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DEEP DIVE
⭐ Featured Article

Please, Ignore the Trolls in 2025

After I faced my first troll attack, I got a fresh perspective on trolling as I explored the root causes of this toxic behavior.

One statistic I would love to know but likely will never have access to:

How many bright and promising careers were derailed because of trolls and naysayers?

How many innovative ideas, exciting dreams, and grand visions were crushed by the harsh cynicism from people who continually whisper the fears of failure in your ear?

For those of you who unaware of the term, online trolls are people who intentionally post offensive, inflammatory, or irrelevant content online to provoke a reaction.

Recently, I received a disturbing direct message from a fellow writer that left me baffled:

My newsletter that was under attack was “Own Your Network or Perish”

The headline of the troll’s critique read:

Well, I guess I officially arrived. My first troll encounter!

The question was … how would I handle it?

Time to Strike Back?

My first reaction … defend yourself!

His attacks were vulgar, relentless, and unforgiving …

Huh?

I didn’t offer a course for sale.

Nor did I market anything in the article.

He goes on…

I did discuss the possibility of losing your online audience on a third-party platform.

You know, exactly what happened with TikTok this month when some major influencers “lost their audience” when it was shut down.

Even the newsletter platforms we are on state you should own your audience:

On Substack, they can build their own home on the internet: one where creators, not platform executives or advertisers, own their work and their audience.

So, now my anger turned to confusion.

It was time to shift my focus from the hurtful words of a troll to understanding the motivations and behaviors behind their actions.

So that’s what I did…

Inside the Mind of a Troll

How prevalent is trolling?

Is it really a problem?

Well, major publications like Time magazine, the NY Post, and The New Yorker have devoted entire pages to examine the destruction of trolls.

The problem is that Internet trolls present a complex psychological profile. It's a misconception that they're simply driven by low self-esteem and appealing to their humanity is unlikely to be effective.

Research suggests that trolling is situational and not a fixed personality trait. In other words, anyone can become a troll.

What I personally learned about trolls:

1. They will put words in your mouth.

2. They will twist your insights to serve their own purpose and provoke a reaction.

3. There is nothing you can do to please them - they already made up their mind to loathe your writing.

If I fought back I would have compounded these issues.

Here are the recommended ways to deal with social media trolls:

• Ignore - Do not engage. That's exactly what they want, and it will almost always escalate things.

• Block - Most platforms offer a blocking feature, preventing unwanted interactions.

• Report - Reporting violations can result in consequences for the offender, ranging from post removal to account termination. For your own protection, block the user in addition to reporting them.

I chose to ignore my troll.

Subsequently, I decided to investigate the underlying causes of his anger and negativity.

The Deep Dive

A deep dive into the troll led me to believe that the issue might not have been with me.

I came across several posts by the troll that were overly critical and quite vulgar in his comments about other writers.

I noticed his criticism of fellow writers relied heavily on provocative and attention-grabbing language:

And apparently, it works. He had built quite a network of fans “cheering” him on.

But don’t drink the Kool-Aid.

There’s usually more to the story.

The Man Behind the Trolling

As I dug even deeper, I sensed the troll’s writer's anguish... a deep, agonizing pain.

Here's what he shared about himself in his newsletters:

A New Perspective

I no longer look at this person as my nemesis.

He is no longer a faceless troll.

He’s a human being.

I wish him the best.

He is a Marine.

I’m grateful for his service.

I pray for peace for this troubled colleague who is going through a difficult time.

My hope is that he finds some strength and contentment during his darkest hours.

The Takeaway

The bottom line is that trolls are unpredictable and each encounter is different.

Do I believe some trolls engage in harmful behavior and should be avoided?

Absolutely.

Should we defend ourselves or try to help them?

Probably not.

Don’t feed the trolls.

Ignoring them is still the best solution.

But I am not one to judge them.

I can't control a troll's behavior, but I can control how I react and learn from it.

My initial anger, confusion, and disgust toward a troll gave way to tolerance, clarity, and finally, compassion.

It's a reminder that everyone deserves a little grace, even the trolls at times.

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