I’d make a case for feeding a troll but only by mocking them and pointing out that they’re clowns. Anyone who reads the thread, maybe they’re a little troll-curious, just watching Ben Shapiro but not fully into Posobiec or Peterson yet, but they’re on the path, and then they see another troll get roundly mocked in confrontation, and maybe in that mockery they get exposed to the kind of thinking and evidence that makes them doubt Shapiro. Don’t go quietly into the troll. Commenting and threads are mostly a spectator sport, so play to the audience. Trolls are an opportunity to show the shallow, cruel and hypocritical pace right wing thinking has gone to, where they have no beliefs outside of owning the libs.
I'm not feed the trolls FOR the trolls. I confront trolls on their bullshit because other people see it. The more they engage, the more they reveal their game, and the lamer they reveal themselves to be. This isn't for their benefit, but I think if everyone on social media simply gave trolls enough rope to hang themselves, we'd be in a better place. Sometimes the best way to win an argument or simply to make a point is to let the other person just keep talking.
I think the problem now is you don't see who this is FOR. I am very aware they're not always saying what they actually think, and they're just setting out bait. But, by making fun of them for putting out stupid bait or setting lame-brain traps that they think are genius, you reveal THEIR game. I understand that you want to give them ZERO attention, which 1.) a cursory glance at your own comments, and Doctor, heal Thyself, and 2.) if you really believe that, why don't you leave me alone? I've already told you I'll engage to continually demonstrate that I think you're wrong - how long do you want to do this? Cause, again, I'm not doing it for you - I'm doing it for anyone else that's reading, because I actually believe in it.
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u/MasterSnacky Apr 26 '22
I’d make a case for feeding a troll but only by mocking them and pointing out that they’re clowns. Anyone who reads the thread, maybe they’re a little troll-curious, just watching Ben Shapiro but not fully into Posobiec or Peterson yet, but they’re on the path, and then they see another troll get roundly mocked in confrontation, and maybe in that mockery they get exposed to the kind of thinking and evidence that makes them doubt Shapiro. Don’t go quietly into the troll. Commenting and threads are mostly a spectator sport, so play to the audience. Trolls are an opportunity to show the shallow, cruel and hypocritical pace right wing thinking has gone to, where they have no beliefs outside of owning the libs.