PODCAST EP:3 “Dealing With Internet Trolls”
I would love to say that all of your insecurities go away when you "grow up" but they don't, not really.
Sure maybe we aren't dealing anymore with puberty, voice changes, body hair, and all that jazz... but I swear even into your 30s you're trying to figure out who you are.
Add in social media and WOOF. It can be a rough world.
The nervousness and fear of "what will people say if I...." is generally what keeps us quiet. Keeps us from being fully present on social media even IF that is what is needed to build the business and life that we want.
So how do we deal with it? How do we overcome the fear of being criticized? Of someone saying nasty things?
What do you do when you have your first internet troll?
The first thing to realize is that you will never be criticized by someone doing more than you.
Read that again.
So while sometimes it's hard not to take negative comments to heart you need to remember that YOU putting yourself out there scares other people. When they know that they should be doing more, and aren't living up to their own potential.
Instead of looking inward and admitting to themselves that they wish they were doing more, it's easier to project onto others and say "YOU LOOK RIDICULOUS."
"WHY DO YOU POST SO MUCH!?"
I know the general advice is "Don't pay attention to it. It doesn't matter." Frankly, it isn't always that easy.
Now when I get trolls whether or not I respond really depends on what is being said.
Racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia... no effing WAY am I going to stay silent. There are far too many good people in the world who insist that letting things go is best. For me, I'm going to fight it. Will I change their minds? Nope. But to be silent is to be complicit. And I won't tolerate that.
Now if it's something about me... in the past would it have hurt my feelings? Sure. But really now I ask myself one question.
Is it true?
If the answer is no, then I delete, block and move on. Period.
If the answer is yes (which it never has been), then I'll delve deeper.
The thing is not posting will only affect you. Your livelihood. Your business. Are you really going to live your life because someone may or may not say something?
No way. Put yourself out there. I think you'll find there is more good in the world than bad.