On 2015-08-10 20:45:50 +0000, Ophelia said:

> Very well said. I have to say though it is hard not to kick back when there
> is an attack. I get sick at the constant battering on chosen 'hated ones'
> too.

Suggesting anything to Julie Bove is a waste of time. She can't take
the suggestion; because. That becomes frustrating. The topic then
becomes her, just like a troll. The answer, as with a troll, is to
*not respond*, if it will lead to another bitch-fest. I'm not saying
Julie is an intentional troll, certainly. But she does hang out the
"bait".

> It is relentless. The bullies take huge delight in harassment. I
> guess they feel it gives them the power they are lacking in real life. They
> are pathetic. Even more so when they justify it to themselves.

Like I said, it sucks.

> I was a 'hated one' for years so I know well what it is like. It followed
> me here for a long time until one day I decided enough was enough and I
> kicked back. So, yes, after many years, I learned to be nasty in
> defence.

And thus begins the death cycle.

> The constant bullying eventually killed the UK food group, so what
> long term hope for this one?

As long as you engage them, none at all.

> Many lovely people who were here when I arrived, got fed up and went
> off to facebook which is exactly what happened in the UK food group and
> it died.

And as they vanish from these various groups, interested people like me
lose their interest in exchanging ideas here.

> There are some very good people here, but sometimes I think they just get
> overwhelmed. There is little kindness, only intolerance and impatience
> to be the first to stick the knife in. I guess it makes them feel good
>
> You are right about the socks. It is relentless. People just
> get fed up which is why they respond ... kicking back, but which only
> perpetuates it. Until they realise that, it will not end.
>
> What can be done about it? I don't know.

One thing only: Don't respond and discourage others from responding.
The end. Trolls don't dissappear, but they stop becoming *construct*
which replaces the discussion. It's like a fart at a dinner party, it
dissipates quickly enough; there's hardly a reason to fixate.

It's difficult to discourage others from responding because you
potentially walk the same road. Somebody trollsin vulgar and insulting
ways, and when another takes the bait and joins the argument THEY are
the one giving the flame-bait its life. So you tell the responder to
knock it off, but they are ****ed off and just see you as 1) defending
the troll or 2) joining in the troll's attack, 3) Being a "usenet cop"
or "civility police", so you then become their target. Then, if you
defend yourself with a kick to the groin you've made your self
indistiguishable.