User blog comment:Sannse/Don't Feed the Trolls/@comment-5520498-20120917160815

Don't feed the trolls is something we hear all the time. And it is a terrible idea now.

"A troll is someone who is acting badly in ''order to get a reaction." ''

That definition is not true anymore. At least not most of the time now a days. Once the 'Don't feed trolls' thing became big people started using trolling for something far more insidious than getting attention.

They troll to shut people up.

A woman complains about the lack of gender equality in games. Someone makes a comment about making a sandwitch. She strikes back defending herself and then she is the one who is yelled at by the rest of the community for 'feeding the trolls'.

Gay people start talking about local anti-gay legislation. Someone makes a homophobic slur. The gay people get angry and yell at the guy. Then the gay men get yelled at for 'feeding trolls' and starting a flame war.

At the very least, if we as a community all stand back with the attitude, "I can't say anything because it is what the troll wants.' then we just isolate the person whome the troll is attacking. The moment that person needs their community we as a community say, "Sorry. It is better for you to feel bad and demeaned than for us to say anything against it."

Don't feed the trolls. Think about that next time you are about to say that. Because, odds are, by saying that or following that you are doing exactly what the troll wants. You are helping the troll.