Internet Trolls

Posted on by beautybeyondbones

So I got called a “fatty” by someone on Instagram today.

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And now, before I go any further, this is not some lame attempt to fish for complements or whatever. It was a bogus remark by a troll on the internet. I deleted it. But not before I went to the guy’s page, andddd it was all shirtless bathroom mirror selfies with his face scribbled out. So there’s that…

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I wasn’t really hurt. I was just sorta miffed. Frankly, I was disappointed in humanity that people would seriously be so cruel. Calling a former “anorexic” fat? Who does that?

And I was going to just Shake it Off, a la, Taylor Swift, but I actually thought it was a great opportunity for reflection. That, and when the comment came in, I was writing another piece on what recovery has taught me, so I decided to practice what I was literally preaching. I needed to #AllowMyselfToFeel

Because back in the early stages of my recovery, a comment like this would have derailed me. Sent me into a tail spin. Gone all Britney Spears, circa 2007.

But not this time.

Sure, maybe I was a little stung by it. I mean, come on…no person wants to hear that they’re a “fatty,” but I rationally knew that, no…that’s not true. I’m not remotely close to being overweight.

But I felt my mind going to a place I didn’t want it to go. A place where I was concerned with how I look and my body image and being harshly critical of myself. A place that, though I am strong in my recovery, is still my one area of vulnerability to ED and his dirty tricks.

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I needed to reground myself. So I turned to the Word.

And opened up to today’s readings. And wouldn’t you know…it was exactly what I needed to hear.

Ephesians 6: 10-20. AKA, putting on the armor of God.

“In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One.” (aka ED)

When I read that this was today’s reading, I literally laughed out loud at just how amazing God is and how He gives us just what we need, when exactly we need it.

I mean, come on, God. You’ve outdone yourself here 🙂

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But it’s true. Everyday, whether it is in the form of a cruel comment from a cowardly troll on the internet, or a flat tire at an inopportune time, or a detour in our life plan we hadn’t anticipated…there are flaming arrows literally hurling towards us. All the time.

These things make us take our eyes off of the Truth, or worse…doubt in God’s goodness or perhaps even existence. It is a battle out there.

One that I am grateful I don’t have to face alone.

I was reminded tonight of the importance of “suiting up.”

I don’t have to tell you the climate of our culture and our political system right now. After this election, we’re all going to have to truly put on the Armor of God and stand firm in our faith and trust that God’s goodness will prevail, even if it is not reflected in the fabric of the society around us.

This comment tonight, it was a little gnat. A pesky fly that, perhaps was the canary in the the mineshaft of things to come. A little preparatory nudge from God that I can’t be lackadaisical in my faith. In my readiness. In trusting in the Truth.

This isn’t some Braveheart battle cry, I promise. War paint and kilts don’t do nothin for this figure 😉

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God can use everything for good. Even hurtful Instagram comments. He can use anything as an opportunity for growth. For teaching. For communicating His love. We just have to seek His word. Show Him where it hurts so that He can heal and help us grow.

Because I promise, He’ll answer loud and clear. We’ve just gotta seek to listen.

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369 thoughts on “Internet Trolls”

  1. Just returned from an amazing time in the word, studying in seminary…and through the teaching combined with a little inspiration, I stumbled upon this Life line: Life’s situations are God’s initiations.

    Life and its many almost meaningless attacks on us can in God’s amazing grace be turned into phenomenal blessings. So edifiied(church word for intense encouragement) by this post as I am seeing God just increasing in your life and pouring out in your post. Preach on👍🏻

    Like

  2. Not sure if it was already noted but when you look at the armour of God, do you see what’s not covered? The key is, we are to keep pressing forward.

