Social media is wonderful, it is exciting, enlightening, builds connections, networks, brings news as and when it happens, is about marketing, propagandizing , raising awareness ..and so on. It can be quite an addiction if it is not managed. and if it is not considered in a proper perspective. And there are other repercussions of being extremely active and vociferous on social media aka twitter.
One such is that of being a Troll and Being Trolled. Now, why do I choose to highlight both issues? instead of highlighting only one? I think one needs to take a look at this in a different perspective. Just yesterday, one of the indian media personnel came out with an article on trolls and different kinds of trolls who are out and about on twitter, their so called personalities and all.
The article spread like wild fire. True, the issues are pertinent. But what I would like to focus on here is why so much hu ha over something as insignificant like trolling, unless, unless it actually develops into serious issues like stalking, intimidation, threats to the person in real? Why do people including media personnal ( who are humans too, no matter what u think they may be) take themselves and trolls so seriously? In my view:
A Troll: One who thinks differently from you/espouses something which you are against and says it to your face aggressively, stimes w abuse
— JyothiMenon (@Ruminativa) June 10, 2012
Yes, Trolls may be argumentative, passionate about what they care about, vociferous, challenging, aggressive. But are’nt all this the properties of rational human beings? So would not most of us come under this category? Then why label and classify and trash them as trolls? Could it be because of a lack of ability to listen to what they are saying or the validity of a criticism? Saying someone is stupid because you dont like what he says, reflects so much on you.
if you look at that , all of us are trolls here. But what highlights the classic trollis the sheer abuse/vituperation/vilification — JyothiMenon (@Ruminativa) June 10, 2012
Yes, some trolls certainly abuse. Abuse in the heat of emotions. Abuse because of so much hatred and resentment building in them over a period of time and because no one even reasonably looks into the issues which they raise. Or even think of approaching with an objective point of view. Before social media came into existence, these were the silent, frustrated, masses who had no avenue to shout out their feelings but now they have heavensent opportunity. To scream, to shout, to rant. Yes, they are the undisciplined children who needs a little helping hand to evolve. So by asking trolls to shut up, get lost, are not we doing something less than human? Before we mature as human being, learn to effectively communicate, we too go through a period of crying, kicking and screaming. Yes, Trolls need to be educated on how to effectively communicate and they should be informed kindly or taught to. I know, there would be cynical comments at this point, we dont have all the time for bullshit. why not you do? Yes, I do and shall do where possible.
Abuse is distressing. As sensitive human beings, forget abuse, even criticism can be very painful, to our very fragile ego. A public forum like twitter, leaves our thoughts, our feelings, our views to the merciless surgical dissection by the world. Some may understand, some may just tear you apart without even knowing what you want to convey. Yes, it is a harsh world. And in a harsh , cold world, we need to be brutal with ourselves to take the rough with the smooth. Those in the public arena must be aware of this and must be used to it. Hence, their crying hoarse over trolling makes little sense to me. After all, whosekdecision was it to join this public fora, media?
some troll openly, others snidely.
— JyothiMenon (@Ruminativa) June 10, 2012
and high class educated ‘trolls’troll trolls in a high handed manner. #fact — JyothiMenon (@Ruminativa) June 10, 2012
Forget about trolls. even rival celebs troll each other. — JyothiMenon (@Ruminativa) June 10, 2012
Yes, Trolling is human. we all troll. Celebs troll each other. Media rivals greedily look for opportunities to troll, lampoon each other. Children troll parents (though in a pleasant way). Political rivals look for any opportunity to troll and damage each other. It is as simple as that. Start looking at yourself from outside of yourself and you will see a troll in action at some time or others. And yes, trolling need not be in abusive crude terms. It can be in very polished language too. There are class inequalities in trolling too. So trolling extends in all sizes and colors across a range of spectra. Forget about trolls.
More so, the usage of this word ‘troll’ for a human being itself ( no matter how repulsive their views might be) reflects the arrogance and insensitivity of the media/celebrities/users. Oh celebs, Has your celebrity deprived you of your essential humanity?
and those who judge ordinary people from the point of view of their self-exalted status, need to learn a lot.
— JyothiMenon (@Ruminativa) June 10, 2012
That class of self styled, so called troll expert commentators include media personnel, journalists, politicians, twitterati and such like.
— JyothiMenon (@Ruminativa) June 10, 2012
WIll these so called experts choose to come down and speak to the people who, they supposedly voice? will they? Ask why they troll?
— JyothiMenon (@Ruminativa) June 10, 2012
WHEN TROLLING CROSSES BOUNDARIES:
Trollism, beyond a limit, is a serious issue. When it becomes to the level of mental harassment, it has to be dealt. Legally.Especially when it become sexual harassment, stalking, physical threatening and so on. It becomes a case for the police. So those love to troll must learn that it is not OKAY beyond a point. Having had some severe harassment in a personal and continuous fashion, over a period of weeks, I realise that many times you need to come down tough.
At the end of the day, it is about using discretion and judgement. You don’t want to get into arguments, Just Block.
But more pleasurable and kinder, why not take your loving troll for a Stroll?? Be nice, Say Hi, Then bye 
that was such a well thought post.. I was so confused yesterday on twitter with all the trolling & polling.. this one is the only one which has made complete sense.. you r a very good writer Jyothi…thoughts put out so convincingly..:)
“”But more pleasurable and kinder, why not take your loving troll for a Stroll?? Be nice, Say Hi, Then bye”" !
:) essentially this is what I do too precisely.
While there are very many meanings attached to the word Troll, the closest I could relate to with regard to our social media networking or precisely Twitter would be:- **a person who submits deliberately inflammatory articles, comments, insinuations, provocations, egocentric arguments, baseless accusations and filthy abuses, to an internet comrade or chain of discussion**.
I must confess, there are plenty of these who inhabit the Twitter space. Not only does it ruin the constructive and intelligent fundamentals of a debate but also does reduce it to settling personal vendettas. How can that be? We are on a virtual world, some with faces but most without, who contribute to daily events pertinent to or occurring around you. In that context, differences of opinion is only natural. As a very recent example amongst many, I could cite the recent spat you and @sushandpp had which subsequently ended with both compromising apologetically
…that is all it takes. At the worst, the option to block is provided thoughtfully by Twitter and other social media platforms.
The limitation of 140 words too does play a vital role in sustaining a misunderstanding.
But to expound it to a level of gibberish nonsense or a dominating rant on a public platform can only aptly justify crowning the term Troll to him/her. With perhaps lakhs of people reading tweets, any half baked argument becomes just asinine and ends up becoming more of an irritation especially when it crowds your TimeLine!
Anyway, I guess Trolls are here to stay on the social media and there is hardly any recourse other than to endure it. But I still go with your conclusion to the word!
Excellent and timely post, Jyothi.
Thanks Prashant. I understand what you mean about those who indulge in nonsense, baiting and all, verbal abuse, trash tweeting. Yes simple solution is hello, bye and worst block. But the way these media classify all who disagree with them as trolls simply on the basis of differences in political ideologies is disgusting. Hence my request that do discern. Who knows which truths you may learn from a person who u consider as a truth? Most of the time, I do find some genuine insight in the meaningless mutterings of so called trolls.