As a cam performer and content creator, you build your online presence by interacting with people in chatrooms. One of the big drawbacks of the internet is the perceived anonymity. People become very uninhibited, opinionated and just overall nastier online because, unlike actual face-to-face conversations, no one knows who they really are. The most problem some of these are trolls, and they are everywhere on the internet, not just in your chat room.
Trolls love to say anything to get a reaction. They may attack you personally (but don’t take it personally because the troll doesn’t know you and they make these comments to anyone online) by attempting to degrade you, use vulgarity toward you and say very hateful words.
Many psychologists believe that people who become online trolls are narcissists and/or sadists. This group derives their pleasure from hurting others. Studies have show that up to 28% of people in the United States have engaged in trolling. While not all of these people are full time trolls, it does show that there are many people online purposely saying things just to anger others.
Dealing with Trolls
The best way to deal with trolls is to not interact with trolls. They crave attention. Trolls love to inflame people and get reactions from people. Therefore, the best way to rid your room of a troll or trolls is by not fueling the fire. If you do not succumb to their taunts, then they will eventually grow tired of being ignored and leave on their own.
Some people suggest blocking trolls. Personally, this author is not a fan of blocking because they can just set up new profiles with fake names and then return to attempt more harassment. Better to just let them scream and yell like a person throwing a tantrum. Eventually, they will grow weary and leave.
Ignoring trolls is challenging. We are all human with feelings, and no one likes to be berated, provoked or spoken to disrespectfully. Always remember that there is *nothing* wrong with you! The troll is the problem, not you.
It may sound cliché, but in the sex worker business, you must grow a thick skin. Trolls may be the extreme version of harassment online, but even every day people can and will say things that are nasty and belittling. Sadly, when people do not get their way, many turn to using words of anger and profanity.
Your mental state of being is most important. We all saw in this year’s Summer Olympics how gymnast Simone Biles put her mental well-being above competing in the Olympic games. No one should consider her “weak” for paying attention to what she needed to do to keep her sanity, and neither should you feel attending to your emotional needs is “weak.”
Stay Balanced (and help stave off that troll impact!)
Web camming is performing. Your goal may be to work 6 or 8 hours per day, but like any performer, it is important to take breaks from your work. These include brief breaks throughout the day and breaks like long weekends and vacations away from web camming.
During your daily breaks, do activities that will help clear your mind of any negativity that was “heaped” on you during a session. Engage in activities like:
— Short meditations to focus on all the positives in your life
— Taking walks outside to get some fresh air and change of scenery
— Breathing exercises because just taking some deep breaths can be very cleansing and relaxing
— Listen to music that is relaxing to you
Don’t forget to give yourself gifts of relaxation weekly or monthly to help you mentally recharge. This could include massages, facials and manicures and pedicures — whatever you like!
Last, it is also important to have a supportive circle of friends. These may not be people who know what you do for a living, but they should be people who you can hang out with and do fun stuff with when you’re not working. Play is just as important to your mental well-being as breathing.
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Gabriella Vita is from Las Vegas, NV and has been writing for over ten years under multiple pen names. She believes variety is the spice of life, which is why she enjoys writing on a plethora of subjects. Email her at gabby@ynotcam.com.
Background header image via Unsplash here.
