I used to think concern trolls, MRAs and rape apologists were trolls, but now I actually think that makes light of them. Their intent is not just to poke the hive and see who gets stung; their intent is to shut down conversations that threaten the rape culture (or structural racism, or heteronormativity--'trolls' of this nature affect every social justice movement), which imnsho is far more serious and destructive. Calling them rape apologists rather than trolls is more accurate.
I also think that calling the person who was harassing Seanan McGuire, and the one who harassed me (not the same people, just the same tactics) 'trolls' is minimising their destructive and threatening actions. People who harass female creators are doing it to get them to shut up and go away, and often cross the line into truly threatening, stalking and libellous behaviour in so doing; we need to take them and their creepy obsessions seriously because they are dangerous. If someone cares enough to make a website where they deface your photograph, use your real name if you're not putting it online, post identifying information and make libellous or defamatory statements about you in between making nasty jokes about your weight, sexual orientation and religion, just because they don't like your writing, they're hazardous to your mental health and may be physically dangerous. Online harassment and cyberbullying is also not the same thing as poking a hive to see who gets stung. (I also have a group of friends who are dealing with this right now but redacted the name of their project so as not to call attention to the bully. It's the same damn tactics, every time--slagging on your sexuality and appearance, religious beliefs or lack thereof, and attacking your project, combined with ugly and untrue accusations...)
People who want to tell you your book is trash, anonymous or not, are just being dicks. It may be harassment if they do it every time you write anything, but if they're just leaving a drive-by comment, they're just being dicks. If they were trolls they'd go to a public place where there are lots of people who like you and say it to THEM.
People who use slurs are just showing that they are homophobic/racist/ableist. I tend not to think it is trolling if they actually seem to believe what they say.
no subject
I also think that calling the person who was harassing Seanan McGuire, and the one who harassed me (not the same people, just the same tactics) 'trolls' is minimising their destructive and threatening actions. People who harass female creators are doing it to get them to shut up and go away, and often cross the line into truly threatening, stalking and libellous behaviour in so doing; we need to take them and their creepy obsessions seriously because they are dangerous. If someone cares enough to make a website where they deface your photograph, use your real name if you're not putting it online, post identifying information and make libellous or defamatory statements about you in between making nasty jokes about your weight, sexual orientation and religion, just because they don't like your writing, they're hazardous to your mental health and may be physically dangerous. Online harassment and cyberbullying is also not the same thing as poking a hive to see who gets stung. (I also have a group of friends who are dealing with this right now but redacted the name of their project so as not to call attention to the bully. It's the same damn tactics, every time--slagging on your sexuality and appearance, religious beliefs or lack thereof, and attacking your project, combined with ugly and untrue accusations...)
People who want to tell you your book is trash, anonymous or not, are just being dicks. It may be harassment if they do it every time you write anything, but if they're just leaving a drive-by comment, they're just being dicks. If they were trolls they'd go to a public place where there are lots of people who like you and say it to THEM.
People who use slurs are just showing that they are homophobic/racist/ableist. I tend not to think it is trolling if they actually seem to believe what they say.