...I appear to have been targeted by a troll, although it's interesting that (s)he has chosen my "Dear Doctor" posting as his/her point of attack. I'm assuming, for the time being, that we are just talking about the one, signing in under different names, but one never knows, does one?
It's interesting: I've noticed how pissed off we get when the MHRA/GSK/D'oh/our MPs ignore us, or provide us with shit responses, so I'm going to entertain myself by giving the Cat, as (s)he calls him/herself, plenty of TLC. It is my anticipation that the Cat has been starved of love and affection, and understands that it is appropriate to make threats, and so on, anonymously, on other people's blogs.
Being the person that I am, I don't feel particularly threatened when a person expresses the desire to see me squirm. I have a way of turning the tables. Some people just never learn.
Matt
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11 comments:
I just had a go round with a troll myself. a mean and wicked person, i finally removed all of the posts. my harrasser was from auckland. I like your idea of leaving your comments up and deleting theirs. you are more logical than I in that regard.
Yes, it's strange how they seem to target strangers, who have something "different" to say, isn't it? And that they do it anonymously, too.
Anyway, it seems to me that the world doesn't happen "out there," but in our heads. That is, we perceive it in our minds. In order for the Cat, or anybody else to say the things that the Cat has said and for me to be intimidated, I would have to accept the suggestion that (s)he has made (that it is appropriate for me to squirm). Naturally: I don't! It's then relatively easy for me to replace his/her comments with my own ideas.
I told him/her that it was my world and my game, but (s)he wouldn't listen! Anyway, the Cat only thinks that his/her behaviour is appropriate, because that is his/her perception of the treatment that has been meted out to him/her. When (s)he realizes that that is not the way that people normally behave, (s)he'll stop, and do something different.
Matt
It's a secret.
Actually, I've decided on a different approach, for the time being. I'm going to delete the Cat (aka James Lewis, Dr Watson, et al). That is, I'm going to delete their comments without reading them.
I'm going to do this, because experience tells me that they have nothing of any interest to say to me, and I can't see that that is going to change. Regrettably, if that were to change, I would never know, because I will be deleting their comments without reading them. Oh, well! That's a chance that I'm going to take.
I told you: my world, my game, my rules.
Matt
Nothing from you, today, Cat? Tsk, tsk! I thought you had more determination than that. I wanted to delete you again, you see.
You wanted to see me squirm, Cat? Even if you didn't, but just thought that would be a "cool" thing to write, in order to maybe intimidate me (how could you possibly know how to intimidate somebody with a comment like that, huh? Practice?), then I will cut out your fucking heart with a spoon for trying it on me. Do you understand?
You are not in my league. What part of that do you not understand? Do not test what I write to you, Cat. I'll delete you, and tell you another truth about yourself.
Don't be a stranger.
Matt
I know you want to write another comment, Cat. Proud of yourself, little man? Come on, Cat: show me what you're made of.
Matt
Cat, you really are a trier, aren't you? Bless! You've no idea how much satisfaction I got from highlighting your message (and that of simon.b (is this another of your pseudonyms?)), and then hitting "delete". It was that easy to exclude you from my reality.
But, it must be several days since you last tried to post a comment. Come on! You can do better than that, surely? Try again, tomorrow. A couple of times. Maybe I will change my mind, and read your bizarre ramblings. Or maybe not - you won't know unless you try, will you?
Matt
Urgh, I hate the trolls. Good luck with that.
Thanks. I don't mind them, really - gives me something to do, you know? I won't be drawn into their reality, though - I believe that's the correct psychotherapeutic terminology, anyway!
Matt
Of course I think you have the right to deal with trolls in any way you see fit, but deleting their posts sucks out the fun for the rest of us. just sayin'
~harpy
Hey haryp,
That's an interesting perspective - I hadn't thought of that. However, while it may be quite amusing, in a voyeuristic way, to see an exchange of this type, one has to remember that the troll has ventured into his/her victim's (cyber)space, and attacked them in the one place that ought to be safe. An analogous situation would be the person attacked in their own home.
Naturally, a person who chooses to defend themselves may look as if they're coping, OK (somebody like the Angry Aussie occasionally enjoys that kind of exchange, he tells us), but appearances can be deceptive, sometimes, and bear in mind that a victim may believe that they have no choice but to stand their ground and exchange blows. Think of it this way: if the victim is unable to turn the tables and go to the troll's blog, and attack them, there, then there is an inequality of bargaining power.
No, in the final analysis, I don't give a fuck what other people think. I'm going to deal with trolls in the most efficient manner that I can think of, and if I'm taking the fun out of it for you, you can bet your life that Cat, and his mates are having their fireworks pissed on, too.
Matt
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