When I started blogging on a regular basis, I decided it was a fair and logical thing to accept "anonymous" comments, so long as they were moderated. In the past year, that has worked out for the most part, but I've gotten a few "off color" posts, as every blog owner can probably imagine. This hasn't been a really big problem until recently, when a sudden influx of them has driven me to reconsider my position.
I tend to avoid controversy with my posts, as I'm really not a lover of conflict. I am a fun loving writer, who is generally satisfied to weave my imaginative tales for all, and I like to keep my opinions and politics separate from this job. Yet, now and then, I've found myself sliding into the hazardous realm of political opinion, and expressing one viewpoint or another that has drawn the attention and ire of differentially-minded people. Some of those folks have turned out to be less than civil, posting narrow-minded and offensive comments, and that has left me wondering if I should stop accepting anonymous comments entirely. Sure, the comments can be deleted before anyone besides me sees them, but it is annoying as hell to deal with an onslaught of childish trolls who think you should shut up unless you express their point of view exclusively.
There are times when you have to take a stand, and there are plenty of people who will always be standing on the other side when you do, waiting to take a cheap shot. I would simply ask that those who read my blog posts refrain from spewing vulgar epithets or belittling my intelligence and integrity, simply because we may disagree. Like that famous line from the Shootist goes, "I'll not be wronged, I'll not be insulted, and I'll not be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to others, and I expect the same from them." What a wonderful place the world would be if more people (especially online) took these simple words to heart.
So, when was the last time you had a run-in with an internet troll?
I'm afraid to answer that and jinx myself. Too bad people have nothing better to do than be mean and irritating. It shows low self-esteem.
ReplyDeleteMean people stink. I had someone that followed my blog then believed it was her job in life to tell me everything wrong with every thought, picture and post. All comments are now moderated. And she soon unfollowed. Loser.
ReplyDeleteI promise to me nice and look forward to reading more.
Here via A to Z
Hi Martin! Just stopping by from the A to Z Challenge sign up list. I've been running across more people who have had trolls visiting their blogs. So far I've been lucky and avoided that drama, hoping it continues. I suppose if it happened I would not interact and if the comment were negative I'd simply delete it.
ReplyDeleteKarenG