Is “trolling” a good tactic? Is it acceptable, or just rude?
I’ve discovered a few good-intentioned organizations that troll twitter and have found the practice somewhat disgusting and in poor taste.
What they do, in a nutshell, is scan twitter for certain keywords and @ reply the tweets (and their senders) with marketing for their non-profit organization.
But, to be fair, is it just as bad (or good) as someone tweeting someone random because they are randomly asking for prayer?
For example:
TwitterUser1: Gosh, I worried about my test tomorrow. I need some prayer.
PrayerTroll: I’ll pray for you @TwitterUser1! Praying now!
Same thing, or different?
Trolling. Bleh.
[Image from RichardAM]
I know it's happened to me before, gave me a mushy warm feeling inside – I question the authenticity but it can't do any wrong can it?
except totally turn someone off…?
I know where you're at. Before I was saved I hated to Jesus shirt guys, so I don't wear Jesus shirts. That probably stems to me not @replying complete stranger's prayer requests or even requests for help. I do care for Twitter/Facebook friends who I have some sort of relationship with, even if it's just that we follow each other.
I'll definitely reach out to those I've already got some sort of connection with.
I think this is the same as someone who goes out into public and ask people "do you know where you are going when you die?" That turns me off completely. But if there is an established relationship there it means more. Same with twitter, it means way more if I have a relationship with someone who is asking for help or needs prayer, rather than me going out and just finding someone I do not know and telling them I am praying for them.
It's only ok if it's a college that is doing the "trolling"
haha. …
Our church Twitter gets RTs for prayer from some of these folks — heck even I do. When it comes to the prayer requests, if someone else is joining us in prayer, cool. I don't maintain conversation with these folks, I don't know 'em.
I'm married to a troller doing the very action you gave as an example. But she honestly prays for those she tweets to and enjoys praying for others. But she has seen others that seem a little suspect.
no problem with me
I don't have a problem if people do actually pray, but if it is just a ploy to get more people following you then its not cool.
As for general trolling, its generally really annoying. If people wanted to hear from you, they would follow you.
Its like the person who says "I am praying for you" but never really does. In an effort to sound more holy they actually cheapin the idea of prayer. Wait, I do that a lot as well. I am guilty myself.
trolling can be done by people to initiate conversation. just like in real life. If you're an expert on dog training and you walk past someone trying to train their dog, you may decide to interact.
but when trolling is done by bots, then that's lame.
on the web, anyone can pretend their distant, important, and an expert (a bot can do this for you). only a real, caring person can be personal…
How is this different than telling someone in-real-life that you're going to pray for them?
Unless, of course, you don't do that. . .
I do not believe in coincidence, but divine intersections. If they are asking for help, and you stumble on it – pray first, and then if you think it will help them, let them know that you did.
Twitter is a public place. Trolling is no different than getting junk mail. I just ignore it.
I think the biggest key here is a prior relationship. If you've been following someone and they've been following you, and you've had interactions before, and then they say that they're praying about something you've tweeted, then it's great. But as for "trolling", it's iffy. For me (and it may be different for someone else) making a clear "I'm praying for you!" statement seems over the top. A simple "Hope your test goes well" might be better.
But as always, context matters, and it may change what the appropriate response should be…
This is a Prayer Sneak Attack!! See Jon Acuff's post today for more info! http://stuffchristianslike.net/2009/10/prayer-sne…
perfect timing for this
I see no problem with this. What's wrong with having strangers praying for someone? It happens ALL the time in the "church world."
the world needs more people willing to pray for others, not less.
Some twitter trolls are hilarious.
Put the word "moon" in a twitter post and check your @replies later. Clever twitter trolls are clever.
Also, sorry about being a prayer troll. I'll do my best to not pray for you in the future. You could have just dm'd me instead of calling me out on your blog. Uncool
i set me some troll-traps…