletes their way back to sunnier dispositions. If one chooses not to use the delete option, it places themselves in the potential danger of being dragged down to the muddy depths of a bullies grasp and the endless verbal abuse that ensues.

Inflating narcissistic praise for themselves while hurling insults is a common tactic of online trolls. Projecting their spiteful rhetoric(essentially fear of their own lack) on to their unsuspecting mark in an attempt to psychically consume those who do not share their utter hate for humanity.  All a manifestation of a desperate self loathing coupled with an immense sense of inadequacy. In other words they are mentally disturbed. Attacking the mentally ill even in defense has no winners only losers. This is why the delete button should be used without any hesitation and with swift determination.

The online trolls anti-social media avatars are never of themselves(their self loathing prevents this). They often employ anything non-sentient or non-human as their avatar: weapons and objects of war; un-populated landscapes; patriotic symbols; totems of predatory power; images of bloodied killers; monsters; and anything menacing as an emblazoned representations of their violent thoughts and malignant interests. The desired effect is to intimidate and create an impression of the power they do not posses. But the most common image of the troll is no image at all, a reflection of how they see themselves, empty.

So, if you should find yourself alone late at night, responding to comments left by faceless avatars, and your trusted friends have long since logged off and curled up for their evening naps. Be wary of the wicked troll and respond with caution, lest you find yourself pulled over the edge of by the Ne'er-do-wells lurking under the bridge of reason; bloodied, battered and beside yourself in frustration at being baited by the masters of hating.

In my most recent Troll Encounter, I foolishly peered over into my past to see the ugly all over again. Like many who were bullied as children I found that defending myself was an endeavor full of trepidation. I learned to sharpen my tongue and NOT back down to bullies with some measure of success, unfortunately, I achieved this through using the same tactics employed by the troll, to identify weakness and execute a coup de gras. I would use my intellect as a club to strike with words, callous reason, and with no small measure of snarkyness. But by doing so I was giving into the darkness in myself, allowing the troll to posses me in a different way.

It is important to remind ourselves, when face to face with the troll archetype that we are not talking about slaying the proverbial dragon of our deepest fears with the sword of Truth. A troll is not that majestic of an opponent, it is merely a reflection of our own self-doubt; sour, morose, and detestable. To lower oneself to their depth of despair serves no purpose, has no honor, produces no results noteworthy. You would not stand in the path of a speeding freight train and attempt to reason with it to stop. It will plow through you with relentless indifference, as will the troll.

In the dance of dysfunction, it takes two to tango and a troll will occupy your dance card, for as long as you let them.  

Remembering the power of a delete button can spare yourself the futility of engaging hate by ignoring the troll and crossing that bridge between the past and present, unscathed. To go toe to toe with the mentally ill never has a victor only victims. Have compassion for the troll and yourself and... 

DON'T FEED THE TROLLS!