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Trolls are often perceived as unhappy individuals who take pleasure in harming others. Typically, they don’t have a personal connection to their targets, but they seem to relish the destruction they cause. Some troll for political or commercial gains, but their defining trait is self-centered arrogance. A troll lacks empathy and is unwilling or incapable of keeping their opinions to themselves.
Regrettably, it’s impossible to completely eradicate trolls, as the boundary between harmful content and free speech is often thin. We don’t want to shut down comment sections, and moderating posts can sometimes result in arbitrary judgments about what should be deemed acceptable or not.
It’s a challenge we must tolerate if we want to preserve open dialogue. Despite trolls flooding the internet, here are ten instances when the internet successfully silenced them.
10. JK Rowling’s Clever Retort
J.K. Rowling, the writer behind the famous Harry Potter series, is known for her private nature. However, she doesn't shy away from voicing her opinions. While many view her perspectives as politically incorrect, Rowling remains unfazed by others' judgments. She stands firm in her views and is always ready to express them.
Rowling refrains from personally attacking individuals, her tweets are not offensive, and she is always prepared to defend her stance. Take this example as an illustration:
Troll: 'Is it lonely up there on your high horse?'
Rowling: 'Gosh, no, I’ve got several million women sitting beside me.'
Notice that the troll doesn't directly insult Rowling; instead, they subtly imply that her position somehow invalidates her opinions. However, as Rowling’s response shows, this isn't the case. Her quick-witted comebacks to trolls highlight her sharp humor and ability to drive home a point. These exchanges could easily be compiled into an amusing and insightful book.
Trolls often have an inflated sense of self-worth. Typically, the most effective way to deflate them is through wit.
9. Quick Comeback
A fan shared a harmless video on social media showcasing her reaction to something Taylor Swift had done. Someone left an anonymous comment about the fan that read:
'UR UGLY TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST…okay.'
Unnecessary, hurtful, and completely uncalled for. The phrase 'to be completely honest' has become a hallmark of trolls. It implies that the person is offering their 'honest' opinion, when in reality, they are just being rude for no reason.
It wasn't the fan who responded, but Taylor Swift herself. She fired back with this reply:
'NO; ANONYMOUS; NO:'
Swift handled this situation perfectly. She stood by her fan and made it clear to the anonymous commenter that their behavior was out of bounds. Swift’s response made it clear she would not tolerate such negativity and helped foster a stronger sense of unity among her followers.
8. Gigi Claps Back
Supermodel Gigi Hadid received a comment suggesting that she should:
'Practice how to walk properly instead of having a new boyfriend every two weeks.'
In a brief message, the troll attacked both her professionalism and made a derogatory comment about her personal life. Public figures are often subjected to criticism regarding their work, and some of it can be helpful. However, personal matters should remain private and not be open for public scrutiny.
Hadid’s reply addressed both points:
'My walk can always improve; I hope the unnecessary bitterness in [your] heart can too.'
Concise and direct.
7. Henry Despises Trolls
When celebrities Henry Cavill and Natalie Viscuso started dating, not everyone seemed thrilled. Soon, Henry’s Instagram was flooded with posts from people who disapproved, some even resorting to outright abusive comments. Henry chose to stand his ground and posted:
'I understand that speculating, gossiping, and immersing ourselves in our personal echo chambers online can be entertaining, but your ‘passion’ is misdirected and harms the people I care about most. Even your harshest negative assumptions about my personal and professional life simply aren’t true.'
His post was measured and seemed to silence many of the trolls. However, this approach isn’t always ideal. The trolls had provoked a response, and they got exactly what they wanted. It violated the golden rule of ‘Don’t feed the trolls.’
6. Ex Pest
Nicola Roberts, a member of the Girls Aloud group, had also been in a relationship with an ex-soldier named Carl Davies.
After the affair ended, Davies bombarded Nicola with over 3,000 messages, some threatening to stab and burn her. Her approach was often effective: she simply ignored them. Often, a troll’s goal is just to provoke a reaction.
However, Nicola saved copies of all the messages and reported them to the police. While the court didn't imprison Carl, they issued a restraining order. This seemed to resolve the issue for Nicola. But Carl repeated the same behavior with another woman. Under a false identity, he threatened her and said her daughter would be the target of rape. This time, he was sent to jail.
5. Soccer Scandal
The England football team hadn’t claimed an international victory since their 1966 World Cup win. In 2020, it seemed like they finally had a chance. The European international finals were being played on home turf, and England boasted a talented squad.
The team reached the final to face Italy. Many doubted Italy’s strength, but on the day, the Italians played a composed game, resulting in a 1-1 draw. The match went to penalties, where Italy emerged victorious.
The black players on the England squad became immediate targets for abuse across all social media platforms. While many fans expressed their disappointment with the entire team—and it’s true no English player performed well on the day—why was the focus solely on the black players? The British often claim racism is a thing of the past, but it’s clear that it isn’t.
Former player and football commentator Gary Lineker remarked:
'We’ve all been shocked by the way racist trolls have been targeting footballers recently.'
The England team condemned the abuse, as did the media and the public. The trolls fell silent, but unfortunately, they are likely to return.
4. An Artist Steps on Toes
Eliot was arrested by the police and spent three days in jail. During this time, he faced abuse from Guthrie’s followers and drained his finances trying to clear his name. Eventually, the court dropped the charges, but it was too late to salvage his reputation.
He was simply exercising his right to free speech, wasn’t he? Perhaps he was imprudent at times, but criminal?
3. On a Grand Scale
This case highlights the immense scale that trolling can reach. Digital Africa Research Lab and Buzzfeed News uncovered a massive trolling operation based in Nigeria.
A Nigerian PR firm, along with a British nonprofit organization, paid small sums to Nigerian influencers to tweet in support of a controversial Colombian businessman, Alex Saab. The U.S. authorities were looking to speak to Saab about money laundering. Saab had close ties to Venezuela and conducted an estimated $135 million worth of business with Maduro’s government.
The Colombian government also accused Saab of laundering around $25 million. During a brief layover in Cape Verde, local authorities arrested Saab, and a court authorized his extradition to the United States.
2. Parent Persecuted
Trolls pounced quickly, circling like sharks sensing blood in the water. Other users defended her, forcing the trolls to search for other victims.
The woman made herself vulnerable by posting about something that should have been kept private. When we do this, even with the intention of raising awareness on larger issues, we expose ourselves to hateful trolls.
1. Teen Targeted
The girl, understandably, experienced anxiety attacks and reported the incident to the authorities. Unfortunately, there was little the police could do in this situation.
It’s easy to suggest ignoring trolls, but young individuals are particularly susceptible to their harassment, and some even tragically take their own lives. In such cases, social media platforms must take stronger measures to regulate their content.
