tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post3525606170815575893..comments2023-09-25T02:24:22.087-07:00Comments on Anne R. Allen's Blog: Trolls, Sockpuppets, and Cyberbullies—How to Blog Part IV: Dealing with Difficult Blog VisitorsAnne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-51914417376416265612012-07-05T08:50:08.750-07:002012-07-05T08:50:08.750-07:00Julie, thanks so much for sharing this chilling st...Julie, thanks so much for sharing this chilling story. I get so angry at people who say "you must have provoked it", "you shouldn't blog about anything controversial" but I know that nobody is immune--and no post too bland for a bunch of crazies to invent a reason to hate it. <br /><br />I used "Taliban" to describe them, but I think your use of "pogrom" isn't far off the mark either. This is mob mentality gone insane and it can destroy people. When I got real-life death threats, it sent me into panic attacks that affected my health for some time.<br /><br />My post that drew the Taliban couldn't have been more innocuous and positive. And obviously Kristen got attacked for using her own, informal voice--as if that isn't what blogging is all about. <br /><br />I think much more should be done about them--and shame on the HuffPo for not protecting a contributor. <br /><br />I'm very interested to hear what it was like meeting up with one of the trolls in person. I'm going to be teaching at a writers conference where one of the instigators of the pogrom against me will be sitting on a panel. I have no idea what I'll say to her. I suppose mostly I'll just try to avoid her like a pile of dog poo. I can't trust myself not to say what I think if I have to be in the same room with her. <br /><br />Thanks so much for taking the time to tell us your story.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-4304844790448380812012-07-04T21:22:45.483-07:002012-07-04T21:22:45.483-07:00I was attached by a Cyber-Taliban pack of about 15...I was attached by a Cyber-Taliban pack of about 15 really dedicated meanies (that word is SO insufficient for their vitriol) in the summer/fall of 2010. It was horrible. It was beyond horrible. They followed me EVERYWHERE. As a way of coping and trying to understand, I blogged on the Huffington Post about cyber bullying and how awful it is and they followed me to that post and crowded it with MORE awful comments. I had to take the post down bc they wouldn't stop. The Huffington Post, which moderates comments, did nothing. It was so ironic. Cyber Bullies of the Taliban stripe are like modern day lynch mobs. They feed off of each other's energy in a sick but highly charged way. I had the WONDERFUL pleasure of bumping into one of them in person a few months later. I introduced myself to him quite sweetly and waited for him to let me have it, in person, in public. He didn't. He was red-faced and stammering. These cyber bullies are in fact cowards in need of serious anger management and counseling. I felt a bit vindicated, there in that moment, when face-to-face interaction made it impossible for this powerful online troll to be his online self, but I must admit, I am still deeply traumatized from that event. I still look over my online shoulder to this day. I have learned, over the many years I have blogged, how to deal with the lone troll - IGNORE is the only answer. You CANNOT engage them. But the pack - the pack is impossible to control. Honestly, in years past, before the internet, these are the types who would be in a lynch mob or a witch burning or a pogrom. Now it's even better for them because you never see their faces. What a deeply sick way of being is all I can say. It's tough emotionally because my reputation was definitely hurt very badly by their bullying and they got away with it, so to speak. I never considered suicide or anything close to that (I'm no teenager) but my business took a serious hit for some time. Their cyber-bullying had real financial impact that I feel to this day. I am now rebuilding and regaining my confidence and reputation. Such a small group of people can do so much damage.Julie Grayhttp://www.justeffing.