How to Deal with an Internet Troll

Inetry

Editor

posted on 17 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Trolls on the Internet can be infuriating to other people reading or participating in a website. If you know how to handle a troll, beating the troll frustration-free can be very simple and quick, as outlined here.

Steps

IRC Trolling

Make sure you're dealing with a troll. Sometimes, what appears to be a troll may just be a very stressed out person. Avoid getting heated yourself and try to ask kind questions or make kind suggestions before assuming the worst. Always assume good faith initially. Keep your sense of humor. You may be able to joke them out of their misbehaving. Consider ignoring them. Troll behavior directed at you will usually stop if you don't add fuel for them to play with.

Report the troll to an op, administrator, or site owner. An op (channel operator), administrator, or site owner will know how to deal with the troll and will know whether to ban or kick Or Just Leave And Make A New Chat .

Use the ignore command. If you want to ignore them, type /ignore troll's_name_here, you won't see any of the text they write!

Message Board Trolling

Ignore the posts. A troll's goal is to make users angry, and by responding to their posts, you are "feeding the troll". The sooner you extinguish the trolling, the better.

Compliment the troll. A troll's purpose is to get a rise out of you, and they will be thrown off balance if you give them a simple compliment, and may even stop trolling people. And keep it up!

Use the 'Cool' tactic. Wait for the troll to post. After they post, wait a certain amount of time (perhaps ten seconds), then respond with simply, 'cool.' Continue the conversation you were having. A troll either wants you to get angry and comment as such, or wants you to be quiet. Using this tactic robs them of both. This tactic works very well for statements meant to offend you.

Report the troll to a moderator or the site owner if they persist. If the trolling persists, a moderator or site owner can deal with them.

User Page Trolling

Ask the troll to stop posting on your page. Only do this once.

Stop responding to them. Keep your sense of humor and don't get angry. Treat the matter as what it is – someone testing your boundaries and waiting for you to bite.