Authors: Brian Darr
When
I started writing The Troll, my hero was not a troll, but as the idea
developed, I came across the anti-troll creed on an article: Don’t
feed the trolls,” followed by, “He’s probably just
some kid in the safety of his parent’s basement. He wouldn’t
say this if he was face to face with us. He’s a coward.”
No
truer words could be typed. Most trolls are likely decent people. Put
them behind a keyboard, and a beast is unleashed. Put them in a room
full of strangers, they probably try to fit in. People aren’t
truly trolls in life. People are just people who turn into trolls
when they sit behind a screen and forget that a user-name represents
an actual person. It makes them a coward, but not necessarily a bad
human being.
The
stage was set: A world where no one could speak out against authority
because to do so could mean instant death. I knew my hero had to be a
troll. There was no better demonstration of my feelings on Internet
bullying versus living among people in real life.
Maybe
the problem is we’re too dependent on electronics. Maybe the
problem is that people need to be reminded that other people
essentially all want the same things to be happy. Maybe there’s
no problem at all and we need to brush off the words of strangers.
I
hope this story is something everyone can relate to in some small
way. We all pick our battles carefully and we all know when to shut
up or speak up, but whether you’re the troll, or the person
being trolled, at the end of the day, whether you take route A, B, or
C, for most of us, the destination is the same.
Thank
you for reading part one of The Troll.
I
e
ncourage
you to leave a review of my book at:
TheTroll
Please,
no reviews from Scientologists.
Special
Thanks
Beta
readers:
Sunshine
Yoders, Jennifer Darr, Michael La Ronn, Joey Dursky.
Acknowledgments
Special
thanks to usernames who were more than just usernames to me:
The
Dread Pirate Morgan, Redwings16, khleigho, Ami1, MagicallyDeelicious,
Amj, Uilani, Dirt, Aurora2001, saeph47, Aspie, Grimaceb, GeoffFoley
Other
cool people, many of whom I haven’t met:
Stonygirl,
bonadea, mets, Beaver Toast, felix black, Devereaux,
Chereefrog, alexus, vorpal, Sam, edgewyze, BillytheKid,
JackAwful, CDNFilm, PearlsBeforeSwine, frederickcleveland, Jack’s
Wasted Life, Jack’s Wasted Liver, RandallFlagg, Quetee,
Queen Uhuru, Queenie, Nostromo, Rockstar, Dr. Gonzo, Red Rover,
summer, mack daddy, oliver, daisy, maze, walt, stacy,
MingChen, bjn, quickkick, Daisyphreak, RickDeckard, justina,
Naseer, Couchguy, Dfogg, backgroundgrrl, Smichael, petunya,
Safteydancer, Hong Kong Cavaliers, Shine, outsiders, eyesnot,
magicalcat, DLane, Siren Six, skeely, hikarate, Tyson Zoltan,
Heder, El Topo, Steel Linx, mdb, coyotesix, gnasche, not that
button!, Misterorange, markpenny, celticjack, 1take, Wrighty8,
Motherof8, atezinc, Pinata, heizer, Shapely Stooge, Talespinner,
Mihalow, patthedog, Siren Six, Estrogen, Mjarbo,
Hollygolightly72, Rollerfink, Webster, ToeJam, Abbe, flikwrtr,
OscarETTE, Skeeley, noonespecial2310, Joe's Hero, scribbler,
Gamma, SirVince, dawncallahan, pinto, carv, KSoze327, Meskey,
dawncallahan, Ajl, FilmAsArt, Hassamassahoff, Jeskey,
dafemmefatale, marcn, Jennifer8, Mojave, Keesha63, tombliss,
mrshakopter, Stacy, Bittrich, HarmonieMoore, tpow, maestro8,
Grimlock, TeresaMLA, Complexman, Eddie Zipperer, krowkcolcfilms,
Stone Rose, bunny, Fivepointfilms, beazyb, Hammered, mjfryar,
Aryss, Jp, JusticePeace, Parrot, FutureMrsAffleck,
FutureMrsDamon, darzam, Rocketman, Izzy, Nephratari, drenajo,
Shilohswolf, fiveswinya, closetwriter, celticjack, Sallyomally,
1take, smichael, Legendmaker, Keesha63, Americano, Ksoze327,
Gnasche, JovianDeadees, Furstlady, little devil, serendipity,
not that button!, meskey, RickDeckard, Artra, Toejam, Wasabi,
Bigfish, Oscarette, Jefferson, Carv, Limpsquiggy, Sam Raimi,
snack daddy, pinorpala, makememeow, Blue Cardinal,
backgroundgrrl, Bruce, Talespinner, Vance, Isabel, BigZWillis,
gman8343, atezinc, Hbeachbabe, dommah, abbe, Hippiechick,
Wrighty8, DeadlyBlackNinja, ANNOYANCE, CheezUMS, PartyofOne,
AsRiaL, Bad David, Andromeda, typo, Webster, lax211, Athanor,
Gwinks18, Maven Quibble, cloudkick, Hawking, lostfairytales,
theblondewritr, frederickcleveland, Batgirl3780, IcequeenJ,
meow, vanilla thunder, Trufaut Cavalier, Damian, A true faux
cavalier, Serenity7911, Pinky d elephant, Mojave, CrackHeadKitty,
12vob, Whoopie Cushion, cw!, Wisened, julie, vanderwoude, the
apocalypse is upon us, Moria1, Chow, Montanagrizgirl,
Ilovemydogbutnotinthatway, Pickel87, Frosty, 1000$ per citizen,
Ashlane, 2cute, Theodore Rex, Lkulikoff, Hoaxed Totem, Gravity,
Cbas, Salty I liftus, Juan Valdez, Shankroid, Prettygurl, Poop
club, The Marlboro Man, ANNOYANCE., FilmAsArt, Str8jive, If hair
was liquid I'd be Don Johnson. For Real, Greendaze,
strangerthanthou, dhh hhd, Bboog, Bad juju, ms. spacecase,
Hourly wages, Molly49, dmburrows, Carrie, gldnswife, infinite
monkeys, Karma Marie, Sweetmellymel, smee, Mike Brady,
Lilthblue, athenablue, Just Reading N Stuff, Down and Out in NYC,
dh!, 2questionable, Actor director supreme, Actor burrito supreme,
Beaker, jkk, Penny Lane, DEVELOPEXEC, Miss lady Laura, Sassy,
Fgonello, paperstreet, Dijonete, Camirox, Whore of Mensa,
Randall Flagg, zackfu, plumsmuggler, Motley Cool, Disney69,
athena, yeddle, moviecre8r, dharris, Opie32, Kit, allyn,
chinle, Bones, urnvs, Mikeinlalaland, VLBarnhill, whosurdaddy,
BigButtBlonde, justcallmesandea, Shecky the goat boy, Urban
Windingo, Texas Dave, greggg, greenie, skuhn, hat, cafechick,
tiny fonts, Gracilou, Str8jive, scarlet begonias, Jade15, Shine,
Enigmatic Flounder, otis the good time party clown, lilpixie,
psychic, psychicmuse, animaxitele, Bruce, Grey, Captain Caveman,
Seestone, KilgoreATrout, Cj220, longerfellow