think-progress:

Ryan Steiner has an insightful post on fighting back against Internet trolls, like the ones who welcomed news that Lara Croft will be threatened with rape in her next video game:

While writing this, I have asked repeatedly myself, so what? The trolls will be trolls no matter what I say. And that may be the case. But, by actively calling out terrible behavior and not allowing excuses, I can start to change the expectations. If trolls know that they are not going to be excused for their behavior, maybe some of the more timid ones will think twice about what they say.

Either way, we won’t know until we make an honest effort at condemning this hatred without exception or equivocation…

The Internet is filled with places to make your voice heard, and many of us participate in forums, Twitter,Facebook or other gaming communities. Instead of letting the trolls have the run of the show, make some noise. Let everyone know that the sexism and vitriol is not OK. Don’t let the trolls off the hook. And certainly, don’t make it easy for them to keep trolling.

Here’s the rest

I’m torn on this.  See, I’d love to see trolls get their comeuppance.  But there’s a reason most forums have the rule:  Don’t feed the trolls.  Yes, by ignoring them, you are implicitly allowing their behavior.  But by engaging with them, you are giving them what they want, which is to get a rise out of you.  To make you angry.  To make you attack them so they can laugh and pat themselves on the back for having pissed off some stranger on the Internet.  You’re not going to change their mind.  They’re not going to go “Oh, you know, you’re right, I guess that was pretty insensitive, I guess my behavior is unacceptable,” they’re going to go “HAHA FAGGOT I HOPE YOUR SISTER GETS RAPED BY A BAT WITH NAILS IN IT.”  I don’t know.  It’s a tough spot.  Ignore them, and be complicit in their abuse?  Or chastise them, and make them rub their scaly little hands together, cackle with glee, and turn it up to 11?  Sigh.

To clarify, I’m not suggesting we just not do anything and throw our hands and just be like “LOL, trolls, what can you do!”  I’m just saying… it’s difficult to determine how to deal with it.

(via lovelymissnallely)