Trolls Want Your Attention

Trolling on MCO is unavoidable in a free speech environment. Trolling, however, can only exist when there is someone who can be trolled. It doesn't exist in a vacuum, trolls do not act the way they do unless they believe they can get a reaction from a player. Trolls want your attention, even a second of your time spent arguing with a troll is already a win in their book. This is a game with only one winner, a game you cannot win. So don't play it.

A troll cannot be "owned" or "defeated". This is not a fair debate, trolls do not believe in what they're saying. They say it because they know it's offensive. The best way to make the troll go away is to not reply at all.

Remember: if you've replied to a troll, you've already lost. All they want is your attention. It doesn't matter to them what reaction they'll get from you: anger, sadness, bitterness, an attempt to "fight back", or a joke in response. It's all the same in their eyes, and if they've gotten the reaction from you once, they're very likely to target you again and again. Have some self-restraint and avoid answering them at all cost, no matter how disgusting their messages may be.

Do not

• Argue with the troll;
• Answer the troll's questions;
• Try to prove the troll wrong;
• Call the troll names;
• Provoke the troll.

Do

• Avoid replying to a troll at all cost.
• If you cannot handle the troll's messages, use the /ignore command.