Don't Be A Mindless Troll

How not to lose your cool and be a fool on social media.

- Aritha Zel Zalamea

IF DOROTHY WERE ALIVE TODAY, HER MANTRA TO SEEK COMFORT WOULD PROBABLY BE, “THERE IS NO PLACE FOR TROLLS.”

Ah, but we’re not in Kansas at all.

Trolls are everywhere and nobody likes them, so don’t be one. For all you know, despite your good intentions, you’ve become the thing you despise.

Although you should seek a professional to help you control your temper and better express your emotions, we can help you with not dropping the ball while you’re battling it out on the social media court when the situation calls for it. Believe it or not, there is a way to spar logically and not sound like a buffoon.

You have a point and it matters. Here are some of the logical fallacies—or faulty reasonings—that you should avoid to get your message across the right way and show them that your point is valid.

ATTACKING A PERSON’S CHARACTER

You commit Ad Hominem when you attack a person’s character rather than his argument. Consider these statements: “All of his supporters are stupid; you agree with his policy, and so you’re stupid,” “His pro-poor law is a joke because he was a spoiled rich kid,” “It’s natural to think that way when you’re young and naive,” “Of course you’ll say it’s wrong; that’s your personality,” “I deleted your comment because my Timeline has an IQ requirement,” and “No one will believe you when you look like that.”

PRO TIP