Last week I talked about trolls…

After my post, I realized that there are times that I could have been considered a troll. Tell me if you feel any of these things brings me into trollworld… FYI- I did not have an actual rapport with any of these bloggers.

  1. A blogger once wrote that Manhattan is a suburb of New York City. This is not a true statement. Fact: New York City is made up of five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. A suburb of NYC could be Mineola in Nassau County, Rye in Westchester County, Montclair in New Jersey or Stamford in Connecticut. I commented on the bloggers site that she gave out factually incorrect information. Was I being a troll?
  2. One Mom blogger wrote that you should never tell your children that you love them straight out, ie. “I love you.” She said that you should always say things with qualifiers, like “I love you because you are strong.” or I love you because you are smart.” I told her that I thought that children should be loved unconditionally and should be told “I love you” without any reason. My daughter was I think in 11th grade and I told the blogger that when my daughter left the house every day I still told her that I loved her. Was I being a troll?
  3. One Mom blogger stated that you should strive to be your child’s friend, because you must be able to empathize and remember what it was like to be a child. Now, anyone who knows me knows that my number rule of parenting is that YOU CAN BE FRIENDLY WITH YOUR CHILD BUT YOUR JOB IS TO PARENT. I told the blogger to tread that line really carefully because a kid needs a parent, needs someone to set boundaries and be there when they fall. Was I being a troll?
  4. Twice I read posts about how good virtual schooling is and how we should consider making that permanent. While I think we are doing the best that we can, I don’t think in any way, shape or form should we ever consider virtual schooling for the masses. And I told both of these bloggers this. Was I being a troll?

So…

What do you think?

Troll or not?

100 thoughts on “Anything Can Happen Friday”

    1. Most of the: were in my opinion mode. The one about how you say I love you to your child was definitely done with tone. I kept thinking about the kid who felt they needed to earn their mothers love

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  6. I don’t think you were a troll, unless you accompanied your opinions with name-calling and personal attacks or harsh judgments–which doesn’t sound like you, LA. Trolls attack people, not ideas. If someone felt attacked because their opinions were challenged, they probably aren’t all that secure in their opinions.

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  7. I don’t think any of your reactions to these situations is troll-like. Offering an opinion is part of the give and take of the social compact.

    To me, a troll is one who harangues or becomes verbally abusive. Maybe I’m wrong??

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  8. I don’t think you were a troll. If so, then I have been considered a troll also. Correcting misinformation is not troll like.

    In one of my former blogging lives I used to do that occasionally on food/nutrition blogs. I did it on a few book review posts—it made me think people were intentionally trying to deceive others with misinformation.

    Also I have a long history of taking antidepressants on and off. I comment on those blogs occasionally when people spout nonsense about antidepressants being unnecessary.

    I have my blog set to private for now. I am thinking about deleting it or starting over or at least deleting some posts. People probably think I am a troll if I comment and they can’t see my blog. Still love reading others’ blogs—just haven’t had time to work on my own.

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    1. That’s just it…when you here something that could be damaging or misleading, the urge to point it out is just there. When the mother basically stated that there should be conditions to love I pretty much freaked out. All I could think of was those poor kids just trying anything to get their mothers love….

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      2. I didn’t get her point at all! And having grown up with a mother who treated me as if love were conditional, it just screamed at me…

        Like

      3. Isn’t a blog here to exchange ideas and perspectives? If that’s done in a manner that is not offensive or rude or obnoxious or otherwise derogatory, then that’s win, no? Especially if you have a global presence with different cultures reading and commenting?

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  10. First of all, I agree 100% with all of your examples. Therefore, IMHO you cannot be a troll because you were right and they were wrong. 😂

    Regardless, I think people need to learn how to engage in respectful debate. One of the best ways to grow is through a dialogue of diverse thought/opinions. If people can’t handle it, then tell f#*k them. JK. Now that’s trolling!! 😅😂😉

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  11. No
    No
    No
    No

    Re virtual school – I think it’s nice to have the option. Like, simultaneous synchronized learning for when someone is sick or maybe less mobile (i.e. broken bones, surgery keeping you otherwise mentally capable of doing something to pass the time, tending to personal situations)…Covid has been an eyeopening experience with the whole WFH or school from home thing, and going forward, I don’t see it being a bad idea to keep both options as options. But, no, I would hate to see virtual school take over full time indefinitely.

    Just yesterday I was thinking, my 8th and 10th graders have little experience with school dances. I mean, love or hate them, it’s part of high school, no?

    We shall see what 2021 and beyond brings.

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  13. Unfortunately, these days, many are loathe to express our feelings or opinions because we everyone is either fragile to the point of emotional collapse or agitated to the point of arguing over everything. I’ll admit it, I keep almost everything to myself..almost. It’s super boring that way, but also super safe.

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      1. If they didn’t answer you, it’s hard to know, but I wouldn’t worry about it. If they checked out your site they would see that you are a respected blogger into discussion -like topics.

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  24. Again, newby blogger here. However, from what I’ve experienced, people that troll other people’s blogs are looking for confrontation of some kind. I don’t believe your comments were confrontational. It is possible that these folks were not interested in a healthy debate. So, I say no, not trolling. Have a great weekend, LA.

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  25. I definitely don’t consider your comments as being troll-like. I hesitate now to point out misstatements of fact when I perceive it as unintentional and insignificant, even if it tends to grate on me. I consider that my problem, not theirs. But having a contrary opinion on a more subjective matter (and isn’t love about as subjective as it gets?), is worthy of comment and not trolling at all. Isn’t that what blogs are for?

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  27. My verdict? NOT a troll.

    I don’t believe we’re friends with our kids. We’re parents to our kids. If I walked in their room and caught them smoking weed, I’m not going to ask for a tug. Parenting is responsibility. You’ve got to teach accountability and that ain’t happening if you’re chums.

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  29. There’s a line between expressing thoughts/opinions and trolling.
    Is it a fine line? Is it a chasm? *shrugs*

    These examples don’t read troll-like to me. You’re not out there actively (forgive me) trolling, hell bent on causing chaos and trouble. You’re expressing differing thoughts to those read. Except for the NYC one…that’s you calling out straight bulls**t and providing facts.

    Expressing your opinions in a respectful way with honest intentions is not trolling.
    You could choose not to have an opinion. You could choose not to express your opinion. But I feel like your head might explode if you did. 😉

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  30. You weren’t a troll at all! Politely disagreeing is just conversation, and people have the ability to do that on other people’s blogs. Trolls are those who attack others, whether the writer of the blog or the others who wrote comments. They deliberately stir up trouble for reasons of their own. Unless you were rude, I can’t imagine you were, you did nothing wrong! (If I remember correctly, you and I once disagreed about the importance of getting into a top-tier school. And we both simply politely stated our opinions, which is why I’m always happy to see a comment from you on my blog and I hope you feel the same way about me!)

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  31. I am so happy I can get back on your blog. You are not a troll. I think any blogger who thinks a person with an opinion is a troll shouldn’t be a blogger. I find there are a lot of self centered people with zero life experience or common sense who think they have valuable knowledge to shave. They don’t. And those people shouldn’t be bloggers.
    You are not a troll. And any mom who can’t just say I love you is nuts. Her children are always going to expect some form of praise when they grow up and get out into the world. She’s giving them an unrealistic view of the real world. Plus love has nothing to do with praise.

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