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    1. Thanks you for this Sarah. Yeah I’ve got to show this guy some compassion-clearly he needed to hurt someone else because he himself is hurting. It actually makes me feel kinda sad. I appreciate your encouragement! Hugs and love xox

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    2. Dear princess Carolyn, that troller even forgot to start with nasty as in nasty fatty 🙂
      But aha the devil is a liar, he’ll never beat God to it as far as one of his is concerned.
      Yes the reading from Ephesians which was so timely for both of us in different respects, is a constant reminder of what we’re up against.
      Am a spiritual retreat and I learnt this yesterday: We are always more discontented with others when we discontented with ourselves.
      Loads of all

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hi Marie! haha, you’re right! It could have been a lot worse! hehe And wow what a profound lesson you learned yesterday – we are always more discontented with other when we are discontented with ourselves….so true. love that. thanks for sharing! hugs xox

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Oh, my gosh, yes! We must always be prepared. Thank you so much for this post. I’ve been struggling lately with my feelings of anxiety and stress has been getting to me too. And when that happens, I turn to food as comfort. Thank you for the reminder to turn to God, rather than to the food. I’ve had a few life detours lately and I sometimes don’t do well.

    Love your blog and your writing! Thanks for writing Truth.

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      1. We all have things in life the blindside us every so often. I just keep thinking that this is my story and it’s my job to tell it. It might just help someone who’s going through something similar. Maybe, just maybe, someone will find hope in it. 🙂

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  6. If you read Isaiah 54, you will see that anyone attacking you will fall over you. Recently, the premier of my province and former mayor of my city, called me “clueless” on Twitter. Her bitch pack entered the fray and had a field day ridiculing me. They were really cruel. I then took a picture of an official letter and proved them wrong. The premier was awarded the title “world’s best mayor” about a decade ago. Her arrogance and haughty pride had embarrassed many on social media, so many times. Now this: with the help of an “unresponsive” (according to the premier) minister in national parliament, we managed to solve the problem within aweek. Her Twitter account has become so quiet that people discuss it widely. I also want to inspire you as readers to be the kings, queens & prophets you were called to be, even if you are, like myself, someone with limited means and no social standing. You can still make the world better for His children. We rule with Jesus, as His aides, not needing any status endowed by man. We know, after all, who we are in Him. From this, a huge opportunity fell into my lap. I will report on my blog over the next two weeks. Some better understanding will come when reading On Behalf Of The Disabled on my blog Awethentiq.wordpress.com Don’t be discouraged by the rice kernel minded trolls; they only use their intellect to its absolute maximum capacity. But you are so much smarter than them all combined. Now, like Gideon the coward who hid in an empty wine tank, go in His power and save your nation.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Wow thank you so much for this. You’re absolutely right-we need to focus on who we are in Him and let the rest just be brushed off. I’m so sorry you had to endure that. People can be mean and it says a lot more about them than it does about you:) looking forward to reading your piece. Big big hugs to you friend xox

      Liked by 1 person

      3. It is just so triggering for someone with an eating disorder to be told that they are fat you did really well to overcome that nasty untrue comment. The last time someone told me I was fat I was 22 and went on an instant weight loss programme. Your faith is so strong I wish I had that certainty in my life but I do have my recovery community which gives me a lot of strength and support. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Thanks Caroline, I appreciate you sharing this. Yeah it definitely hits a tender and vulnerable area. I’m so glad you gave that community. That’s so great. 🙂 supportive relationships are so important. Big hugs to you friend xox

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  8. What a beautifully written post. Unfortunately, I’m still at the ‘scream-wail-cry-self-harm-part’ but your post was so inspiring that I’ve bookmarked it. You have come such a long way.

    Yeah, ‘fatty’ is a horrible thing to be called, ED or nor. But actually? There are far worse things in life than being fat, aren’t there? I mean: it’s more insulting to be called stupid. Lots of people may not feel like that, but it’s true. No brain or a little bit of extra weight? Logically, I know what I’d pick.

    I don’t share your faith, so I can’t sure in some of the words you used.

