I suppose that specifically I am wondering if there are any things you do to perhaps:

  1. stay calm
  2. calm the other person down
  3. get them to understand you better
  4. understand their point of view
  5. diffuse trolls
  6. just be a good person who wants to participate in a conversation that enhances your understanding of others, different cultures, and the world and how it works
  • OpenStars@startrek.websiteEnglish
    8·
    7 months ago

    This sounds like me 10 years ago. Also still 2 years ago.:-) Now, I take a different view. Others have already said it, but I wanted to reiterate the obvious: the purpose of trolling is not to engage in a good-faith argument, but just to mess with you. It’s basically as effective as arguing at a brick wall, except arguing with a wall doesn’t hit back (or dox you and come at you with a literal irl gun or bomb). For a much more in-depth explanation, this is an excellent video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmVkJvieaOA. TLDR: you are governed by one code of ethics, while they are not.

    • Hyperreality@kbin.social
      7·
      7 months ago

      Also that Sartre quote:

      Never believe that [they] are completely unaware of the absurdity of their replies. They know that their remarks are frivolous, open to challenge. But they are amusing themselves, for it is their adversary who is obliged to use words responsibly, since he believes in words. [They] have the right to play. They even like to play with discourse for, by giving ridiculous reasons, they discredit the seriousness of their interlocutors. They delight in acting in bad faith, since they seek not to persuade by sound argument but to intimidate and disconcert. If you press them too closely, they will abruptly fall silent, loftily indicating by some phrase that the time for argument is past.

      This being said, the Socratic method sometimes works. Just keep asking them questions and let them argue with themselves.

      Obviously not everyone online is a troll.

      • OpenStars@startrek.websiteEnglish
        2·
        7 months ago

        Depends on what you mean by “works” - it won’t change their minds, though I suppose you mean it can help reveal their style to other onlookers.

        It is like arguing with children, except that’s fun! :-D

    • Evkob@lemmy.ca
      4·
      7 months ago

      I was hoping the link would go to the Alt-Right Playbook, what a great series of videos. They should be obligatory viewing before venturing on the web nowadays.

      • OpenStars@startrek.websiteEnglish
        2·
        7 months ago

        Sadly not everyone chooses to partake in this “knowledge thing” that others value so high. Anyway yes, they are fantastic!:-D