In a column for Information Week, Cory Doctorow discusses how trolls poison communities. We actually talked about the same subject at Orycon on one of the panels we were on together. It's interesting overall, but this line was the kicker to me:

"Don't let assholes rent space in your head."

That's the hardest thing possible. A lot of podcasters have found this out the hard way. You can get one hundred positive comments, but the one hostile asshole keeps you up at night. I just had this the other day with a troll on this very blog. That seemed to work out but it's always a drag having to deal with that. By and large, the discussion on here is fun and uplifting but when it goes to hell it really bothers me. I'll try to bring out my inner troll whisperer the next time I need to.