❗Troll encounter support 🧌 🚫

Sadly, there are always troll-type behaviours on any online platform - very unfortunately, even within mental health support communities.

It’s very important how we deal with these behaviours. I hope this post can help you understand your experience with trolling and how to manage it effectively.

❕Trigger warning❕

🔶 What is a troll user?

🧟 A “troll user” refers to someone displaying trolling behaviour - behaviour that resembles online bullying. They may create multiple accounts because their behaviour leads to bans and they return under new profiles.

🪨 From their behaviour, you can assume they are not engaging in a supportive or empathetic way.

⛔ Their messages tend to be toxic, dishonest, or strongly against community guidelines.

⚠️ They’re usually easy to spot. Common signs of trolling behaviour include:

🔸 Inappropriate profile pictures, usernames, or language
🔸 Bypassing censors
🔸 Hurting others intentionally and not repairing the harm
🔸 Frequent cussing, insults, or upsetting comments
🔸 Showing disregard for moderators and continuing harmful behaviour
🔸 Breaking rules in multiple ways
🔸 Harassing or threatening others, mentioning crisis topics in unsafe ways

🔶 What is the best reaction to trolling?

🚩 In short: block/mute + report.

✔️ Make sure to explain why you are reporting.

🔉 If you see others arguing with someone showing trolling behaviour, please fill out a room supporter request.

This alerts a moderator who can step in, mute the user if needed, and calm the room. They can take appropriate action. 🔨

Sometimes reminding peers to disengage doesn’t work; they may refuse to mute the troll, and the conflict escalates. 💔

🔶 Why shouldn’t we engage with trolling behaviour?

Because, very unfortunately, these behaviours are not rooted in a desire for genuine conversation. You can’t reason with trolling behaviour, convince it, or guide it toward empathy. 😔

🥀 Some people treat online spaces as places where boundaries don’t apply because they cannot see the person behind the screen.

🥀 Creating endless accounts after bans is not a sign of someone who wants to repair or communicate - it’s a sign of behaviour focused on disruption.

🥀 They are not here to receive or offer support. Responding to harmful comments can unintentionally reward the behaviour.

🥀 The goal of trolling behaviour is often to cause distress — don’t give it what it seeks.

Imagine someone continues posting harmful messages and everyone argues back, leading to triggers and conflict… 💔
Or everyone reports + mutes, and then the room carries on its normal, supportive conversation. ❤️‍🩹

Please help prevent the behaviour from “winning.” 🥺

🔷 Very importantly:

Almost everyone on Cups, especially members, has faced difficult challenges. 🔹
Many are vulnerable and come here seeking the safety and calm of an anonymous, supportive space. 🔹
A place where people use trigger warnings, ask for permission, and consider one another. 🔹

So I kindly ask: please do not engage. Do not read harmful messages further, and do not “unblock” someone displaying trolling behaviours. 🔹

Sometimes harmful words strike deeply, and recovery can take hours, months, or even years. 🔹

“The only thing you’ll gain from wrestling with a pig is mud and frustration…”

-someone I know in real life who’s a pro at handling trolls.

🪶 Seeker.