I have long fought shy of strident statements made by internet trolls. I can't swallow the ignorance and intolerance of the unenlightened, harboring hate and disdain for anyone different than them. In the past, I have resisted the bubbling urge to wrangle with those instigating discord, but today I couldn't surrender to my silence.

A friend of mine posted a photo she deemed insolent and offensive. Most everyone sided with her, while her adversaries demanded justification for her sentiments. Then, the internet troll emerged, incessantly professing his lack of understanding and demanding explanations, none of which satiated him. Her efforts to educate him proved unavailing as his retorts were empty and without merit. His unwillingness to learn combined with opposition towards her wasn't what left me fuming; it was one statement comprised of his insensitivity and lack of empathy.

While my friend opened the doors of her heart and mind as an invitation to gain understanding, the insufferable internet troll said, “There are worse things happening in the world and we should be talking about that.” I couldn't fathom the heartlessness required to diminish another’s feelings and life experiences like they matter to no one, in just one cold sentence. We're all familiar with the challenge of sharing anything that has been ineffably difficult for us. Whether you have been a victim of discrimination, intolerance, or undeserved hardships and tragedies, no one wants to be told that their problems are insignificant, despite knowing dreadful things are transpiring elsewhere.

For the internet trolls out there, I'm going to tell you what I told him. It's okay that everyone has beliefs and opinions abound. However, it's unacceptable to repeatedly state your misunderstanding and believe you are entitled to explanations, but only those that please you. Guess what? You can't decipher the intricacies of someone’s lifelong plight because they aren't specific to you. I admire your eagerness to learn and empathize, but no one can briefly describe a lifetime of experiences and emotions in any way that will satisfy you. There are other resources out there to educate yourself, instead of exhausting someone by constantly asking them to justify their feelings when they have tirelessly done it for countless people just like you.

It's also not okay to diminish what is dear to someone by saying that worse things are happening in the world, things we should be focusing on instead of their problems. How dare you try to make someone's hardships seem less than? The great thing about our human brains is that we can believe and support various things, simultaneously. WHOA, right?

If you still cannot understand after many explanations and begin to nitpick every reply thrown your way, then you should probably hunt for the satisfying answers you seek somewhere else. Remember that we need to embrace positivity, lift each other up, and shouldn't try to invalidate someone's feelings and beliefs just because we can't personally comprehend where they're coming from. You don't have to see eye-to-eye with everyone, but keep hate and arrogance out of your arguments.

If you are a bystander witnessing an internet troll’s reign of unpleasantness, reach out to the person they're hurting. That person will be reassured knowing that someone has their back, even if they can defend themselves. You don't need to get involved or fuel the fire, but if you want to stand up for another person or yourself, then more power to you.