    But this is a beautiful post. Thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi friend, wow, thank you so much for our kind words. So true — there are far worse things, and that is a great perspective to remember 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! have a great weekend! hugs xox

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  9. I love the internet it allows us to do amazing things like blogging but the people who mis-use it let give it a bad name x

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  10. clearly this guy wasn’t confident himself if he was scrubbing his face out of his own pictures! Something I’ve learned since recovering is that there is more to me than how I look… and if people are judging me on how I look that says more about how shallow and skin deep their characters are anyway! Often they aren’t people worth hanging out with (sadly).
    I think you look great 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  11. Amen to all that! With God on your side there is nothing that can harm you. I came to the startlingly realisation that those who look to hurt or undermine others are often the most vulnerable themselves. Keep the faith.

    Like

  12. Reblogged this on Awethentiq® and commented:
    Internet Trolls are as part of our lives as bad drivers and graffiti. We must adapt or die, learn how to deal with them. It sometimes is a good opportunity to expose that person, or to let it pass unnoticed. Don’t let it get under your skin. Here is to being attacked without reason. If you read Isaiah 54, you will see that anyone attacking you will fall over you. Recently, the premier of my province and former mayor of my city, called me “clueless” on Twitter. Her bitch pack entered the fray and had a field day ridiculing me. They were really cruel. I then took a picture of an official letter and proved them wrong. The premier was awarded the title “world’s best mayor” about a decade ago. Her arrogance and haughty pride had embarrassed many on social media, so many times. Now this: with the help of an “unresponsive” (according to the premier) minister in national parliament, we managed to solve the problem within aweek. Her Twitter account has become so quiet that people discuss it widely. I also want to inspire you as readers to be the kings, queens & prophets you were called to be, even if you are, like myself, someone with limited means and no social standing. You can still make the world better for His children. We rule with Jesus, as His aides, not needing any status endowed by man. We know, after all, who we are in Him. From this, a huge opportunity fell into my lap. I will report on my blog over the next two weeks. Some better understanding will come when reading On Behalf Of The Disabled on my blog Awethentiq.wordpress.com
    Don’t be discouraged by the rice kernel minded trolls; they only use their intellect to its absolute maximum capacity. But you are so much smarter than them all combined. Now, like Gideon the coward who hid in an empty wine tank, go in His power and save your nation.

    Like

  13. You already know you’re beautiful inside and out so no need to go there. Two things:

    One – whenever someone leaves a comment like that it’s because their own life is so miserable and messed up that they have to spread their disease to other people to feel good. I used to think that was just something people said to dismiss trolls but I’ve come to understand it is very true after knowing a lot of people like that. He was also probably drunk.

    Two – when you start getting haters it’s because you’re doing something right. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  15. What an amazing demonstration of your strength in God. Interpreting this Troll’s comment as a reminder from Him about your own faith and strength is really inspiring. I hope whoever that person was sees your reaction and knows he too is loved and should only put love out there in the world.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Leading a small group last night and at the end, we’re all just hanging out and one of the girls in my group goes “Oh my gosh! BBB just posted”. Everyone then proceeds to pull their phones out and read this post. 🙂 keep it up girl.

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  17. Armor of God, is a great idea. Thomas Hauser said that a man that has seen violence will surely guard others from it. That is you. My friend, a blacksmith said iron alone is heavy and brittle it takes constant pounding and folding to gain strength and become hard. That is like faith, faith is a Damascus blade which is part iron and part Earth. The word of God is iron and each day we become less brittle.

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    1. Hi Kenzie! wow I am in awe at these metaphors. such powerful powerful thinking. I love that about the Damascus blade. You’re right, God is forming us, and what a beautiful journey that is. Thank you again for your kind words. Hope you have a great weekend! hugs xox

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Are you close to The Holy Church of The Apostles on 26th and 9th? They have a cemetery I can’t seem to find. I don’t even know if their still around.

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      5. Yeah, it’s a soup kitchen I guess it would be at the bottom of the apple. Their cemetery is pretty.

