How to Win Online Fights: Expert Strategies for Out-Trolling the Trolls
The internet, a vast and interconnected space for communication and community, has also become a battleground. From casual disagreements escalating into heated exchanges to targeted harassment campaigns, online conflict is an undeniable reality of digital life. At the forefront of this phenomenon are 'trolls' – individuals who deliberately provoke, upset, or manipulate others online for their own amusement or agenda. While the image of a troll might once have been a solitary figure seeking 'lolz' from behind a keyboard, today's online antagonists are often more organized, relentless, and driven by specific, often hateful, ideologies.
These modern trolls, including the ubiquitous 'Reply Guys' who jump into conversations uninvited to offer unsolicited, often contrarian, opinions, operate in a landscape where disinformation spreads rapidly and online abuse can have significant real-world consequences. They latch onto targets, employing tactics ranging from subtle provocation to outright harassment, often fueled by racist, sexist, homophobic, or other discriminatory beliefs. The sheer volume and intensity of this negativity can be overwhelming, leaving many users feeling helpless or forced to withdraw from online spaces.
However, the rise of sophisticated trolling has also spurred the emergence of a new breed of online defenders. These are individuals who have honed their strategies through years of navigating digital conflict, learning not just to survive, but to effectively push back against the tide of toxicity. WIRED spoke to several such seasoned internet combatants – a science communicator battling anti-vaxxers, a prominent figure who faced political backlash, a moderator of a notoriously feisty online forum, and a cultural commentator dealing with daily bigotry – to understand their experiences and glean insights into how to emerge victorious from an online skirmish, or perhaps more importantly, how to maintain one's sanity and purpose in the face of relentless negativity.
The Evolving Landscape of Online Trolling
The nature of online conflict has shifted dramatically over the years. What began as isolated incidents of mischief or annoyance has morphed into a more strategic and often malicious endeavor. Modern trolls are not always anonymous figures lurking in the shadows; they can be highly visible individuals, sometimes even those in positions of power. The interviews reveal that trolling is no longer just about causing random chaos; it's frequently tied to specific agendas, aiming to silence dissenting voices, spread misinformation, or normalize hate speech.
Derek Guy, known online as The Menswear Guy, experienced this firsthand when a personal story about his life as an undocumented immigrant drew a response from a prominent political figure that seemed to suggest deportation. This interaction highlights a significant shift: the deep immersion of political figures and official accounts in online spaces, adopting the language and tactics of internet culture, including 'clapping back' and posting memes. Guy notes the stark contrast with political figures of the past, suggesting that being intensely 'online' was once seen as embarrassing, relegated to the fringes, but is now a mainstream, albeit often toxic, mode of engagement.
Guy receives daily harassment, including racist, homophobic, and xenophobic slurs. He observes that unlike the early 2000s, when such comments might be dismissed as mere trolling, many people expressing these sentiments online today genuinely hold hateful beliefs and desire real-world harm, such as the deportation of immigrants. This underscores the increasingly serious nature of online toxicity and its connection to broader societal issues.
Strategies for Engagement and Defense
Facing this onslaught, online combatants employ a variety of strategies. The common thread is the need for resilience and a clear understanding of when and how to engage.
Picking Your Battles: When to Engage, When to Ignore
One of the most crucial pieces of advice from these experienced individuals is the importance of picking your battles. Not every provocation warrants a response. Engaging with every troll can be exhausting and counterproductive, amplifying their reach and draining your energy. Derek Guy emphasizes the utility of the 'block' function, calling himself 'block-happy'. He views blocking not just as a personal defense mechanism but also as a courtesy to his followers, shielding them from hateful content. Blocking prevents the troll from interacting with you further and removes their content from your view, effectively silencing them in your personal online space.
