Paulo Coelho’s “Manual for Killing Trolls”

I absolutely love Paulo Coelho’s ideas on life. They are so honest and refreshing and wise…

This blog post was in my Facebook newsfeed yesterday and I thought that it was a nice follow-up for my Word of the Day: Harassment. Also, I wanted to share it because I thought is was good…

The red words are the parts that meant the most to me. I kind of like that I can choose to NOT help someone based on the fact that they are an asshole! And a BLACKLIST – OMG!!!! But I think that might be taking it too far the wrong way…

Manual for Killing Trolls

by Paulo Coelho on February 4, 2013

1] Bullying/trolling only happens to people who have made an impact on the world.

• If you are being bullied, it is because you are someone who makes a difference.

• If you are not convinced about this theory, please read the comment box or a Twitter search of any news on any celebrity – artist, politician, sportsperson, etc.

2] Bullying/trolling is a sign of pathological behavior of frustrated people. To help them, you have to kill the troll that lives inside them.

3] And the only way to kill a troll is by making him/her aware that there is no such thing as anonymity on the internet. Therefore, anything they do now will have consequences in the future. Maybe not next month or next year, but one day they will need you.

4] So keep a list of these bullies/trolls and one day they will ask your help. And you will say without feeling guilty: “NO”.

5] Insults may hurt you now, but a warrior of the light is patient. Sooner or later you will have the last word!

PLEASE NOTE:
It is not a matter of being vindictive, but of respecting yourself and what you do. Adversaries are there to test you and your will.
Trolls do not deserve mercy, because they do not respect anyone, finding themselves “powerful” because they naively think they are acting anonymously.

People who spread hatred and darkness should be treated as they deserve. You can also choose to ignore them, in the name of “forgiveness”, but they will continue to spread anger and pain.

Therefore, first forgive, and then hit hard.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
When I was young I was very vulnerable and people used to take advantage of putting me down so they could shine. I was hurt, desperate and alone, but I could do nothing except to wait.
I decided to create two lists: one of people that I would thank and help in the future (in my book The Zahir I write about the Favour Bank ) and a list of those who hurt me.

The day arrived when both groups needed me. And I could repay my debts and ignore the pleas of those who were always putting me down.
And I can assure you, more than 150 in the second list asked me for help in the past 10 years. Of course I was very polite, but I told them why I was not going to help.

I have had my Favour Bank List and my Blacklist for the past 30 years. I don’t update my list anymore, but my office does this diligently.
(LOL! I found this last note very amusing…)