Nobody Is Immune

It is a core element in the Disinfolklore Analytical Method that assuming only other people fall for trolls and that we are immune to such mental manipulations is a key indicator of our susceptibility to disinformation. The moment I feel myself thinking or hear anyone else speaking as if only stupid or uneducated people fall for trolls, I try to recall all the numerous times I’ve fallen for them.

Source: Book Proposal (May 2024)

I’m susceptible! I fall for trolls the whole time. When I do fall for trolls, I then try to work out what happened: How did it happen? How did it trigger my emotions? How did it overcome my capacity to engage what I call my Incoming Troll Radar to protect me.

Source: Ways of Seeing Disinfolklore I

Remember my mantra: the moment we feel superiorly immune to falling for the troll, we’re at our most vulnerable. Pride Comes Before a Fall became a linguistic meme for a reason!

Source: Ways of Seeing Disinfolklore I

This is the first lesson: immunity is a troll. The feeling that you are too smart to be trolled is itself the most dangerous troll of all.

← Previous: “We Become the Troll” | Back to Trolling and Trolls | Next: The Three Billy-Goats’ Gruff: The Archetypal Troll Tale →