Have you ever been bullied? Are online trolls impacting your physical and mental health? Do you wonder what has happened to the human race?

A recent experience of mine has brought all these issues to the forefront of my life and mind, and this is a small story of that experience. However, before I start, I must insist, I am not perfect, I have behaved badly in the past, I have have got angry when I felt I was wronged by a company and left a horrible review... I am in no way or form perfect, but I do try to hold myself to good standards, and make moral and ethical decisions where possible. Do you?

In my past, I played sports to a reasonable standard - never the superstar, but well enough to represent strong teams. Educationally, I was an average student who was lucky enough to go to good schools where the brightest went off to teach Quantum Physics as Stanford. I was never excessively bullied physically, but mentally there were a few bumps in the road, but fortune meant I was not broken by this.

As the years pass, the old school imagine of the big playground bully seems to have disappeared. Rise the new form of bullies - the TROLLS. In quite a coin flip, the new new bullies rose from an intellectual arena. Not using muscles to subdue their victims, but more often than not they knowledge and "opinions" to make the other persons feel small, not worthy, subpar, simply useless.

Their ability was all powerful. They were not limited by the fence in the school playground, they can push their misery across international boundaries. No person could stand in their way - if they feel like it, any male, female, religion, race, level of intelligence skill or ability could be their target. Often, they utilise a position of power (normally gained by their ability) to enforce their views. Note, their views, knowledge and opinions can be correct. This is not the issue, the issue is using them as power over others, rather than supporting, educating and encouraging.

Experience - Right here on Publish0x

As previously declared, I am not a genius with all the knowledge. I do some things well, but in all other areas I merely try to learn and do the best I can. When I came across a recent article on this website about a subject I know very well, I wanted to join in, participate, help - fell part of the topic. I commented - a huge error on my behalf. I congratulated the article, agreed with many aspects, but offered views on alternative tools that I use.

I felt good, I had tried to connect with people, I had expanded on the article with something of value in my skill set.

Wow what a mistake this was. The author did not take kindly to my thoughts. I got berated, insulted, and told how wrong I was. The warm bowl of soup I had felt in my tummy turned into a flaming bowl of lava. I apologised, explained that I just wanted to offer my thoughts, and that I did not mean to offend the author in anyway.

Then... Then rose the bully, the troll, the aggression. 

The author went on the offensive. I instantly found every single one of my posts on her down voted. I started seeing negative comments about the articles being of low intelligence, value, and skill. Some of them were fair! My coinbase earn alerts are of little value! But that is just my entrance into this blogging site. But more and more negative and combative comments appeared. 

Feeling wronged, but wanting to keep the higher ground, I decided to reply via comments, get a conversation going, try to understand their views, and explain my own.

Then... Then I realised, this bully, this troll, was as mentioned above, acting from a position of power.

My ability to post comments on Publish0x had been taken away from me. Certain permissions to view, post and act were no longer allowed. They bully had removed all chances of representing myself, whilst allowing them to continue their campaign. It was all over for me. I fell back into my mental health black hole - as I have a weakness to, and suffer from depression and anxiety for over 10 years.

It was not a nice place being me - but I tried my hardest, used all the tools I have been taught to try and lift myself out.

I reached out to Publish0x.
Without a doubt they were great, and acted fast. 
I asked for no action to be taken against the author, I wanted it to be known it was just a misunderstanding, and just wanted my permissions back. 

As far as I know - this was dealt with. I was not offered details or explanation.
The author appeared to have been taken off the site, comments removed, and all my privileges were restored.
The feeling of doom did not dissipate, but at least I was able to continue on here.

The reason for all this, I am still at a loss

My posts still get exactly 1 negative click almost instantly after posting them.

But... The wonder about why this persons actions, all trolls and bullies actions, need to be so aggressive, controlling, overwhelming still alludes me. 

Where have our morals gone?
Why are we so unethical?
But why do the small percentage of bad people destroy our faith in the goodness of the majority?

Let us try not to obsess on the bad, but recognise only the good in people. Good Cognitive Behavioural Techniques can help us here.
Yet, the power of the dark side seems to much stronger, and wields an axe that causes so much more pain than any good can restore.

People, please see the good in others. 
Please support, educate and encourage.
Build yourself and others up, do not rise up by knocking others down, I beg of you.