Similarly, the moderator of r/UnpopularOpinion, /u/YoungZaphod, finds that ignoring low-effort trolls is the most effective strategy. Responding to every annoyed user whose 'shitpost' isn't approved would be a full-time job. They've learned that pursuing a response is generally not worth the effort, as most trolls are indistinguishable and seeking attention. This reinforces the idea that often, the troll's primary goal is to elicit a reaction, and denying them that reaction can be a powerful tactic.
Humor and Wit as Weapons
Sometimes, a well-timed dose of humor or wit can disarm a troll or turn the situation to your advantage. Derek Guy recounts a situation where he responded to a racist comment about his eyes by joking that his 'naturally squinty eyes' help him notice small details in clothing. This type of response can flip the script, using the troll's insult against them in a clever way, often earning support from your audience while leaving the troll with nowhere to go. It requires quick thinking and a certain level of confidence, but it can be highly effective in demonstrating that you are not easily rattled.
Samantha Yammine, the science communicator, also employs humor, sometimes responding to rude comments with simple, disarming phrases like “u ok??” or “Thanks for the engagement, have an amazing day!” These responses are designed to give the troll a 'reality check' and highlight the absurdity of their behavior. Yammine notes that while she takes scientific accuracy seriously, she doesn't take online opinions about her personally, a mindset crucial for surviving in the public eye online.
Fact-Checking and Correcting Misinformation
For those dealing with trolls who spread misinformation, particularly in fields like science, fact-checking can be a necessary, though sometimes frustrating, strategy. Derek Guy's 'I called your tailor' incident, where he verified a claim about a bespoke suit, was, in his view, simply fact-checking. While not intended as a 'clapback,' it functioned as one because it publicly exposed a false claim.
Samantha Yammine distinguishes between genuine questions, even those tied to conspiracy theories, and deliberate trolling aimed at spreading disinformation. While she aims for open conversations with genuinely curious people, she recognizes that some engagement is purely malicious. For these instances, direct correction, when feasible and impactful, can be important, especially when the misinformation could harm others (e.g., anti-vaccine rhetoric). However, she also uses strategies like Instagram's 'restrict' feature, which allows trolls to comment but makes their comments visible only to themselves, effectively letting them 'talk into the void' and waste their own time without spreading their message to others.
Understanding the Troll's Motivation
A recurring theme is the understanding that trolling is fundamentally about seeking attention. Samantha Yammine explicitly states that all trolling, whether good, neutral, or bad, is about attention. By understanding this, online combatants can choose not to provide the desired attention, either through blocking, ignoring, or using features that make the troll's efforts invisible to a wider audience. This perspective helps depersonalize the attacks and frame them as a behavior driven by the troll's own needs or issues, rather than a reflection of the target's worth.
The moderator of r/UnpopularOpinion echoes this, noting that trolls believe they are unique and clever, but in reality, they are repetitive and easily ignored. Recognizing the low-effort nature of most trolling makes it easier to dismiss and not get emotionally invested.
Leveraging Public Information (with Caution)
Blakely Thornton, a pop culture anthropologist who deals with daily bigotry online due to being Black and gay, employs a more direct, albeit potentially controversial, strategy. When faced with trolls, he sometimes uses publicly available information about them to construct a 'passionless recitation of the circumstances of their lives.' This tactic, while requiring careful consideration of privacy implications and platform rules, is described as tending to 'end altercations fairly quickly.' It turns the tables by showing the troll that their anonymity is not absolute and that their public persona (or lack thereof) can be used against them. However, this strategy borders on doxxing and should be approached with extreme caution, as it can have legal and ethical ramifications and may violate platform terms of service.
Maintaining Emotional Distance
Perhaps the most vital strategy for long-term survival in online spaces is maintaining emotional distance. Samantha Yammine's ability to take scientific accuracy seriously but not online opinions about her personally is a key example. Blakely Thornton quotes his mother: “racism isn't the shark, it's the water.” This powerful metaphor suggests that online bigotry is not an occasional threat but a constant, pervasive environment for marginalized individuals. Accepting this difficult reality, while not minimizing its harm, can help manage the emotional toll. Not responding to every comment simply because there isn't enough time in the day is a practical necessity, but it also serves as a form of emotional self-preservation.