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-61642059131836665672012-02-28T13:20:00.337-08:002012-02-28T13:20:00.337-08:00Elephant--If your spam filter is that inefficient,...Elephant--If your spam filter is that inefficient, then by all means moderate. Mine is so good I guess I assume they're all like that. It does occasionally block real users, so they have to comment as "anon" (so sorry Florence!) but it's maybe let through 10 pieces of spam and 7 trolls in three years. Which I caught within minutes. But hey, if you're selling books, then there's no problem. Like those nightclubs that only let in the pretty and rich, sometimes exclusivity can work for you.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-78530300815862888632012-02-28T12:27:58.904-08:002012-02-28T12:27:58.904-08:00Amateur and paranoid here, also not interested in ...Amateur and paranoid here, also not interested in interaction ;~)<br /><br />I still prefer to moderate all my comments. Kill the spam, retrieve the genuine comments from regular readers which the spam filters have scooped up with mistaken enthusiasm. <br /><br />I have a message up at my comment box - I read all comments before I publish them. You may have to wait until I am back on the computer, but you will know I have READ your comment. To me that is a way to thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. Works for me.Diana Studerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-74428695999110553722012-02-27T14:14:16.510-08:002012-02-27T14:14:16.510-08:00Chihuahua--Glad you stopped by. Yeah. CAPTCHA can ...Chihuahua--Glad you stopped by. Yeah. CAPTCHA can be so annoying and sometimes you don't even know you have it, since they don't make the blog owner use it comment. <br /><br />Keli--Yeah, this kind of stuff sometimes happens in "real life" too, doesn't it? It helps to know the motivations. Not so nasties get excused, but so victims don't blame ourselves.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-74379360786190784362012-02-27T13:00:25.800-08:002012-02-27T13:00:25.800-08:00Excellent post. Great info on dealing with negati...Excellent post. Great info on dealing with negative blogging situations, but also shed some light on real life interpersonal conflict. Thanks!Kelihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15722603375221860564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-64353144759905825062012-02-27T13:00:12.055-08:002012-02-27T13:00:12.055-08:00Excellent post. Great info on dealing with negati...Excellent post. Great info on dealing with negative blogging situations, but also shed some light on real life interpersonal conflict. Thanks!Kelihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15722603375221860564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-3927559948942745292012-02-26T17:24:26.409-08:002012-02-26T17:24:26.409-08:00I found this post through Twitteriffic.
And you ...I found this post through Twitteriffic. <br /><br />And you got it all down. Trolls can be such nasties.<br /><br />And I agree on the CAPTCHA. Since I don't have many comments anyways, there's no point adding an extra block to discourage people.Chihuahua0http://www.youngaspiringwriter.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-64592512294797298692012-02-22T13:53:08.046-08:002012-02-22T13:53:08.046-08:00Nancy--So glad you stopped by. I like to keep the ...Nancy--So glad you stopped by. I like to keep the tone light and add a little humor when I can. Yeah, the death threats kind of gobsmacked me, too. I didn't take them seriously, but just knowing that somebody could hate my bland little post so much that he'd go find my home address and threaten me was sooooo creepy.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-45966737145650080322012-02-22T06:32:55.856-08:002012-02-22T06:32:55.856-08:00This is my first time to your blog, which I access...This is my first time to your blog, which I accessed through WG2E and thoroughly enjoyed not only what you said, but your tongue in cheek way. And, I learned about all kinds of cyber creatures never before known. Death threats! This is me shaking my head in disbelief.Nancy Popovichhttp://www.nancypopovich.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-39669589629025999032012-02-19T14:31:18.937-08:002012-02-19T14:31:18.937-08:00Patricia--Thanks!
