CANADIAN PHYSIQUE ALLIANCE September - October 2022 | Page 13
and cause harm to others . However , a cyberbully ’ s main goal is to put the spotlight on someone else by hurting them . Trolls , on the other hand , want
to be the star of the show . They don ’ t usually care who it is they offend , annoy or upset . They ’ re happy as long as someone is reacting .
11 Techniques to Deal with Internet Trolls
Trolls aren ’ t picky – they ’ ll target individuals , businesses , athletes , celebrities , politicians … you name it . If you ’ re on the internet , you ’ re fair game for a troll .
Here ’ s how you can shut them down ;
1 . Starve the Trolls Trolls thrive on getting a reaction . They ’ re trying to elicit their victim ’ s anger , frustration and annoyance . While difficult , resist the urge to add fuel to their fire . At some point , they ’ ll get bored and find another target . So starve them of giving them a reaction .
2 . Record it Take a screenshot so that you have a record of the original post . This covers you if the person tries to edit or delete their post once they realise it could get them into trouble . These records can also be handy if things escalate and you need to take the matter further . 3 . Be the Boss ! No Trolls Allowed If you ’ re in charge of a platform , whether it ’ s your social media profile , discussion forum , blog , etc ., you need a list of clear guidelines that includes a “ no trolling ” policy . Implementing these rules establishes impartiality . If someone is angry that their comment was deleted , you can point back to your policy and cite a violation as the cause of the removal .
4 . Add Moderators to Your Roster Managing a single , small-scale blog or social media profile is one thing , but if you have hundreds or even thousands of posts and a major troll infestation , it ’ s time to call in backup ! A team of moderators is a worthwhile investment if you aren ’ t able to keep up with the troll onslaught yourself . They can verify comments and deal with policy violators so you can focus your attention on other tasks .
5 . If You Can ’ t Ignore the Trolls , Call Their B . S . Trolls aren ’ t interested in having civilized , rational conversations . Their arguments aren ’ t logical , and they ’ re certainly not strong debaters . Stay calm and simply ask for facts and sources to back up their unsubstantiated claims . Chances are , they won ’ t have any , and they ’ ll sputter into silence . All they really wanted was a heated , passionate debate , and you denied them that . Every time they make a wild statement , counter it with a polite request for evidence .