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  18. As an official old person (or one on the verge, at least), I both appreciate and am dismayed by the behaviors the internet empowers. On the one hand, all sorts of actual (not trolly conspiracy nonsense) human wisdom accumulated for anyone to access from anywhere with a computer and a wifi (or ethernet) hub. On the other, all of the private junk that must have resided quietly between many pairs of ears over the millennia can now bubble out and inflict itself on any part of the world that it chooses. It is a Pandora’s Box dilemma – once opened, we have the knowledge of what was contained but want to banish the imps that escaped. How to have one without the other? I’m not sure there’s a way that comports with the ideals of democracy, free speech, etc.
    As reflected by others, your particular troll (good news – you have your very own troll! bad news – they are not likable in the cute, fuzzy-haired way one might have hoped) is simply acting out and reflecting their own state of being. I play an online game with thousands of players from around the world. A vast majority of those players behave quite well but there are “act-outers” who inflict their insecurities and failings on others.
    Do not for an instant think that their comment had anything to do with your “being” or your appearance. Do not go to your dark place(s) – ever – because of the actions others take.
    Kind regards, MSOC

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    1. Hi MSOC, wow, what a kind comment. Thank you for this powerful encouragement. You’re so right – it’s Pandora’s box. We have access to so much info — I mean, heck “Googling something” is an official verb! But yes, it comes with abusers of that “power.” I’d take a troll with blue hair and a gem in its belly button any day! haha (remember those dolls from the 90’s?) haha my sibling had one I think 🙂 Thanks again. hugs and love to you xox

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Troll dolls appeared in schools around the U.S. the mid-60s and apparently were a Danish toy design. For some reason, they came in a model that had a hole in their backside so you could impale them on the eraser end of your pencil (I wonder if anyone bothered to ask the trolls how they felt about this!). So, young’un, I remember those dolls from the, erm, ’60s. I was still young then 😉
        Otherwise, you’re welcome as always. I wish I could express myself more concisely but it doesn’t seem to be “me.”

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  19. Focus on what God thinks of you but take time alone and quite to see if you, deep down, accept it as truth or just acknowledge it without believing it. That’s what I go through when the arrows start flying.

    I am sorry you had to experience that but God knows have to use the bad to make it a lesson for us.
    Love you sister, you are right where your supposed to be, your WordPress family loves you and we have your back

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    1. Thank you so much for this, my friend. I am so just humbled and blown away by the friends like you who really do have my back. My heart is so warm right now. You’re right…God will use anything and every to teach us and reveal His love. Thanks again. big hugs xo

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Oh… so much this. I really needed this. I am trying not to sob in my office at work. I’m getting hit with quivers-worth of flaming arrows right now. I needed this. Thank you.

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    1. Hi Julee, oh I am sending you the biggest hug and box of tissues through the computer right now!! I’m so sorry that you’re on the receiving end of those dang arrows. Hang in there. It’s hard to see in the moment, but God can and will use all of this junk for good and to ultimately reveal His immense love for you 🙂 You’re a rockstar and i’m sending massive love your way! (And also keeping you in my prayers 🙂 )

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  21. Spot on! Brilliant! Just whatI needed today as well … the Armour of God – here UK our country, too, is now needing us to trust God and wear the armour (“Brexit” – weird … and very odd…) – what a world! Thanks for this…

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  25. Whenever some troll tries to get to me, I just remember that person wouldn’t have the gumption to say it to my face and not just behind a computer screen. Pfffffft to that guy

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    1. Hi Alleh! thank you so much for this awesome insight. You’re right…anonymity can breed a lot of meanies. Gotta just brush it off and remember the truth. Thanks for your encouragement! have a beautiful weekend! hugs xox

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  26. You are so beautiful not only on the outside but in the inside as well… I can’t believe anyone would ever say anything negative about you!

