How to Not Become an Internet Troll

 

Internet trolls is an inventive name for digital menaces that create a negative environment in the virtual world.

For some, trolling is seen as an opportunity to show off comedic aptitudes. For others, it's a form of entertainment to read funny, deriding comments on others.

In any case, the life of a troll may seem appealing to you, especially since entertainment news reports often show snippets of funny comments, giving you your two minutes of fame.

However, do you really want to go down that path and be tagged as a troll?

Here's how to beat that annoying compulsion to turn into a troll.

1) Tell yourself you don't have to share your precious opinions on every post

Do you really want to give out your opinions on everything or reserve it for an intellectual conversation among friends and a group of people you actually know?

You may have a valid and sound opinion, so why not deliver it in a far more effective manner than a social media post that will get lost in the virtual world?

2) Block the celebrities you don't like so that you don't have to see their aggravating post.

Everyone likes or dislikes some celebrity or another. You can not like everyone, and often, a particular celebrity will go out of their way to voice their unsolicited opinion on social or political issues that do not align with your beliefs.

Rather than posting a nasty comment under their post, why not block them so you don't have to spend your energy fighting the urge to respond to their views?

The less you see of them, the more you can have your peace.

3) Understand that they are trying too hard for likes, so don't give in and comment on their posts.

Many celebrities have important issues to discuss or promote brands and whatnot.

Then there are those who are eager for attention. They will do whatever it takes to get the paparazzi to focus on them. It's common knowledge that they even inform the paparazzi beforehand to come take their photos and then pretend to be surprised by their unwavering attention towards their clothes and other things.

Why give in to their ploys to attract attention? You can be one of those people who aren't easily baited by such schemes.

4) Decide whether you really want to waste your comedic gems on a post and get two minutes of fame in an obscure article or use it for a stand-up show or maybe a reel.

You may have the cleverest wit and an awesome sense of humor. Your family and friends certainly said so.

Instead of pursuing a more creative and better platform for your humor and comedic timing, do you really want to toss your witty gems on a post that will barely get you any likes?

Why not choose to make a reel or write a post about it and find your own audience?

5)  Tell yourself you need to take a break and come up with better comments. You've used Nepo baby so many times.

So you used to be a troll but have decided that you don't want to live that kind of life anymore. You want to break that habit and do something more productive.

It will he difficult to break that habit, but it is time to let go and firmly tell yourself that you have been using those tired old comments too often.

It's time to either come up with better material or simply give up on  being called a troll.

Soon enough, your mind will grow tired of coming up with new ideas and insist that you turn to other hobbies.

6) Tell yourself your comments are too good for the celebrity you dislike at the moment.

Your words matter. To you, at least.

You keep coming up with innovative ways to write better content, but your talents could be used elsewhere.

Your viewpoints could benefit other people. The celebrity may be in the wrong for expressing ill-thought views, but you have a chance to do better than them.

Rather than following their path, choose to take the high road and ignore them.

Use the good in you, and believe in your writing talents enough to post your views in a different platform than comment under a thoughtless post.

7) Give your typing fingers a break or exercise. Use hand grips or do simple flexes. Do that to fight the urge to type comments.

As soon as you see a post you don't agree with, you may be compelled to type your opinion immediately.

Do not do that! You're trying to break that habit, right? You don't want to be called a troll, so focus on that.

Instead of replying to a post, take a break and exercise your hands. You've used your typing fingers too many times, and it is time to give them a little exercise and rest.

8) Allow yourself a negative comment only if you have posted five to ten positive comments in another post.

It's easy to post a degrading comment, but how many positive comments can you come up with?

Plan a small exercise. Every time you feel like posting a condescending comment, first go reply to five to ten posts in a positive manner.

Only then allow yourself to post your innermost nasty thoughts.

Hopefully, by the time you finish with your tenth positive comment, you may no longer want to turn into Mr Hyde.

9) Instead of showcasing your clever wit online, try writing it down in a book. The last thing you want is a potential employer or a relative coming across your comment and misunderstanding it, and taking offence.

One of the greatest risks a troll takes is making its nasty opinions available online for everyone to see. Even a potential or current employer, as well as your relatives. Perhaps the partner you're seeing happens to come across it as well, of their family members.

Negative comments may be perceived as funny to some online, but chances are, there are the people you know who may find it cruel and deplorable.

You may end up losing friends or even your career over it.

Is it worth the risk?

10) Be the exception. Delete your social media so you never have to see those cringe posts that require your expert comments.

If you truly want to break the habit of being a troll, how about deleting your social media?

Yes, it is a scary thought, but look at the longer picture.

You will no longer be tempted to write whatever comes in your mind. You will be able to reinvent yourself and decide to take the positive route. You will be known as brave for being one of the rare ones who doesn't care about social media.

Why follow when you can lead?

If you can not resist posting a trolling comment, just get off the platform altogether.