Don't feed the troll
Meaning
To ignore someone who is deliberately trying to provoke an argument or upset others online, thereby denying them the attention they seek.
Origin
Back in the primordial soup of the early internet, specifically within the sprawling discussion forums of Usenet, a new kind of nuisance began to plague online communities. Users who deliberately posted inflammatory, disruptive messages just to provoke arguments and derail conversations became known as 'trolls'—a nod to the mythical creatures who lurk under bridges, demanding tribute. Their sole aim was attention, and any response, positive or negative, served as their sustenance. Thus, the powerful advice emerged: 'Don't feed the troll.' It quickly became the golden rule for online sanity, a stark reminder that engaging with these provocateurs only empowers their disruptive quest, turning a tiny spark of annoyance into a raging inferno across the digital realm.
Examples
- When Sarah saw the rude comment on her blog post, she remembered the advice, "Don't feed the troll," and just deleted it instead of replying.
- My manager always tells us, if a customer is being unnecessarily aggressive on social media, don't feed the troll; just report and block them.