How do you handle TROLLS? By Brendan Conboy

The story of the troll under the bridge is a Norwegian fairy tale called "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," in which three goats must cross a bridge to reach a meadow for food. A troll living underneath the bridge threatens to eat them, but the smaller goats trick the troll into waiting for the larger, tastier brother. Finally, the biggest goat confronts the troll, butts it off the bridge, and the goats safely reach the meadow.

Modern-day "TROLLS" are individuals who use the internet to provoke conflict intentionally, spread hostility, or harass others online for their own amusement or to cause harm. Their behaviour can range from posting offensive comments to more malicious actions, such as spreading disinformation, and it is often driven by a desire to elicit an emotional reaction or cause disruption.

All of the guidance online says that you shouldn’t engage with a TROLL, but you don’t necessarily know that they are a TROLL until you do engage.

I recently encountered someone on my YouTube channel, who I now regard as a TROLL and his target? - CHRISTIANS. I know this now because I have checked out some of the videos on his channel.

So, how did I handle this particular TROLL? The short video that he responded to was me reading from ‘The Book of Psalms in Rhyme’, followed by a one-line reflective thought. He started by agreeing with what I was saying, then accused me of reading someone else's words and following someone else's path. He advised me to find my own path.

I responded by telling him that I am the author of those words and that God gave me the gift of rhyme in 1986, and that I spent 25 years as a Christian rapper.

The conversation rapidly devolved, and he told me to look at his channel. There, I found numerous videos that are inflammatory and hateful towards Christians. So, I followed the standard advice, broke off the conversation, deleted the thread and reported his channel. I was ‘Billy Goat Gruff’ and I butted the TROLL off the bridge

I will add that each of my comments was carefully crafted with love. I don’t think it mattered to him, as each of his answers was argumentative and condemning.

As I reflect on this, it is easy to take on the mantle of fear, but that is what he wants, so I won’t. I reject that fear and cast it off. I think again and conclude that my writing is having an impact.

How would you respond to a TROLL?

How is your writing having an impact on people?

 

Brendan Conboy aka Half Man Half Poet is the author of 16 published books including two fascinating autobiographies, The Golden Thread and I'm Still VALUED.  In 1986, Brendan invited Jesus into his life and God blessed him with the gift of rhyming words.  He used that gift as a Christian Rap artist for 25 years and has written 6 poetry books including the entire Book of Psalms in Rhyme.  He has 3 published novels - Issues, Invasion of the Mimics and Legacy of the Mimics.  He is the creator of Book Blest.