So, I just finished watching Cyberbully.
If there is one thing that I have learned being online it is that no matter who you are, what you do, what you look like and what you say, someone will always find a reason to send hate your way. Not because you are fat, thin; happy; sad; successful; or down on your luck but because they are looking for their next victim and are trying you on for size.
This line from The Breakfast Club springs to mind and still rings true today:
Whether you are a teenager getting hassle from bullies at school, a blogger sharing your thoughts and photographs online or an actress who gets her stolen naked pictures made viral; someone who wants to hurt you will find a way to creep into your heart and afflict hurt.
So what do we do about it? You cannot stop trolls. A trolls is like a hydra, but on the internet. Cut off one head and two more shall take it's place.
I have had a small sharing of trolls. On my pictures, on my blog; all pathetic creatures who have only one aim: to hurt me. Having known how it feels to receive it, I cannot even imagine what a sustained onslaught would be like.
So again I say: what do we do about it? My small part is this. From now on, whenever I see someone who has been trolled, bullied or made to feel less than what they are online, I am going to send them love. Whether I know them or not. Just a simple message telling them that they are worth more than the troll who is feeding on them.
Will it stops the trolls? Of course not. But will it make that person feel better? Maybe. I know that it has for me in the past when people have sent me messages of love when I have received hate. It helped. It really helped.
All I do know is that I would rather send something positive than look, think "Oh no that's awful" and then scroll past. Love is more powerful than hate.
All I do know is that I would rather send something positive than look, think "Oh no that's awful" and then scroll past. Love is more powerful than hate.
Whilst I may not know what a torrent of abuse feels like, and don't pretend that I do; what I do know is what is feels like when you are surrounded by a black cloud. You feel like you are all alone, lost in a fog you cannot except from. But then sometimes, someone, even from the most unexpected place turns a tiny light on, and suddenly you have a new place to look, a new focus.
Anyone fancy joining me?