In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people,[1] by posting inflammatory,[2] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a forum, chat room, or blog) with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[3] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

Have you ever fed a troll? Well, I have, but I’m not going to ever do it again! I’ve let trolls almost ruin entire days, and even weekends. Not anymore!

A troll loves to get fed. They thrive on getting under people’s skin and making them angry. They ignore facts, and will not stop. You can never get the last word in with a troll. Nor can you ever win a debate and convince them that their stance is incorrect. So, why even bother? Exactly! Don’t feed the trolls and they will go elsewhere. There is nothing worse for a troll than being starved….aka ignored!

Then, if they become overly obnoxious and rude, you can always block them! Most social sites have the ability to block people from being able to interact with you or see your posts in the future. Since becoming a publisher, I have become quite familiar with how to block someone on LinkedIn. For those that may not know how to do it:

1. Go to the profile of the person you’d like to block.

• Note: After you block someone, you will disappear from the Who’s Viewed Your Profile section of the person you blocked.

1. Move your cursor over the down arrow next to the button in the top section of the member’s profile and select Block or report from the list.
2. Check the box next to Block.
3. Click Continue.
4. On the next screen, click Agree to confirm.

Additionally, you can report abuse to LinkedIn by emailing: abuse@linkedin.com

Many people tell me they are afraid to post due to trolls and their negative comments. So, they choose to not even post. Don’t let trolls prevent you from posting on social media. Stop feeding them. Starve them!

Don’t feed them your time.

Don’t feed them your energy.

Don’t feed them your emotional well being.

They get NOTHING!!!

Join me in taking a stand against trolls and online bullying by ignoring their behavior, and taking away the satisfaction they get from making people angry! Got any good stories about starving trolls and putting them in their place? Share them in the comment section!