The word troll is most commonly associated with fairy tales and things living under bridges. They only come out to harass people who want to get by. The word troll to my children has a whole different meaning. It is now the name for a person on the internet who harasses other people.

The anonymity of the internet and social media sites can make a person feel like they are invisible online. They think that because no one knows them they can act and speak as they please. While there is such a thing as free speech, there is also common courtesy.

As we have seen on the national news, people are not free to say whatever they want without consequence.

To the internet troll, we are not afraid of you, we are not even bothered by you. We all know about you and what your intent is. You seek to stir up discourse and cause chaos. If that is the purpose of your life, then, by all means, do what you must.

When I see a troll I have two options, I can scroll on by and ignore it, or I can choose to comment. Often, I choose not to comment. Here is why you are a dime a dozen. A troll is not original or even creative. You are simply a person who has access to the internet and doesn't know how to function in polite society.

A person who knows how to function in polite society knows that not everyone will think the same, this is a good thing. A person who knows how to function in polite society knows that civil conversation is a sign of an educated person. A person who knows how to function in polite society knows that words on a computer screen are not going to change a person's opinion.

I choose to address you today because much like the fairy tales, you need a protagonist to stand up to you. If you are an uneducated troll, you can click on the link, it will tell you what protagonist means.

To the troll, you may spurt your vicious lies and inflammatory comments all you want. I will not engage with you. You are not worthy of my time or my families time. I will block, delete, or just plain ignore you.

I am not against a person having a different opinion, but please have a genuine conversation. Listen to all sides of the story. Form a valid argument for your opinion and be able to communicate it. I will not settle for the uneducated drivel.

I understand you may be an educated person. You may have a great job and a great life. If you are an internet troll, you are not doing the world any favors. It reeks of loneliness and attention seeking. It takes away from whatever you are like in real life.

There is part of the internet that is anonymous, but it is harder and harder to stay hidden. The trolling will come back to haunt you. The credibility you have is slowly being eaten away by your hate-mongering. When your accounts are brought to light, only the trolls will want you as a friend.

Try something new. Make polite conversation. Act like you care about someone or something. Be a person, not a troll.