The r/UnpopularOpinion moderator also highlights the importance of not getting upset about things on an anonymous forum, preferring to save their energy for more engaging interactions in smaller communities. This deliberate choice to prioritize mental well-being over winning every online argument is a crucial survival tactic.
The Role of Platforms and Community
While individual strategies are important, the environment in which these interactions occur is shaped by the platforms themselves. The fact that political figures are deeply 'online' and fluent in internet language, as noted by Derek Guy, indicates how mainstream and influential these platforms have become, for better or worse. Platforms have a responsibility to moderate content and provide users with tools to manage harassment, such as blocking and reporting features.
Community dynamics also play a role. On platforms like Reddit, moderators like /u/YoungZaphod are essential for curating content and enforcing rules, even if it means dealing with a constant stream of low-effort trolling. The community itself can also push back against trolls through downvoting, reporting, or supportive responses to targets of harassment.
Beyond Winning: Redefining Success Online
The concept of 'winning' an online fight is complex. Is it about delivering the perfect 'clapback'? Silencing the troll? Changing their mind? The interviewees suggest that 'winning' is often less about a knockout blow and more about managing the interaction in a way that preserves your own well-being and purpose.
For Derek Guy, the interaction with the Vice President wasn't about winning a 'dunk contest' but about the broader implications of political figures engaging in online skirmishes. His 'fact-checking' approach, while leading to a viral moment, was rooted in a desire for accuracy.
Samantha Yammine prioritizes using her online presence as 'social currency' to support content she believes in, rather than boosting the engagement of content she disagrees with. Her goal is to have open conversations about science, and she views strategies like restricting comments as a way to prevent disinformation from harming others, rather than simply 'winning' an argument with a troll.
/u/YoungZaphod finds happiness more important than being 'right' in every online exchange, reflecting a philosophy of choosing peace over perpetual conflict. Blakely Thornton's focus is on navigating a constantly hostile environment, with 'winning' perhaps meaning simply getting through the day and continuing his work despite the barrage of hate.
The carousel of related content on WIRED, such as guides on how to win a fight, organizing online, and protecting yourself, underscores that dealing with online conflict is part of a larger conversation about digital literacy, safety, and activism. These resources provide broader context and tools for navigating challenging online environments.
Ultimately, dealing with online trolls and navigating internet conflict is a skill that requires adaptability, emotional intelligence, and a clear understanding of one's own goals. Whether through strategic blocking, witty responses, fact-checking, or simply choosing to disengage, the most effective strategies are those that protect your peace and allow you to continue using online spaces constructively. The internet's foremost posters aren't necessarily those who deliver the harshest blows, but those who have mastered the art of navigating its complexities while staying true to themselves and their purpose.
The experiences of these individuals offer valuable lessons for anyone who spends time online. Trolling is not going away, and in many ways, it is becoming more sophisticated and pervasive. Therefore, developing personal strategies for dealing with it is essential. This includes not only defensive tactics like blocking and ignoring but also offensive strategies like using humor or fact-checking when appropriate. It also involves recognizing the psychological toll of online harassment and prioritizing mental health.
Moreover, the interviews highlight the diverse motivations behind online engagement. While trolls seek attention and disruption, individuals like Guy, Yammine, YoungZaphod, and Thornton use their platforms for communication, education, community building, and social commentary. Their approaches to dealing with negativity are shaped by these underlying purposes. A science communicator like Yammine is concerned with preventing the spread of harmful misinformation, while a cultural commentator like Thornton is navigating systemic bigotry. Understanding these different contexts is key to developing effective strategies.
