Identifying Troll Tactics:

This quick ref sheet will help you identify trolling tactics if they should ever be used against you:

1. Public doubting of your abilities. Trolls will often try to roast you by making you feel small and expected to fail. They might say things like: "This is [your name] we're talking about", or "It's [your name], though." This can be incredibly discouraging unless you recognize that it's a trolling tactic and there's nothing more to it.

2. Humiliation through imagination. Often enough trolls will come up with some kind of repeatable gimmick to hurt you. They could exploit something you've said or blow it out of proportion, and even put a great deal of imagination into making hurtful, mocking jokes about you. These are never very original but sometimes the troll will get lucky and the statement may hit close to home and actually sting if you recognize the subject of mockery in yourself. Nevertheless, trolls do not know you and it's a hit or miss game of Battle Ship.

3. Trolling times. Some trolls operate by a schedule which you can exploit to your will and be present when they're offline. Odds are they're going to be offline sometime, and this is the best time to avoid their hurtful words. Some are losers who will stop at nothing to get to you and invoke a reaction, so don't give it to them. It's already bad enough they spend their life ruining others'.

4. Take breaks from the computer if you're being trolled. Coming and going unexpectedly is a great way to outsmart a troll and even enjoy life more fully by finding other activities to keep you busy. Maybe read a book or an online article which will supplement the mental stimulation that is gratified by a forum or chatroom.