Monday, December 12, 2016

Can anonymous trolling be stopped?

Trolling has seemed to become a big issue as of late on the internet. Trolls have been taking advantage of online anonymous forums and blogs to hurt people for no reason and to make people feel bad about themselves. The problem with trolls hurting people like this is that they usually will not stop until their victim deletes their account on that website. So now people are basically being forced off of these forums that were meant to be positive. The problem with trolls though is that they are not in the wrong when they criticize and hurt internet users. They are just using their first amendment right to free speech, which raises the question of can trolling be stopped?

If we're being honest, the answer is no because we are aloud to say whatever we want on the internet. Some websites do regulate trolls and may remove accounts that have been associated with trolling, but that does not stop the problem. The troll will not stop and will just create a new account, so it seems there is no end to trolling. If trolling became illegal, it would be a violation of our Constitutional right to free speech. Some people would argue that, but some may argue that it was a different time when that amendment was made. There was no internet and there was no such thing as an anonymous troll that would hurt people to the point of committing suicide and being depressed. I am sure there was criticism back in the beginnings of our country, but I'm not sure that it would have been as bad as trolling is now-a-days.

Many of us wish that anonymous trolling could stop, especially the victims. At this very moment, I think as much as some may try to end trolling, it will not happen. The Constitution protects us from losing free speech, so we are stuck with trolls for now it seems. The best thing we can do is pretend in our minds that trolls don't exist, do not egg them on, and that victims and non-victims will avoid and not have to deal with trolls. Maybe someday trolls will not be around anymore, but all we can do for now is hope.

3 comments:

  1. The best option is to completely ignore them. Their comments/posts are intended to provoke you, and receive a response out of you. Therefore if they can't get the expected reaction, then they have no purpose in trying to get a response out of you.

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    1. If ignoring trolling is the way in which an individual chooses to come across the online act, then I totally agree. At the end of the day, trolling is what you make of it. Everybody is going to handle it differently, but it's up to each indivdusl on him much they're going to let it affect them.

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  2. It doesn't matter what we do or what we hope, trolling will always be a result of social media users. Good or bad, trolling is just how you view it and let if affect you, not so much on the act itself. Those who exploit themselves on social media simply have to expect it and learn how to move in, or use it to their advantage.

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