Culling the trolls

Not something I'd normally bother to give exposure too, but this is a post about trolls.

The reason for the post is not that we have a troll frequently visiting 'Life in Dubai', but because other readers have been responding to his crass stupidity.

The problem with that is response is trolls' reason for being.

This definition explains:

In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into a desired emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

Their comments are usually extremely childish - think seven year old schoolboy trying to impress his peers by writing rude words on a wall - and their infantile egos feed on responses.

Here's an example of the high intellect, the jaw-dropping creativity of our very own troll. He repeats this and similar messages on many of my posts:

"Yes you are back indeed!

Mrs Seabee?!?! The writer is a HE?

With all the whining, bitching and whimpering, I really thought you were a woman!

Either the "we" in "We lived in Dubai from 1977 to 1984" includes your mustachioed civil partner hidden behind a 'abayah, or you are a closeted basket case."

Boy, aren't we all impressed with the cleverness of that!

BTW, our troll has an interesting obsession with homosexuality, revealing a particular liking for cross-dressing moustachioed men.

Some people think that trolling is, like attempted suicide, a call for help.

Disturbed they undoubtedly are, but I take a different view on how to deal with them.

They're simply a waste of space. If they were animals they'd be culled.

Now although we don't allow culling of humans in the real world it is allowed in cyberspace.

Moderators can hit the 'Delete' button.

So the trolls go exactly where they belong. They cease to exist.

The fun part is, I probably get more enjoyment out of culling troll than he does in leaving his messages.

If you're tempted to respond to a troll, don't. Just ignore them. Don't give them the satisfaction and ego rub of responding to them.

There's an acronym to remember - DNFTT. Do Not Feed The Trolls.

Definition of troll.