Opinion or trolling

I have recently been made aware of the arts of social media lack the subtlety of face to face communication. Not from any thing I have or done, but the effects it has had on others. It's made me stop and think a little not just about what I post, but by what is posted to me.

I tend to keep my opinions, or rather detailed opinions to here where people choose to read it. But I do tend to rant a bit on various social media sites. However I never deliberately aim it at one specific person, unless they start on me. More often than not I tend to give them a chance to give an adult point of view and if they get mean I get friendly with the block button. I also have a decent real life support group who also have social media accounts so I have online and real life grounding. But it has left me thinking when is the line actually crossed, when does a debate become trolling? And what is there really there to support people who feel victimised?

Sure we all can use the block button, and the report button, but to the more emotionally engaged of us is that enough. There is no real forum or support group for victims of online trolling, to teach people the skills to detach from the emotional trauma of it all. Because given its true name trolling is just invisible bullying whether it's at a Hollywood star or a 14 year old girl in her bedroom. In the last few weeks I've seen it happen to both, and in both cases I have tried to reach out with support, one took it the other didn't, as it has happened I also noticed another person I follow has just deleted all social media and I am hardly surprised having seen their time line recently it was filled with hateful messages from people who have no real life knowledge of the person, but still chose to ridicule without full facts. It's this mentality that frightens me, that people judge based on 140 character remarks.

In no circumstances is it right to joke about mental health, depression or worse, yet people on mass made it the fuel to insult every aspect of the persons life be it public or personal. Hang on a moment, isn't there a big awareness drive to promote mental well being and encourage people to open up about depression? Yet if some one with public status admits to it, whatever the cause it become an annual duck shoot, no that just not right. The line between reality and social media is not that hazy. If it is wrong to say it a face to face then it must be wrong to do it on social media. Hence I hate the word trolling , it makes it sound more soft, less offensively. It is what it is bullying, no better or worse than picking on smallest child in the playground, or the quietest administration in the office. If you type words full of hate and venom then it should be treated the same way as a basic bully.

I actually get scared to think how far this can go online, we have all read about the poor teens who are driven to suicide over this. But it's not just teens who are vulnerable, in reality we all are on a bad day, doesn't matter if your face is on vogue, or you serve burgers, we all have feelings, emotions and vulnerability. I'm no expert, but I have to admit I pick my days to rant, when I know something I type will cause mix reactions, so I am braced for the onslaught of abuse and support. It sounds calculated, but it's my self preservation routine. I don't dislike adult debate in fact I quite relish the idea of a sensible debate, but for the one person I get onine who will debate and reason, I have to block upwards of 10 people who want to batter me to the kerb just to justify their own existence.

So much as social media can be a cure for loneliness at times, and a source of information and comfort, it comes with teeth.  Like an unknown sea it's worth stepping in cautiously and not diving head first in.  I dread to think what the cost is going to be before the moderators really look at modifying it to become safer. And the next time you moan because your favourite pop  star has deleted their snap chat or some thing, ask yourself what they may be feeling, have they just been bombarded with hateful comments? And more importantly make sure you are supporting your friends online, a throw away joke can easily be misinterpreted online, chose your words wisely. I leave with a famous quote that is so relevant to this.

The pen is mightier than the sword.