Aisha--So sorry to hear you'...Patricia--Thanks!<br /><br />Aisha--So sorry to hear you've had trolls. The death threats kind of gobsmacked me, too. All over a post on book reviews they chose to misunderstand. I always thought most reviewers were also writers. But it seems there's mortal combat going on between some reviewers and some authors. And there's a review Taliban with some crazy rules nobody knows, but woe be to those who break them. Who knew? <br /><br />Miriam--That's true. But this woman thought the Betelgeusians were going to attack, when everybody knows--they're friendly! :-) Glad you liked it.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-14293973793268263522012-02-19T13:37:52.024-08:002012-02-19T13:37:52.024-08:00I don't know, I think I'd be pretty quick ...I don't know, I think I'd be pretty quick to make friends with someone muttering about Betelgeuse. They sound like my kind of person.<br /><br />In all seriousness, though, great advice in this post. Just, I had to say that ;)Miriam Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10516402325473855925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-23218775798168980902012-02-19T07:58:08.108-08:002012-02-19T07:58:08.108-08:00I am trying to imagine on what planet someone woul...I am trying to imagine on what planet someone would give you a death threat? How insane! Thanks for this great post had been having a few trolls myself these days it is amazing how much they can get under your skin.Aishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00756390674173743871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-13035688791402196912012-02-16T06:59:21.370-08:002012-02-16T06:59:21.370-08:00Great post, Anne. Thanks for all the info!Great post, Anne. Thanks for all the info!Patricia Gligor's Writers Forumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16801554698484928100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-81809509938784932672012-02-15T16:23:41.500-08:002012-02-15T16:23:41.500-08:00Rhonda--Thanks for letting me know. I was pretty s...Rhonda--Thanks for letting me know. I was pretty sure the rant wasn't really aimed at me personally. I figured somebody had been rude to her and that word triggered the anger she wished she'd expressed at the perpetrator. We all have hot-button issues. I know I've let loose on innocent people a few times when they hit my trigger subjects. It sounds as if she's doing good in the world. I'll check out her blog. Thanks.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-64698733234018760072012-02-15T12:33:22.412-08:002012-02-15T12:33:22.412-08:00Great post and lots of wonderful advice. I would c...Great post and lots of wonderful advice. I would caution though that sometimes people just have bad days. I saw the post/comments that you referred to above (yours, hers and the bloggers). I know the person who commented and she certainly doesn't fit into any of those categories. I don't know why she took such offense to the term you used, but like I said...maybe she just had a bad day. You should go back to where she posted her comment and click the link to visit her blog. She uses it to help people overcome violence.Rhonda Hopkinshttp://www.rhondahopkins.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-12556452862359355142012-02-14T11:07:14.646-08:002012-02-14T11:07:14.646-08:00Cathryn--I think a lot of the bad behavior (and th...Cathryn--I think a lot of the bad behavior (and the term "flaming") spills over from those gaming sites. People are anonymous there, and get up a head of steam in a combative game atmosphere. When somebody thinks of himself as a giant, invincible purple troll, he thinks he can get away with anything. Small blogs aren't immune, but the law of averages says you're not as likely to get hit.<br /><br />James--Thanks a bunch.<br /><br />Patrick--Thanks. I see your comment finally did go through. Isn't it annoying when Blogger won't let you comment on your own blog? Great post on the fact "literary" writing vs. "popular" writing is a false dichotomy. All the classic literary writers WERE popular.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-64173792217395450092012-02-14T09:54:38.736-08:002012-02-14T09:54:38.736-08:00Hi Anne,
Just putting another comment here to say...Hi Anne,<br /><br />Just putting another comment here to say that I've been trying to respond to a comment you left on my blog, but blogger is refusing to let me. So, just wanted to let you know that I wasn't ignoring your comment!Patrick Samphirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06237050782966284577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-7897722144026540112012-02-14T09:00:32.325-08:002012-02-14T09:00:32.325-08:00Excellent post. I've shared this with others!Excellent post. I've shared this with others!James C Ducketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02146631393982590968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-17760152918289411792012-02-13T18:57:05.964-08:002012-02-13T18:57:05.964-08:00Juli--LOL. You do NOT mess with music fans. The mo...Juli--LOL. You do NOT mess with music fans. The more obscure and awful the music, the more basement-dwellers are on the lookout for people dissing their idol. Nick Hornby wrote an absolutely brilliant novel on the subject of demented fans (and what the idol really thinks of them.) It's called "Juliet, Naked" and it's one of my favorite novels I've read this year. Sounds as if you'd enjoy it.