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  27. It is amazing how God gives the support and words we need at the right time. I also received the dreaded “you’ve gained weight” statement this week. So many bloggers have since posted about how they deal with such comments. And anyone with a eyes and a mind knows that you are beautiful inside and out!

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    1. Hi Kat, thank you so much for this. Yeah God will give us the grace to get through those triggers! I’m sorry you can personally relate! At the end of the day, we’ve gotta just remember the truth and what’s important:) sending massive hugs!

      Liked by 1 person

  28. Individuals behind such comments have issues of their own, so we cannot take them seriously. It reflects who THEY are! Power to you for your strength and recovery!

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  29. Some people you really gotta wonder, do you really have nothing better to do than this? Even if it were true – which obviously it’s not – so what? Are you so superficial and have such low self-esteem that you have to attack a good hearted person to feel good about yourself? I feel sorry for you.

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  30. That is such an awesome testimony of using “evil” (for lack of a better word) for good. You can’t control what mean people think or do, but you definitely CAN always put on the armour of God…which is a great reminder for everyone, myself included! Keep on being yourself, you are beautiful inside and out!

    Liked by 1 person

  32. You should be so proud that you have got to the point that you are so strong that you can brush these comments off! Thanks for sharing this, it would have been easy to keep it secret and let it eat at you. I hope the response to this post just confirms that the word fat has no power over you. You know that being fat is not the worst thing in the world, and you know that you are of a healthy weight. You’re an awesome girl!

    Liked by 1 person

  36. Great post! Guard your heart for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23 I am so thankful you were able to look at this in the perspective it needed.

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  40. We don’t know each other but I can see that you are definitely not fat. You are quite lovely. If you saw my picture me you would know that I am fat. Always have been. But I am also a lovely person. That makes us alike😬. Trolls are bullies. Ignore them.

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  42. Your comments in relation to GOD’s Divine Words of Scripture Are the highlight of your gifts shared here. May our Heavenly Father through Jesus, continue to guide your dear heart as you spread the good news about our Heavenly Father’s soon to begin on earth Kingdom and His Divine Plan, continuing always to be a light that shines before men “that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). God bless you.

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      3. Dear friend, in return for your 3 hearts, here is something for Spiritual edification, regarding the NUMBER 3 in the BIBLE. I hope you may find it of interest and keep using your wonderful talents as a representative of Jesus CHRIST, our King!

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  43. Another great post, Carolyn. Good sound reflection and response to an otherwise cruel comment from a troll. He may have lashed out at you to mask his own pitiful self-image. You’re strong. You’re right. And you’re a blessing to me and lots of other folks. Keep those thought-provoking, revealing posts coming, Caralyn. You’re touching a lot of rough spots with balm and peace.

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  44. I remember hearing a message from Zola Levitt, he called it “The Ministry of Distraction”. There seems to be people in this world that spend their time attacking people. Their purpose is to cause you to spend your time away from what is important or distract you, by causing you to defend yourself or what you believe. (or to doubt yourself.) If you’re not careful, these ministers of distraction can cause you to act like a dog who chases its own tail. (Going in a circle, but going nowhere.)

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  45. I have come to understand the problem of “projection”. Particularly, people who lack self awareness are apt to project their own fears and other issues on those around them, especially those that they consciously (or unconsciously) consider an authority-figure. In some sense, this incident is a measure of your growing influence!

    To cite a favorite Humphrey Bogart quote: “Here’s looking at you, kid.”

    Stephen

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  50. Well I do not care if you are a “fatty, “a skinny,” or an “upside down porcupine,” whatever that is! 🙂 I will always take you just like you are because I want what is in your heart! From what I have learned about you, there is nothing but “beauty” in there, thank you very much!!!

    Tell the “troll” to get back under his bridge with the rest of his goats! I always delete “troll comments” on my blog also. So see now we have something in common! 🙂 See, there is always good which comes out of something bad! Love you and God Bless, SR

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