Spring is coming. This year President Biden’s SOTU Address brought out the Republican trollers in number on Substack pro-Democracy sites as numerous as dandelions. Blocking works.
PS Does it matter that the trolling is on another writer’s Stack? Or is the idea to clean up our own newsletters which I have not yet done. Engage all other areas but not full on newsletters yet.
My question Diane…how to get rid of free subscribers? When I’m notified I’ve another subscriber I check them out… some are sketchy in that there’s no picture, title, followers, reads …or are obviously trumpers. Looking at my subscriber list I see no delete button 🤔
They need to make it easier. You have to go to the person’s profile and block them. If I had my way, I would tell Substack no followers—let them look, scroll on by, or subscribe even if the latter is free. Some people click on everyone they see. Some are not the ones you’d want to know.
In defence of the dandelion. Pick on another "weed". We keep bees and they relish the dandelion season. Besides, dandelions are good for salads, are full of vitamins and minerals and, rumour has it, they make French people pee (hence the French word for dandelion is "pissenlit"). Besides, when they go to seed they are excellent for fortune telling. May I suggest you substitute stinging nettles which are far more appropriate and much more insidious!
There is a setting which prevents them from doing that. The secret is don’t follow everyone back until you’ve checked their reads & posts. Don’t subscribe until you’re sure.
Hmm. My settings offer me very little. Are you saying that once I block them, their restacks of my notes will automatically disappear for all their readers?
I myself can no longer see the restack because I blocked them, but before blocking they had successfully restacked me, because I saw the restack on their notes feed.
Obviously I don’t want to be restacked there or on troll feeds generally.
Thanks. Good timing for this reminder. If you block before reporting can you still report? If I block a comment do I still need to delete it. Baby wings. More of a reader than a writer.
"If you’re like me, you probably don’t care about strange people who jump onto a writer’s comment section (usually political articles) to showcase their degrading, anti-Democracy or anti-Biden propaganda. Do NOT engage with angry trolls or red bots. Report, Block, and delete the comment off your feed. The writers will appreciate your vigilance."
I have a zero tolerance of bullying of any sort. I’m fine with critics. But not folks who are there saying disgusting things for no reason but to make folks uncomfortable. You got the right idea Diane!
First time I responded to a troll was with “feel better honey?” Months ago I just started blocking. Sad viciousness is not interesting. Too old for boring troll screeds.
Question please? I can report & Substack will delete which is the ONLY WAY I think takes care of trolls on entire platform. But to delete or hide nasty comments just clears my feed only. Am I correct? And is Substack willing to participate in what might be called censorship? After all, they’re in business for profit, not justice. Or am I being unfair?
PS Does it matter that the trolling is on another writer’s Stack? Or is the idea to clean up our own newsletters which I have not yet done. Engage all other areas but not full on newsletters yet.
Both.
My question Diane…how to get rid of free subscribers? When I’m notified I’ve another subscriber I check them out… some are sketchy in that there’s no picture, title, followers, reads …or are obviously trumpers. Looking at my subscriber list I see no delete button 🤔
They need to make it easier. You have to go to the person’s profile and block them. If I had my way, I would tell Substack no followers—let them look, scroll on by, or subscribe even if the latter is free. Some people click on everyone they see. Some are not the ones you’d want to know.
Aha! Just as in other cases. I didn’t know if blocking automatically gets them off my list of subscribers. Thanks!
In defence of the dandelion. Pick on another "weed". We keep bees and they relish the dandelion season. Besides, dandelions are good for salads, are full of vitamins and minerals and, rumour has it, they make French people pee (hence the French word for dandelion is "pissenlit"). Besides, when they go to seed they are excellent for fortune telling. May I suggest you substitute stinging nettles which are far more appropriate and much more insidious!
Shaming and then blocking may work too, though they are incapable of any shame or compunction 😝
It’s not worth one minute to shame them. As you say, they have no shame.
Also, how do you handle when they restack you to their trollverse?
There is a setting which prevents them from doing that. The secret is don’t follow everyone back until you’ve checked their reads & posts. Don’t subscribe until you’re sure.
Hmm. My settings offer me very little. Are you saying that once I block them, their restacks of my notes will automatically disappear for all their readers?
I myself can no longer see the restack because I blocked them, but before blocking they had successfully restacked me, because I saw the restack on their notes feed.
Obviously I don’t want to be restacked there or on troll feeds generally.
It applies to your future posts.
Okay, so for the record is it correct to say that if you block someone they can no longer restack you?
Thanks. Good timing for this reminder. If you block before reporting can you still report? If I block a comment do I still need to delete it. Baby wings. More of a reader than a writer.
Report, then block is the sequence.
Ditto!
"If you’re like me, you probably don’t care about strange people who jump onto a writer’s comment section (usually political articles) to showcase their degrading, anti-Democracy or anti-Biden propaganda. Do NOT engage with angry trolls or red bots. Report, Block, and delete the comment off your feed. The writers will appreciate your vigilance."
Diane I applaud your work here! I don't have the stomach to wade into the mire anymore. Thank you for all you do!
I have a zero tolerance of bullying of any sort. I’m fine with critics. But not folks who are there saying disgusting things for no reason but to make folks uncomfortable. You got the right idea Diane!
We are in this together as Joyce V says, and we need our time spent well—thanks, Scott!
Agreed Diane!
First time I responded to a troll was with “feel better honey?” Months ago I just started blocking. Sad viciousness is not interesting. Too old for boring troll screeds.
Yes, me too. I don’t want Substack to be Facebook (which I left)) or x (which I don’t do)!
Question please? I can report & Substack will delete which is the ONLY WAY I think takes care of trolls on entire platform. But to delete or hide nasty comments just clears my feed only. Am I correct? And is Substack willing to participate in what might be called censorship? After all, they’re in business for profit, not justice. Or am I being unfair?
It’s so frustrating & so tempting to engage but it only feeds their incredibly fragile egos.
Yes, Sandra! They want angry replies, and they feed on them. Sadly these trollers are on all media.