Being a member of many different social and artistic websites, one finds themselves subject to scrutiny from all angles.
Your likes and dislikes are shown to everyone checking out your personal profile, your taste is evident in your art/videos and the people you like to hang around with is made obvious by checking out your followers and/or friends page.
Being so open to scrutiny leaves you able to find people with similar interests, the same sense of humour or even those that could teach you how to advance in your chosen craft. Unfortunately you are also open to attacks from critics, naysayers and the dreaded internet troll.
On many levels this is harmless and comes with the territory. Someone critiquing something you’ve done is not necessarily bad. If you can improve, you should strive towards a better result and a change in style.
Someone merely griping can usually be easily and quickly blocked from your profile and those trying to get a rise out of you with bad language and a hateful attitude can be dispatched in a similar way.
Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.
Trolling is a purely internet based phenomenon whereby individuals make hurtful or pointless comments merely to get a rise out of other users, usually along the lines of, ‘You suck because what you’ve posted is gay!’
As you can see, these creatures are known for their way with words.
To some, trolling is almost a whimsical pastime, a way of amusing themselves and others as they persist in annoying those whose interests differ from their own.
This has also become more of a ‘normal’ part of the internet world and is usually regarded by many as harmless. However, there are some that see this as an invitation for out and out attacks on others, based on nothing more substantial than the colour of someone’s skin.
Last I heard this was called ‘racism’ and was generally frowned upon.
It seems that some people on the internet have taken trolling to a whole new extreme. Not only are they almost gleeful about expounding on the fact that they discriminate against others by country, gender or sexual inclination but they actively seek out individuals with these traits and berate them for it.
It has been said that ‘trolling’ is an anonymous activity, from one random person to another unknown, while cyber bullying is more personal, for example a group of cliquey schoolchildren attacking a schoolmate through online resources.
But why is it that it isn’t bullying just because you don’t personally know the person? Since when was it acceptable to speak to another person in a derogatory fashion simply because of a difference in opinion?
While some people think that the anonymity of the web will keep them safe, this doesn’t excuse their behaviour. Unless your name is Gary Glitter there is very little cause to attack someone verbally, whether it be in real life, online or on the telephone.
Having worked in the service industry in many different forms for many years, I understand when people vent their anger on others and have learnt how to take it on the chin. Unfortunately for some of the people I am forced to call ‘customers’ even I have a limit.
Whether I am at work or online I am a human being and I have every right to be treated as such.
If you are black, white, green or multi-coloured you have a right to be treated as a human being. This applies online just like everywhere else.
Apart from a slight problem with spelling when my fingers won’t go where I want them to, my behaviour and language online is much the same as it is in real life. I will see you as another friend to have fun with unless you give me cause to think otherwise.
If you give me cause to think otherwise I will block you; if you try and attack me from another angle I will report you, then I will forget you ever existed and I will be satisfied once more.
But, if you attack my friends, then I will encourage them and all my other friends to stand against your disgusting behaviour. Because while they have earned the right to tell me when I’m failing, lol at my derps and send me an arrow to the knee, you have not earned this privilege.
Therefore I will not be encouraging a vigilante group against trolls, I will not tell people that there is ‘a sickness’ in the web and I certainly do not think we need internet police of the kind the Government seems keen to force upon us.
I would however like to point out that if someone posts something you don’t agree with, you don’t have to talk to them and give them the satisfaction of your attention.
You simply block and walk away, then you carry on as before.
Because you’re awesome enough to have the right to do your own thing. If you’re not hurting anyone and you’re not forcing your views on people, they have no right to stop you being you.
Mahatma Ghandi said ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ I for one would like to see an internet where you CAN be yourself without harassment of any kind. Whether it is ‘just for fun’ or not.
That’s why I’m encouraging my friends to make the acquaintance of the block button. If you can manage yourself, other people aren’t a problem.
Love and tolerance to all!