The rise of political figures engaging in online 'dunk contests' also raises questions about the future of political discourse and the normalization of aggressive online behavior. When individuals in positions of power adopt trolling tactics, it can legitimize such behavior and make the online environment more hostile for everyone. This makes the strategies employed by everyday users even more critical for maintaining civil discourse and pushing back against harmful narratives.
In conclusion, while there's no single magic bullet for dealing with online trolls, a combination of strategic disengagement, selective engagement using wit or facts, and a strong focus on personal well-being appears to be the most effective approach. The internet's foremost posters teach us that navigating online conflict is less about 'winning' in a traditional sense and more about resilience, purpose, and the ability to control your own online experience in the face of external negativity.
For further insights into navigating online conflict and building resilience, consider exploring resources like WIRED's visual story on how to protect yourself and others online, which offers practical tips for enhancing your digital safety and well-being.
The wisdom shared by these experienced online users underscores the importance of adapting your approach based on the specific situation and the nature of the troll. A low-effort shitposter on Reddit might warrant a different response than a politically motivated harasser on X. Recognizing the context and the troll's likely motivation is key to choosing the most effective strategy.
Moreover, the emotional labor involved in dealing with online harassment, particularly for individuals from marginalized groups who face daily bigotry, cannot be overstated. Strategies like Blakely Thornton's, while effective in some cases, highlight the extreme measures some individuals feel compelled to take to defend themselves in spaces where they are constantly under attack. This points to a larger need for platforms to create safer environments and more robust tools for reporting and addressing hate speech and harassment.
The meme references provided by the interviewees also offer a glimpse into the coping mechanisms and self-awareness required to navigate these spaces. Derek Guy's association with the 'I called your tailor' meme, born from simple fact-checking, shows how genuine actions can be reinterpreted or go viral in unexpected ways. Blakely Thornton's identification with memes depicting chaos and resilience ('girl smirking next to a burning building,' 'dog drinking coffee saying it's fine') speaks to the constant state of navigating difficulty with a degree of dark humor and acceptance.
Ultimately, the goal is not necessarily to eliminate online conflict entirely, which may be an impossible task, but to empower individuals to navigate it effectively, minimize its negative impact, and continue to use online platforms for positive purposes. The insights from these seasoned online combatants provide a valuable roadmap for anyone looking to survive and thrive in the often-turbulent waters of the internet.
For more perspectives on navigating online challenges, explore WIRED's visual story on technology tools for resistance, which touches upon how digital tools can be used for organizing and pushing back against oppressive forces, a theme sometimes intertwined with online conflict and activism.
The strategies discussed here are not mutually exclusive; they can be used in combination depending on the situation. Blocking might be the first line of defense, followed by a witty response if the troll persists and you feel inclined to engage. Fact-checking is crucial when misinformation is involved, while ignoring might be best for purely attention-seeking behavior. The key is flexibility and a willingness to adapt your approach.
Moreover, building a supportive online community can also be a powerful buffer against trolling. Having followers or friends who understand the challenges of online spaces and offer support can make a significant difference in managing the emotional impact of harassment. The interviewees, by sharing their experiences, contribute to this collective knowledge and support system.
The evolution of online platforms and the increasing sophistication of trolling tactics mean that the strategies for dealing with online conflict will continue to evolve. Staying informed about new platform features, understanding the dynamics of different online communities, and learning from the experiences of others are all part of navigating this complex landscape. The insights provided by these internet veterans offer a valuable starting point for anyone seeking to better understand and manage online toxicity.
For a lighter take on the concept of online confrontation, you might enjoy WIRED's visual story quiz: Choose Your Fighter, which playfully explores different archetypes of online engagement.
In conclusion, mastering the art of navigating online conflict is an essential skill in the digital age. By learning from the experiences of those who face it daily, we can develop more effective strategies for dealing with trolls, protecting our mental health, and contributing to a more positive online environment. The battle against online toxicity is ongoing, but with the right tools and mindset, it is possible to not only survive but to thrive.