(In case you're wondering, this is most definitely a PMS-induced post. ANY SIMILARITY TO ACTUAL EVENTS OR CHARACTERS IS NOT COINCIDENTAL .)
Ok girls, since it's coming up on two years since I began this journey called blogging, I have been reflecting on the good, the bad, and yes, the ugly.
It got me to thinking about trolls.
Do you have one? Hmmm, maybe you have two or even more. You may have never met your troll. It's even more possible you know your troll personally. Your troll might be your relative, or a close friend. Sometimes trolls are former friends and even church family.
Not sure what I'm talking about?
Blogging Trolls (v.) (1) A person who deliberately posts derogatory or inflammatory comments.
Or as I personally define them...Nosey-Nellies; people who lurk with the intent to gossip or slander. Reading a blog to feed a deep-rooted passion to be in the know.
Most often these trolls know you personally. They find it impossible to pass up the opportunity to take a peek, for no other reason than curiosity. And sadly, they often play a part in holding back the blogger from sharing all that is on her heart. They are takers, plain and simple.
Please don't confuse trolls with lurkers. I LOVE lurkers. They are a precious part of my Blessed... community. These people stop by and spend a quiet moment to enjoy a quick visit. They are faithful and helpful. Sometimes even emailing words of encouragement. I was once a faithful lurker myself.
Trolls are different.
Sadly, my trolls have kept me from sharing quite a bit. They are my reasons and excuses for second thoughts and hesitations. If you only knew how many blog posts I have not shared because of them.
Hmmmm, maybe I need a little prayer about that. Whaddya think?
I wish I could slay my trolls and live happily ever after in my perfect Blessed...kingdom.
I would LOVE to hear how you have slayed your trolls. Or, maybe, you've learned to live with yours.
Which is it?
19 comments:
I'm sorry you have had to deal with trolls. I don't have any advice for you because so far I haven't run into that problem - at least not that I know of!
I say ignore them! You know the truth and you know we love you! They are just jealous of you!
Blog trolls are so annoying! For some reason I get a lot of them. I've often not posted things because of them, but lately I've been feeling like God is asking me to put aside my own fear of confrontation, or what people may or may not like.
I kind of just came to the realization that:
1) I need to say whatever it is that I feel I need to say.
2) It's my blog, so I reserve the right to delete comments that I feel should be deleted.
3) It's my blog, and therefore my opinion, and if you don't like what I have to say, then you don't have to read it...no one is forcing you!
Don't let the fear of trolls keep you from saying what is on your mind...everyone has an opinion about EVERYTHING...and gossip/gossipers will be gossip/gossipers if it's on the internet or in person. Might as well set the record straight on your own blog! (That's my take on it, anyway).
PS...I hope that we can still set up that Starbucks date soon! Sorry I had to flake out the last time. :(
YES!!!! one of the reasons I took mine down for so long BOO! I had someone leaving me messages such as "this is the stupidest blog I've ever read, I will never be back" and I couldn't help but think to myself: the fact that they are getting personal makes me think they know me and WILL be back to read- otherwise, why wouldn't they just go on their marry way? Your post is encouraging me to just be myself on my blog :o) AND YES- the gossiping issue is something I've dealt with for 5 years- I still need to FB you my story- I promise I will once I"m settled and moved- Yes, it's that long of a story- BUT on the upside- God has moved in big ways :o) I feel you sister!
YES i have a blog troll. had to write a post to address her a week or so ago. she's been reading since april and starting leaving me comments. she knows my former husband and says some really "stupid" things!
it has definitely affected what i write about. it used to be that i knew i could come to all of you with some very personal family prayer requests...can't do that now and that does bother me.
i have a stat tracker on my blog so that i can match up the "anonymous" comments with where they come from. funny how it's always the same isp.
guess i don't have any wisdom except to do what i know you already do. pray and ask God what HE wants you to say. can't go wrong with that.
Blog trolls? I had no idea they existed. Your description of what they do reminds me of someone else. Discouraging, gossiping, evil intentions? Yes, definitely reminds me of someone else. As I recall, our Lord called him “the evil one.” He enjoys whispering doubt, fear, insecurities, even condemnation into the ears of those who, if left alone, would do too much good. So he tries to discourage them. I don’t know why these trolls would want to imitate him, perhaps they don’t know any better. Maybe our prayer for them should be that God would enlighten them. He has a way of knowing just how to do that.
I have not been blogging long enough to encounter these trolls, but I have definitely been blessed by reading your blog and many of the blogs you feature each month.
Sharing your life with others through writing is a wonderful thing-keep sharing! Let the trolls wade in the mud under the bridge. Who knows, maybe they will hear something as you pass over their heads, and they will no longer be happy living in the dark.
Sweetie, keeping you in my prayers. Sorry about the trolls.
For me, this has an easy solution.
I moderate comments that come in. They aren't posted till I have a chance to approve and "publish" or "reject".
So - any troll comments and just like the "delete" key - I just "reject".
