I admit it: I spend basically every waking hour on Twitter. It’s the first thing I check in the morning, it’s the last thing I do before I go to bed, it’s how I pass the time while I’m standing in line at the grocery store.
Thus, I am familiar with the AOT (asshole on Twitter) and have developed an excellent strategy for handling them. I am now going to share this innovative, earth-shattering AOT Elimination Strategy with you. You can thank me later.
Scenario #1: Someone tweets something really obnoxious. It is something so obnoxious that it burns your eyes just to see that tweet sullying the sanctity of your phone. Its obnoxiousness simply makes you seethe and hate the very person attached to the very fingers that typed that very obnoxious tweet.
1. Decide: Is this an issue worth fighting for? (Here’s a hint: If they’re tweeting about a television show, it is most definitely not an issue worth fighting for. If they’re tweeting about civil rights, animal cruelty, child molesters, etc, it might be an issue worth fighting for. Maybe.)
2. If it is an issue worth fighting for, reply and share your opinion. Do not curse. Do not insult the AOT’s intelligence, user photo, or mother. And for the love of god, do not use the wrong form of “your” or “you’re,” because it will immediately invalidate your argument. Nine times out of ten, this very obnoxious person will do a great job of making themselves look like the AOT that the are, and you can move on with your life.
3. If it is not an issue worth fighting for, unfollow the person who said it, because you hate them and their stupid typing fingers, and move on with your life.
4. If the obnoxiousness continues to burn your eyes (for example, they are @replying you in their obnoxiousness, or people you follow keep RTing their obnoxiousness), simply block the AOT. All gone! The block button is an awesome tool. It is a simple way to say “I don’t want to read the things that you write, so I’m moving on with my life” without having to get offensive and make yourself look like an AOT.
Of course, sometimes it is not as simple as that.
Scenario #2: Someone tweets something really obnoxious about you. It is a lie and/or it is mean and/or it hurts your feelings and/or it is total pointless douchey cyber bullying. Sometimes they @ tag you. Sometimes they don’t. Sometimes entire armies of Vampire Diaries fans insist on calling you “cow” in Portuguese every single day of your life. Sometimes grown adults who you have never even met call you a bitch. Regardless, it really sucks.
1. Don’t return the favor by being an AOT. When people get abusive on Twitter, they look like the jerk, not you, because they were incapable of following the rules for Scenario #1. My favorite thing to do when people say insane things to me is to RT it and move on with my life. (I RT them because once they stop hurting my heart-area they are hilarious and I don’t like to deprive my followers of hilarious things.)
2. Decide if it’s worth replying. Remember that sometimes, replying is basically the equivalent of poking a hideous angry drooling bear-shark hybrid with a stick. It will only make it angrier and more hideous. If you do reply, follow the rules: No cursing, no personal insults, and no grammar crimes. You’re better than that.
3. Block them and let them continue to spew their bile where you can’t hear them. Cue up Taylor Swift’s song “Mean” and remind yourself that someday you’ll be living in a big ol’ city and all they’re ever gonna be is mean. Move on with your life. I mean… occasionally cry about it in the shower where no one can hear your sobs, but mostly, move on with your life.
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Loved this ^^
I feel ashamed of some TVD fans sometimes…I’m from Brazil and I really don’t get why people get so mean online…I mean, what’s the point?
I love your job, read everything u post always and I think you are amazing
And u are right by not lettin’ this kind of shit let u down…people will always try to let u down and make u feel miserable, u just have to ignore it and keep on doing this amazing job u do…For sure u have many supporters around here o/
best thing ever.
I have no idea why all of the TVD fans attack you! I love everything you post.
Please write a book!
This just made me love you more.
love this and love you!! :)
Totally rad, Carina! WELL SAID! My only wish is that everyone in this world could be as kind and mature as you are. I’ve always despised the way people are SO DUMB and INSULTING to you and other complete strangers on twitter.
LOVED. LOVED. LOVED. your blog entry! Rock on!
Sending you loving and healing love and light from my heart to yours. :)
Jen
“Sometimes entire armies of Vampire Diaries fans insist on calling you “cow” in Portuguese every single day of your life. Sometimes grown adults who you have never even met call you a bitch.”
PERFECT. Who cares about these losers hiding behind a computer. 9/10 times, they would NEVER say these things to your face. For every hater you have, you have another 10 followers who really enjoy your tweets so screw the assholes!
PS. I really, really, really enjoy those crazy followers who are fans of TVD & GG that say rude things and you RT them. They really are hilarious so thanks for entertaining me!
So sorry about the TVD fans insulting you in Portuguese. The Brazilian fandom is better than that, promise.
Well, I’m brazilian, I follow you on twitter, I read your recaps and posts. I also share the same kind of love you share for Pacey (although I *still* haven’t received a hug from Joshua Jackson like you have).
Anyway, I just want to say that I feel sorry for these people that just don’t have a life. They are probably bored teenagers that believe Ian Somerhalder is the most perfect human being on earth (obliviously, they didn’t watch Dawson’s Creek and never feel in love with Pacey, I mean, Joshua).
You are a great writer, you seem to have a strong sense of moral, a inteligent humor and I hope to read your book or watch your tv show someday soon.
Sorry for those assholes on twitter. I am embarrassed for them. Just keep on because you are much better.
Let the haters hate, Carina. I follow you because you like EVERY awesome show I do, you post/write great articles, and because you are witty and snarky (characteristics I look for in my friends). Thanks for the tips.
Thank-you, Carina, for writing this, and for being a big enough person to retweet the haters and let us share the hilarity.
Oh Carina. I wish people didn’t give you such a hard time but people do suck and it happens. Sometimes you just gotta do this http://tinyurl.com/2akd32t or this http://tinyurl.com/28hrep2 and move on. You are better than those people and cooler than them. If you ever need anything (shirtless picture of Pacey http://tinyurl.com/73o65sb, an ego boost, a Twitter hug, a swoon worthy gif http://tinyurl.com/6n5f2lc etc) I’m here for you! xooxoxoxoxoox
Hannah
Well said! I hope you can stick to your rules and not then them hurt your ‘heart area.’ Notice my use of ‘your’ and not ‘you’re.’ It’s because I spent more time listening at school than being an Asshat.
Those people are weird.I mean,I wouldn’t go to a guest at work and insult him just because I don’t like his hair/opinion/shoes or something like that.
Welcome on the internet where you can say shit about everyone and everything.
The RT-ing part is a good one.