Who said it was a "her"? :-) (Though that is one of several).

Sometimes one can't help but think, "What if they're right? What if I really am no good?". Then you just have to pick up and move on regardless.

To say that someone who wants to prove their point because they are passionate about their side of the issue is an unhealthy troll I find to be insulting. I am not your friend. I am not a troll. I am not out to hurt you. I am not acting in a malicious way. I do however disagree with you on many things. Mostly I disagree that you have my, or any writer's best interest at heart. I have the right to say so.

Thanks for RTing this post. :)

Serena

Hopefully my blood pressure will go back to normal.

I don't take myself too serious. Somehow this seems to help a great deal.
I don't take it personal even if it is the intention. If I do they win.
Life is too short and will pass you bye. Let them sweat it.
To let criticism bother you. It only hurts you and your health.
Jesus said don't worry be happy. Not that singer dude Bobby.
Find a private place by yourself or with someone you trust and just get silly. Clean silly of course.
Psalm 37:4 Delight in the Lord. Focus on that verse. That's all I got, man.

I am my own worst critic.

Of course, that is a terribly self-destructive way to live but one of the big problems with it though is that, whenever I receive criticism from anyone, the critic is simply agreeing with my own self-criticism.

This makes it very hard for me not to take the criticism to heart and let it eat me up inside.

Thank God I haven't had too much real criticism to date!

Great post Michael, Thank you!

I've only received a few criticizing comments on my blog and they felt like personal attacks. Because the source hid behind the safety of anonymity I consider them snipers more than trolls. It was frustrating because there was no opportunity to defend myself, rebuttals are not an option when the attack is a drive-by shooting. I did a lot of soul searching and finally moved on.

I don't want to go through life seeking only praise – it might give me a misguided sense of my place in the world. Nor do I want to put too much weight on criticism. I appreciate the balanced view you offer here.

Of all the blogs I read, Mr. Hyatt has deeply impressed me with his ability to stay above the fray. His point was not to subtly call other Christians nasty names, but to show leaders (everyone really) how to identify and positively handle different kinds of criticism.

Somehow, calling those who criticize will apparent ill intent "troubled brothers" doesn't adequately convey the distinction.

One of the best responses I have to spoken criticism is to say, "I'm not a perfect person." Most of the time, the criticizer will agree with me and perhaps even smile. I also make a point of listening to what others say because I have found that God can catch my attention through criticism. I guess what that means is I am not afraid of what other people think or say about me because I am God's beloved daughter and nothing anyone says will ever change that.

Truth be told, I am thankful for their criticism, because it has prepped me for ministry and criticism of all sorts. I'm open to the "faithful wounds of friends " as a matter of fact I love those! I realize that we have an enemy and that he uses people to crush us. It hurts, but I always try to look for God in it. When I'm hanging out with God and resting in His will, I feel most secure and He always speaks through the pain and eventually I get it.

Thanks for sharing the post and starting this dialogue!

The word ‘troll’ was at one time part of literature. A character that scared the crap out of me was I was just a wee thing.

Now it’s being used to denigrate a group of people who are emotionally troubled, have boundary issues, or who may be mentally disabled in some way. I understand that when they express their discontent in horribly perverse ways, its terribly hurtful. But that doesn’t make them trolls.

They are in fact, children of a loving God, whether they understand that or not, or whether they disagree with that or not. Irregardless, they are your spiritual brothers and sisters. This is a relationship that is supernal in nature, a part of our spiritual heritage if you will. So, please do not refer to them as trolls. It is a perjorative term, just like moron, retard, idiot, loser etc…

We can teach our troubled brothers and sisters in a much more loving way. Usually that can be done through the use of boundaries. And sometimes that means putting people on ignore. Sometimes that means dropping a disruptive client, and sometimes that means withdrawing from that person’s life. Each case is different.

I know its helpful to me, when I’m faced with this kind of adversity, to think; What on earth happened in this person’s life that they are compelled to act the way they do? I can’t answer that. But I do feel immense compassion for their struggles.

And I can control my reaction to hurtful, defamatory behavior on the part of an anonymous commenter, client, friend, whatever, by forgiving them and not judging them, not gossiping about them, and not belittling them. It also helps me to remember that the offended is more often the offender.

The most beautiful scripture in the Bible should be taped underneath our computer so that when a rock comes through the screen and puts a dent in our forehead, we can look at it and read:

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

The liberty to identify trolls as such comes from first having a clear idea of what it is your organisation IS supposed to revolve around. Distilling that clear idea for a community and then unpacking together the "what then shall we do" is surely one of the central pillars of leadership.

The key is choosing to respond Biblically rather than react to them. Knee jerk reactions can make bad situations worse. When looking back, no one regrets having taken the high road.
Blessings and have a great day!!!

Does Amazon sell Troll Drains?