Trolls, Troublemakers Have Infested the Internet

The Internet is a pretty incredible thing for keeping up with family and friends, getting directions or restaurant reviews, or looking up the name of that actor or singer you can't remember.

But the World Wide Web (who says that anymore?) can also be a breeding ground for those who have nothing better to do with their time than harass the rest of us online. I didn't even know what an Internet troll was until Facebook and Twitter came along, but anyone can readily see from their news feeds that there are plenty of trolls wreaking havoc out there.

The worst offense I've seen was when the news helicopter crashed outside the Space Needle and some low-life commented on a news site that it was a good thing. I can't even fathom why anyone on this planet would ever think like that, but some people do -- and they even have the nerve to say it out loud.

Smaller offenses include people who don't like you, but can't stand the fact they get ignored. They will tag you in posts or tweets trying to be clever and gain your attention, hoping that you will acknowledge them with a response. It's happened to me plenty of times. The best thing to do is to BLOCK them. It's the best tool on any social media site. They will no longer exist in your online world.