Earlier this month an American influencer posted the names of several of her most prolific trolls on Instagram. Will this deter hardcore haters and why do they do it anyway?
Hi Katherine. I really like your work and agree with many points, but not all.
- if someone does a great and useful job (nurse, firefighter etc) then I think it better to agree that they are doing good despite disliking some influencers rather than being shit people hiding in good jobs. Many influencers are doing no such good. (Do you reply believe that the influencers are the people ‘without the power’ here?)
- the ‘maskless’ thing applies to influencers also. They are somewhat protected/detached and able to delete negative comments/ignore them. Socially irresponsible. So they are never accountable, even when their work is irresponsible (no suggestion that yours is). Still they rely on their followers. So it is inevitable that if people want to say something non glowing about them, that have to go to the ‘sad sites’ as Instagram is an echo chamber of ‘well done everyone’. That isn’t right.
- I agree that leaving negative bollocks comments on someone’s post is shit. I also think that it’s a good thing that anyone with concerns about a child can report the concerns. It’s not for you to decide they are baseless. That is a good thing.
- there is no such thing as a ‘Tear down community’. There is discussion of ethics and advertising and child protection. Some slagging off definitely. Who cares though? Certainly not you or I.
You are someone I admire and I am disappointed that you have failed to address the ‘influencer problem’ here and instead lump genuine criticism in with ‘trolling’. Trolling is hideous. And illegal. Discussing the ethics of specific influencers online isn’t. You are clearly intelligent but ignored these nuances, hopefully not because they don’t serve you.
What other people say about me is none of my business.
I only have a real life presence, so people are welcome to judge me in real life 🤷🏼♀️
Should I have an online presence, the same.
I wish people would consider the ethics of ‘influencing’ and earning from that before being so narky about people not liking them or calling them out on shitty behaviour.
I do appreciate you taking the time to comment and I will certain think about everything you’ve said. I’d hoped I’d been clear on the difference between trolling and the more standard negative comments that people post on other sites, I’m sorry if that didn’t land well. In one of my drafts I actually explored this feeling of disappointment in people, as you mention you are in me, as being at the heart of a lot of the critiques. From this side of the fence, falling short of subjective standards that a single individual might hold you to is impossible. I’m just a writer who does her best to cover topics with consideration - that’s it. This piece brought several arguments from multiple moral standpoints and from a professional perspective it does everything that I’ve been trained to do. Anyone reading it absolutely entitled not to like it, or not like me. That’s all cool. But I can’t apologise for letting someone down who I’ve never met, or known, or even knew I was mean to be holding a standard up for. I’ve recently written a piece here on the morality of influencing (March 5th), where I discuss nefarious actors on the influencing side - do go and have a look. All best, k
If you are bullying someone, cowardly and anonymously from behind your screen, being a nurse or firefighter hardly redeems you from your wrongdoing.
I hope we can agree that relentlessly trolling someone online, going after their family and friends, publishing their address and actively trying to sabotage their living by contacting employers hardly is criticisms that can be simply ignored or deleted.
I agree that influencers should be held accountable too - but not by a faceless, nameless internet crowd where unsubstantiated accusations and rumours quickly become “truths”.
I have condemned bullying in my comment. What makes you think I don’t agree with you? I thinks it’s ok for nurses etc to express negative opinions online, yes. I think it’s ok if someone ‘influencing’ online is reported for dubious behaviour, yes. Why not?
Both love and take issue with this. As usual you have something interesting and poignant to say. The realities surrounding the totality of being visible on that level gives me shivers.
Not into the whole ideas of "othering" bullies. Feels too close to drawing lines between noble elites and dirty peasants. There are many examples through time immemorial of human behavior being subject to circumstance. With the few exceptional examples of depravity and honor.
I can tell you that I personally am an immovable force morally in certain circumstances. This has only come from making the mistake of participating in the bullying of a coworker out of a sense of morality. Only to turn around and be tortured and humiliated by those by my side in the name of their shifting yet strong moral convictions.
The more I read the more I see the warnings all over the place. No one is more dangerous than someone with conviction. This is not complementary, this is why young people are used in wars.
I love you. I love your takes on the topics you choose. I pray you will find it in your heart to try and relate to everyone.
I did a bad job so I'm including a clarification here. In case it isn't clear I'm making an opinion and experience based case that everyone can fall into bully behavior. The idea that some of us are above that rings as false as the idea that if we were all in Nazi Germany we all would have led the resistance against the evil.
The reality I've experienced is that most people just turn away and do nothing. Out of fear, uncertainty, cowardice and probably a bunch of other relatable reasons. That's what all my coworkers did when I was very obviously being harassed.
Pointing the finger outward is easy and can lead to an intense amount of suffering. Learning to point the finger inward gently and with compassion is the work of love and fidelity amongst living beings.
