December 4, 2011
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When Trolls Attack
Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult;
whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you (Proverb 9:7-8).My good friend and brother, @TheGreatBout, gave me this verse as a bit of encouragement to help ignore a troll. This was yesterday, but I can already tell that it’s been nothing but helpful.
Sometimes, there are people that are just out to get you. They don’t care what you have to say. They don’t care about your true personality. They don’t care about the good you do in life. They want to see you fail. They want to see you go down. Their hearts have been so filled with wickedness that there is nothing that we, in our own power, can do to stop these people from doing what they do best. You kind of have to sit back and let it run it’s course, even if it doesn’t seem to go away, all the while, showing them the same love and gratitude that Christ does.
My question is, why would these people like to see us fail? My guess is, they are harboring deep emotional resentment for one reason or another. There is a deep need for these people to see those with good intentions below them so they can feel better about themselves. Though, this is not how Christ teaches us to behave. He says, those who exalt themselves will be humbled and to those whom are humbled before God, they would be exalted.
That’s all I need for my defense, I suppose; a God who has my back when I’m being walked over.
Yet, this is what I’m learning- to be humbled before God. I have no need to attack the people who want to see me fail. I want God to lift me up! As for my troll, I’d like God to lift him up to. As I’ve mentioned, he must be dealing with some terrible personal issues to be so quick to the attack. And to be honest, I am no better than this person. I have some emotional issues as well. We all do. The way we handle them does not define us, but unfortunately, others will define us based on how we handle them.
If this means that I must be a punching bag for the trolls of Xanga, I’ll be a punching bag. I’ll allow God to take my blows for me. It’s what God seems to be good at.
Comments (14)
I am sure God is ok with you building healthy boundaries around trolls by giving them love taps. So there is a difference between returning blow for blow and building healthy boundaries.
@TheTheologiansCafe - What I am doing is just ignoring the person’s comments. Though I do read them and take them seriously, I will not comment on them. With this specific person, he is not phased by love taps because he craves attention. In this case, the boundaries are set at not giving this person the attention he wants.
@jmallory - Nope. You just wrote a whole post about it. You are still thinking about it. You are trying to ignore it and it is not working.
Dan has some power in that last comment. While this is healthy for you to work through it is important to recognize how much you are giving to the person. Watching a crying baby won’t help as much as leaving the room. I’ve learned this the had way.
At the same time I always admire your dedication to love and being willing to absorb blows. Sometimes you flee, sometimes you rebuke, sometimes you turn a cheek, sometimes you get the dust off your feet. Whatever you do it must be in love and resemble Christ. I like your focus. Always thinking of the other is good. Be concerned for the person on the other side of the screen because, like you said, they have pains that need healing.
@TheTheologiansCafe - Good point, though, this person never comes to my site anyway. That’s why I’ve decided not to send this to revelife.
@TheGreatBout - You’re too good!
Reading my comment back I realizing that “learning the had way” makes it sound as if I type in a brooklyn accent. I should adopt this new writing style.
I didn’t even know you were one of the punching bags. I am, and I get so tired of it. Thanks man, for THIS:
Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult;
whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you (Proverb 9:7-8).
@TheGreatBout - hahaw, you Brooklyn accented person!
Great post ;D I agree with your points.
@TheGreatBout - Brooklyn accent XD
I like the wisdom of these lines. However how should I know who to correct and who not? I mean in some cases it’s obvious…but what hurts is in my experience when it’s not obvious and you feel like it could be true. I made the experience that I get the most upset when I feel like I am
criticized in unfair ways but lack the ability to put it into
words…but that changes if you just take the time. I say what I feel at some point and either my point gets proven by their nasty actions (…and that is almost funny because it’s so predictable!) or they surprise me pleasantly. I have learned to just not set high expectataions in people. I feel like I live in a generation of assholes where everyone just tries to “win” in terms over clever ways to bully…most people aren’t friends. Know who you are too and their insults wont get to you as much.
@TheGreatBout - Ha… I didn’t even notice!
@NewDog2 - I’m really not one of the punching bags… I just am to one particular individual… and much like you, it drives me crazy!
@To_BreaktheIce - Thank you
@under_the_carpet - Thanks for the comment and the advice
@jmallory - :D
I hope no trolls come attacking you!
@NewDog2 - Proverbs is so spot on
My Dear Brothers, the Lord comforted me greatly when I was undergoing persecution by leading me to 2nd Timothy 3:12: “…all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them…”
Let us encourage one another to listen only to Our Master’s voice and to proclaim the truth as He gives us light to know it.