Good luck. I would love to read those blogs you haven't posted so consider this solution, PLEASE!
Love you,
Prayer Girl
Blog Trolls...will that be part of your retreat workshop?
I'm sorry you're having a problem with that, but obviously you're saying good things otherwise the enemy wouldn't be attacking!
I've never had a problem with trolls....yet. But I do limit some of what I would like to say because some of the people I minister to in real life have discovered I blog. So now I'm not sure how to post about ministry related things that are going on that are relevent without my real life community being offended. Make sense?
Blessings my friend.
Trolls - uhmmm. I have never experienced this as part of my blogging...and I hope I never do. All I can say is that if what you are writing is Spirit-led and anointed then the enemy will attack! I pray you do not take negative comments personally! You are who you are at this moment in time b/c of His work in you over the past years! No one can argue with your testimony!!!
He led you to this ministry via the internet - don't let the enemy take that away! You ARE "one so blessed" - You are HIS child! A Princess of the KING! Hallelujah! Remember who you are in Him, and seek Him and honor Him in everything you do ... they'll find someone else to bother!
Blessings on you sister!
Ruthie
It's a shame that you have had to deal with such things as trolls. I haven't encountered them yet - I will just continue to post what the Lord leads and let the chips fall where they may!
I love your blog!
okay my friend, I agree with jaclyn and pretty much the rest. don't let the enemy use his arrows of doubt through these trolls! if ya see em comin'....SLAY'EM AND DELETE'EM. okay?
now write!!!
I made my blog private.
Dear Joanne,
You are a godly woman, a saint, a child of the Most High King! God gives you words that bless and touch hearts - He has given you a ministry to women and He uses you to reach them and change their lives with the words He gives you!
The enemy, of course, does not want this to be and will use whoever will let him use them to take you down and out.
There is NEVER anything that should keep you from posting whatever God puts on your heart to post. When God puts it on your heart, you are obligated to be obedient and write it down for other women to read and be blessed.
There is victory in Christ and you are more than a conqueror through Him Who loves you. Don't ever let anyone or anything said stop you from sharing the Word of God and bringing glory to His Holy Name.
Like Jaclyn said people who read your blog have a choice - they can choose to read what you say, or not. And if they don't agree with you, or don't like what you say, they can choose not to log on again! God doesn't even want us to try to please everyone, or even care if we do. Of course, you want to touch hearts for God, but even He can't touch the ones that are closed to Him!
I feel like He is telling me to tell you to keep posting EVERYTHING that you feel He is giving you to write about. He is encouraging you with His Awesome Love that is bigger and stronger than anything!
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Colossians 1:9-12
Joanne, God has given you a gift with words, use it for His glory - you are a mighty woman of God! Take this to the throne of God, lay it down and you will feel His Peace and Love!
I LOVE YOU!
Linda
I'd never heard the term "blog troll," but it is a funny mental picture. I'm surprised what people will comment on a blog that they would never be rude enough to say to someone's face. Even when you know these comments are untrue, they can still hurt!
Your sweet spirit and love for the Lord are so evident in your posts. I just want to encourage you to keep 'em coming.
I recently read another blog and she had the same problem. A reader kept attacking and complaining about what she wrote. I don't know why the reader just didn't stop reading!
I don't allow anonymous comments and also moderate mine, so that helps. But very few people know I blog. I haven't hidden it but it's not like I've announced it in church either.
So none of my relatives read it that I know of, and my friends rarely read it, except for the ones who blog too.
Just don't get discouraged and don't let it cause you to stop blogging, girl!
OH! I was just thinking about posting something along these same lines! I can't tell you how many times I have thought about deleting my blog, based on the negative 'trolls'- I feel really stifled... it has even begun to infiltrate my facebook life! Grrrrr!!! Thanks for sharing and putting a term to this disappointing behavior... HUGS!!! R
I don't have any blog trolls - that I know of! But some of the people who read my blog are people I know in real life and I can't post about anything that would have to do with any of them - as feelings could be hurt or someone might identify someone based on my post.
Anyway, I just blog it like real life - would I feel right about saying it out loud in front of family & friends? Would I be OK if somebody cut and pasted what I said and e-mailed it to people I know? If not, then I don't blog it as I feel it's probably something I shouldn't be discussing publicly.
So sad that negative people enjoy causing problems for bloggers. If it were happening to me, I would moderate comments and just reject those kind - I think they are just looking for attention.
Blessings to you!
What a bummer! I have never had that happen but I agree with many of the other comments that maybe you need to moderate for awhile. Sometimes if you just take negative people's voice away they move on. The downside is you will still have to read the comment. I have my youtube account set up for approval only commenting because my videos are almost all of my kids so I don't want anything mean or nasty linked to them. I have had to reject a couple of those. Isn't it a kindergarten learned behavior "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all"?
Whatever you do please don't stop sharing your heart.
Hugs!
Hope things are going better for you now. Many Blessings,
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