Hi Katherine. I really like your work and agree with many points, but not all.
- if someone does a great and useful job (nurse, firefighter etc) then I think it better to agree that they are doing good despite disliking some influencers rather than being shit people hiding in good jobs. Many influencers are doing no such good. (Do you reply believe that the influencers are the people ‘without the power’ here?)
- the ‘maskless’ thing applies to influencers also. They are somewhat protected/detached and able to delete negative comments/ignore them. Socially irresponsible. So they are never accountable, even when their work is irresponsible (no suggestion that yours is). Still they rely on their followers. So it is inevitable that if people want to say something non glowing about them, that have to go to the ‘sad sites’ as Instagram is an echo chamber of ‘well done everyone’. That isn’t right.
- I agree that leaving negative bollocks comments on someone’s post is shit. I also think that it’s a good thing that anyone with concerns about a child can report the concerns. It’s not for you to decide they are baseless. That is a good thing.
- there is no such thing as a ‘Tear down community’. There is discussion of ethics and advertising and child protection. Some slagging off definitely. Who cares though? Certainly not you or I.
You are someone I admire and I am disappointed that you have failed to address the ‘influencer problem’ here and instead lump genuine criticism in with ‘trolling’. Trolling is hideous. And illegal. Discussing the ethics of specific influencers online isn’t. You are clearly intelligent but ignored these nuances, hopefully not because they don’t serve you.
What other people say about me is none of my business.
I only have a real life presence, so people are welcome to judge me in real life 🤷🏼♀️
Should I have an online presence, the same.
I wish people would consider the ethics of ‘influencing’ and earning from that before being so narky about people not liking them or calling them out on shitty behaviour.
I do appreciate you taking the time to comment and I will certain think about everything you’ve said. I’d hoped I’d been clear on the difference between trolling and the more standard negative comments that people post on other sites, I’m sorry if that didn’t land well. In one of my drafts I actually explored this feeling of disappointment in people, as you mention you are in me, as being at the heart of a lot of the critiques. From this side of the fence, falling short of subjective standards that a single individual might hold you to is impossible. I’m just a writer who does her best to cover topics with consideration - that’s it. This piece brought several arguments from multiple moral standpoints and from a professional perspective it does everything that I’ve been trained to do. Anyone reading it absolutely entitled not to like it, or not like me. That’s all cool. But I can’t apologise for letting someone down who I’ve never met, or known, or even knew I was mean to be holding a standard up for. I’ve recently written a piece here on the morality of influencing (March 5th), where I discuss nefarious actors on the influencing side - do go and have a look. All best, k
With all due respect, did we read the same piece?
If you are bullying someone, cowardly and anonymously from behind your screen, being a nurse or firefighter hardly redeems you from your wrongdoing.
I hope we can agree that relentlessly trolling someone online, going after their family and friends, publishing their address and actively trying to sabotage their living by contacting employers hardly is criticisms that can be simply ignored or deleted.
I agree that influencers should be held accountable too - but not by a faceless, nameless internet crowd where unsubstantiated accusations and rumours quickly become “truths”.
I have condemned bullying in my comment. What makes you think I don’t agree with you? I thinks it’s ok for nurses etc to express negative opinions online, yes. I think it’s ok if someone ‘influencing’ online is reported for dubious behaviour, yes. Why not?
Both love and take issue with this. As usual you have something interesting and poignant to say. The realities surrounding the totality of being visible on that level gives me shivers.
Not into the whole ideas of "othering" bullies. Feels too close to drawing lines between noble elites and dirty peasants. There are many examples through time immemorial of human behavior being subject to circumstance. With the few exceptional examples of depravity and honor.
I can tell you that I personally am an immovable force morally in certain circumstances. This has only come from making the mistake of participating in the bullying of a coworker out of a sense of morality. Only to turn around and be tortured and humiliated by those by my side in the name of their shifting yet strong moral convictions.
The more I read the more I see the warnings all over the place. No one is more dangerous than someone with conviction. This is not complementary, this is why young people are used in wars.
I love you. I love your takes on the topics you choose. I pray you will find it in your heart to try and relate to everyone.
I did a bad job so I'm including a clarification here. In case it isn't clear I'm making an opinion and experience based case that everyone can fall into bully behavior. The idea that some of us are above that rings as false as the idea that if we were all in Nazi Germany we all would have led the resistance against the evil.
The reality I've experienced is that most people just turn away and do nothing. Out of fear, uncertainty, cowardice and probably a bunch of other relatable reasons. That's what all my coworkers did when I was very obviously being harassed.
Pointing the finger outward is easy and can lead to an intense amount of suffering. Learning to point the finger inward gently and with compassion is the work of love and fidelity amongst living beings.
I love you and your work.