How LinkedIn Trolls Make Me a Better Person

How do you feel when someone trolls you?

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say you don't exactly dance with delight when you see their comments!

That's perfectly understandable. You put out a post and some negative element out there pollutes it with spiteful, unhelpful and abusive rubbish.

Unfortunately, we'll all have to deal with trolls at some time and it doesn't seem like LinkedIn is going to do much about it any time soon.

(To be clear, I consider anyone who leaves a spiteful, abusive and unhelpful comment on a post a troll, not just the stalker-type troll.)

It means we're stuck with them for the time being. I don't like it any more than you do, but here's how I've made the best of a bad situation.

I'm more compassionate

As I look on at some of the abuse I've seen some others on here receive, I've wondered if the person sticking the boot in has ever stopped for the slightest second and thought 'What if that was me? How would I feel?'

(Probably not.)

It's a question that's guided me to a better place. I'm not going to lie and say only radiant, positive comments have ever flowed out of my fingertips and onto people's posts, but it's helped me to comment much more constructively or, if not that, simply scroll on.

If I'm not building someone up, I'll make sure I'm not just tearing them down.

We're all just trying to make a living at the end of the day.

We all want a happy life.

Why write something that achieves nothing but make someone unhappier?

I just don't get it. I wouldn't like it if it was me.

I've learned to rise above

If you're not in a good state of mind at the time you read a comment from a troll, you're more vulnerable to the comment. Perhaps you're feeling emotional and/or going through a tough time and the troll is hitting you when you're weak or not (emotionally) equipped to deal with it. You respond and that's you arguing with some unreasonable schmuck on the internet for the rest of your days. Wouldn't you rather be doing something more worthwhile with your very valuable time? I know I would.

Another thing I've noticed about trolls... at least the ones on Linky Dink is that often they're not connections. I've not had one nasty comment from any of my 1st connections on here. They've not always agreed, but they've never been unpleasant about it. Word!

No... the ones putting the boot in have appeared from out of nowhere. Who are they? Not a clue. Do I care? No. They might not even be using their real identities. They might not even be posting. They could be just sitting on the sidelines hurling cutting remarks or abuse at the people who do have the courage to put themselves out there.

So whenever I get nasty comments on my posts, here or on other social media, I just read them and then crack on with something productive. It could be a project for one of my clients. It could be one of my own personal projects. Anything but respond.

I've already wasted a minute or less of my life reading something that didn't deserve it. Not going to waste any more! Rise above.

I guide and support others

Bottom line: I can't be pestered with trolls.

They crawl up from some cyber hole somewhere, poop on your post and move on to stink up some other innocent stranger's post.

The problem is, some people are vulnerable to this rubbish. They struggle with it and, to be fair, some of the stuff I've seen is really hurtful or a lot more unpleasant than I've received.

So when I see someone struggling with it, I'll reach out with a comment and share my approach to dealing with trolling or troll-like comments (or not deal with it, as the case may be!).

Now I'm not some trollbuster, but if my approach works for me, it may work for someone else, too, so why not share it and help someone out?

Let's not forget a lot of us are out here on our own. We work by ourselves. We see no one during the day. The day ends. Rinse and repeat.

Sometimes it's just nice for others to know we're out there and on their side.

I know to just keep going

What's the world's population? Seven and a half billion?

That's a lot of people all in one room and let me tell you something you already know: not all of them are going to like you!

You're always going to get haters out there, but you know something? The presence of haters means people out there are seeing you. It means you're doing something right.

So keep going!

Some people can't stand me using the word 'Linkies'.

Some people can't bare my upbeat posts. They try to sour the vibe.

But shit happens.

A lot more people like my posts than don't like them (I'm guessing!). I'm not going to stop doing my thing all because of a few negative elements out there who bring nothing positive to the table.

Don't let the haters dampen your drive. You're on your way now!

A few final words

Unfortunately, the trolls are out there, lurking behind their keyboards or on their mobile phones and waiting to post ugly comments on the posts of inoffensive strangers.

For now, we just have to put up with them. Not that we should have to.

My advice is to just ignore them. Block them if you have to.

More importantly, don't let their words hurt you. Some comments are so bland and unoriginal or so ridiculous that 'laughable' is being kind.

Ignore them and save your attention for your supporters. You know who they are.

Thank you for reading and have a good day!