I'm glad you are still here. You've helped me so much through some very difficult times recently
Take care my friend,
Lynn
Very well thought out Snow, thanks for your insite
gutch
I'm reluctant to post to this thread but - No, trolls don't have any value whatsoever! Except to make genuine posters stand by each other. Snow, I think this post of yours is very sensitive and has touched me to reply. I haven't posted for some time now, but I still visit the forum on occasion, just because I like you all! Some of you may not even remember or know me - but I'm around, and I'm doing OK!!
It really saddens me to read personal attacks on our members. But as you say, they are a fact of life these days. I was attacked on here myself a couple of years ago and yes, it really hurts! I told myself so many times that it shouldn't, but yes, it does! And it hurts me just as much to see others attacked!
But I have seen so many times - that if we respond to these people,(and I was guilty of that too) we are giving them some kind of a thrill - even pleasure, and an unintended invitation to carry it further! It's really hard to ignore an insulting post, and we all want to jump to the victims defence, but are we really doing our "victims" any favours when we make such a response?
After reading your post Snow, I've just thought of something! Perhaps a supportive PM to the "Victim" letting them know we care, and totally ignoring the trolls might just allow that particular thread to die a natural death, and leave them as the last posted entry!! Just let their name come up on the last post list, they may not even go there unless they see a new addition! They may start on someone else, but just use that same strategy each time one appears!
Not responding works - there is no mileage in it for the unhappy and damaged people that post offensive messages - they WANT and NEED our angry feedback and reaction! It's a bit like ignoring a toddlers tantrum. And a tantrum won't happen without an audience! It's hard not to respond, we all know that, but by totally ignoring and making no reaction at all to negative posts on the forum, we are not feeding their ego with anger and words - rather we are very clearly showing our support of the "victim".
Showing that we care in a private message to the "victim" will let him or her know that anything these trolls post is not going to change the respect and empathy we feel towards each of us who suffer with RA, and who support each other through the good times and bad!
The only other thing I would suggest - block them on our PM list as well! No rewards for them!!
Jeanne
"It saddens me to see how many views a troll's posting gets, and how many legitimate posts go unanswered, or even unseen."
We need to make a conscientious effort to keep the legit. posts seen and answered even if we don't have much to offer that poster. At least keep the post active so it doesn't get lost in among the crap that's been posted rececently. If we all try and do that we'll be successful in getting posts answered in a timely manner. Lindy
Thanks Snow, and Lin B, you make a very good point, something I didn't think of! Thanks. We'll just scroll down past them, and mentally thumb our nose!!
Jeanne
The Internet has created terrific methods for people to communicate, and some of that communication is really "publishing" (for example on a forum). Having the right and the means to publish gives people tremendous power.
Sadly some people don't understand that with great power comes great responsibility.
Roland
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