<br /><br />And a big shout-out to the talented Haley N. Jones, our 1000th follower! Welcome Haley, may you sell your screenplay to Spielberg!Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-14360023113566770812012-02-13T18:53:16.121-08:002012-02-13T18:53:16.121-08:00I must say the trolls and bots of varying ranks ca...I must say the trolls and bots of varying ranks can be, interesting, at times. I had no idea so many types exisited.<br /><br />I have seen some of them in discussion boards for the MMOs I played (like World of Warcraft). In fact I didn't post anything on one board, because I was so scared of being flamed by the big names. thankfully I had some big names in my guild, so the couple times I did post nothing happened. Still it's made me away of how many people there are out there who let being anonymous be an excuse to forget their humanity. <br /><br />I'm glad to say *knock on wood* that I haven't had anything truly horrible said on my blog. It's still small though, so probably not worth their effort; yet. *grin*<br /><br />:} CathrynCathryn Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14816869021658935999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-105577517101574582012-02-13T15:58:42.981-08:002012-02-13T15:58:42.981-08:00It's only happened to me once on my "ever...It's only happened to me once on my "everything-but-writing" blog. I was praising a local venue for their summer concert series and mentioned some upcoming acts which included a diva-ish singer who was popular in the 60s. I wrote I'd rather mop the kitchen floor than see this woman in concert. And BOOM! A sad little person crawled from his mother's basement (armed with a thesaurus to judge from his comment) to berate me on my overall stupidity and lack of talent of any sort. Then he posted a link to my blog on his fansite and basements all over the country became hotbeds of indignation. I finally deleted the post and wrote another praising the venue without mentioning the diva. (Her concert, by the way, was a bomb. I admit I felt vindicated.)Juli Page Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361796103582463439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-34437280933795823372012-02-13T10:54:29.009-08:002012-02-13T10:54:29.009-08:00Patrick--(I have no idea why some comments take lo...Patrick--(I have no idea why some comments take longer to show up than others) "Offense junkies" is a great term! Probably more accurate than "Insult Ferret" (I just like "ferret" because it sounds funny) But "Junkie" is spot on. These people are actually addicted to the serotonin fix they get from that self-righteous anger. Thanks for the insight.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-57555187515304730772012-02-13T10:02:31.923-08:002012-02-13T10:02:31.923-08:00Mr. Perryess— “Life is funny; you may as well laug...Mr. Perryess— “Life is funny; you may as well laugh.” I think I should embroider that on a pillow or something. Great words to live by.<br /><br />Marilyn—I’m always so amazed by those spammers. Do they ever read their own stuff? People with no lives do like to mess up everybody else’s.<br /><br />Yvonne—The Taliban types are the nastiest, in my experience. Mob hysteria is so dangerous.<br /><br />Carole—Political sites and articles definitely are troll magnets. Or sometimes a troll will try to make something political that isn’t. Tech sites have their own brand of Taliban and Correctibots. Amazing how emotional people can get about machines.<br /><br />Leslie—They aren’t worth much brainspace, for sure. But forewarned is forearmed.<br /><br />Mark—The Correctibots have such a smorgasbord of victims to choose from. And when you’re permanently angry, you don’t have much to get yourself a life.<br /><br />Kristen—How dare you speak disrespectfully of the blow-up doll community?!! ROFL. I thought I was safe with my Boomer jokes, so beware, some Correctibot may decide even blondes can’t have blonde moments.<br /><br />Robena--It sounds as if you did exactly the right thing. Just let the craziness hang there, without engaging. Most of them are only dissing themselves.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-38176091090308257482012-02-13T09:36:56.359-08:002012-02-13T09:36:56.359-08:00What a great post. Excellent advice.
I've onl...What a great post. Excellent advice. <br />I've only had one really bad comment where the woman took something I'd written as a personal affront to her medical illness. I was scratching my head over that one. But, I knew enough not to engage. I did leave the comment up though. She hasn't been back. : )<br />Thanks so much for your information.Robena Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18389730409379890816noreply@blogger.com