Expressing bold views on controversial topics inevitably attracts bullies—it's nothing new. I’ve shared my experiences with digital bullying in previous articles. Back then I was not equipped to deal with that. However, my exposure to narcissistic abuse ultimately taught a lot about psychology of bullies.
This understanding didn’t happen overnight; it was a gradual
process of immersing myself in the psychology of toxic people and understanding
their behavioral patterns. I conducted extensive research because I’ve never
adopted a victim mindset or wallowed in self-pity. My determination to seek
answers, regardless of the challenges I faced, has been my driving force.
Difficulty, in any form, profoundly changes your life. It
fosters tremendous emotional, spiritual, and psychological growth. You begin to
see things as they are without self-recrimination. Not only you become more resilient but also learn to deal with these toxic people. From that moment on, no one can pull you down.
The Growing Issue of Content Theft in the Digital Age
Recently, I posted a picture on social media, posing the
question: Can religion be a form of addiction, similar to social media,
alcohol, drugs, smoking, or even sexuality? A bully appeared, attempting to tear me
down with disrespectful language. Here’s the background.
I have a keen interest in photography and shared an album on Facebook featuring lotus pictures I had taken in various locations. A day or
two later, the same person who bullied me stole one of my photos and posted it
on his Facebook, claiming he had grown the lotus from seeds. This act was
nothing short of theft—a desperate bid for attention. How hungry for validation
must someone be to disregard morals and ethics? Do they not realize how badly
their image would be damaged if caught?
You might think, “It’s just a picture,” and yes, content
theft occurs daily on the internet. People stealing content isn’t new to me;
I’ve encountered it multiple times. When I wrote articles on LinkedIn,
individuals would take my work, rewrite it using AI, and post it as their own.
That’s theft, plain and simple.
Recognizing and Understanding Narcissistic Behavior Online
I called this person out with a comment. So, his disrespectful worlds yesterday were just a troll being vindictive—completely ridiculous. First, he steals something, he seeks revenge because his ego was bruised. However, he had no idea that I am a different person now and he is just revealed himself. If your ego is so fragile, why engage in behavior that will get you caught? This is narcissistic behavior.
People don’t just steal your words or pictures; they also
take your thoughts and ideas. I feel pity for those who seem
successful—financially, professionally, and socially—yet still engage in this
behavior. They don’t need to do it, but they can’t control the urge. This pure
greed and self-centeredness benefits no one.
Such behavior breaks trust among people. The next time an
innovative-minded person has a vision, they might hesitate to share it. If they
encounter financial difficulties, their ideas may never come to light.
Ultimately, this stifles personal growth and the development of the community
at large. Eventually these people will get exposed.
How Content Theft Affects Trust and Community Growth
Using something as motivation isn’t bad. When I simplified Cloud Computing, and DevOps for people who are not from tech world, many referenced it in
their articles on AI, ML, and other complex technologies. This made me
genuinely happy; it didn’t stir negative feelings. Similarly, when I wrote
about my solo adventure The Print also wrote an article about similar topic.
That also made me feel good as the news on such platforms was so negative
lately but now, I saw something new. I felt proud of myself. My intention was
positive—I saw the positive changes even if it is small one.
Changing the negative digital world is into positive one is
in the hand of people who use it. That’s what I learned after learning about
technology because now I understand how the algorithm works. Similarly diving
into psychology and narcissism has clarified my understanding of toxic people.
Nothing scares me anymore because I can see through facades. Today, I want to
offer a brief guide on how to protect yourself from such bullies and maintain
your peace.
Transforming Negative Online Spaces into Positive Ones
First, let’s understand the goal of these bullies. They can
take many forms—a religious person whose ideologies clash with yours, someone
harboring negativity toward the opposite gender, or simply a jealous
individual. Regardless of who they are, these people share a common goal: to
feel better about themselves by putting others down. It gives them an instant
ego boost and makes them feel powerful, but at their core, they are just
insecure.
These individuals are often blind to other perspectives and
lack rational, critical thinking. Consequently, they resort to intimidation
tactics, using disrespectful or abusive language that can take a toll on your
emotions and mental health.
A Practical Guide to Protecting Yourself from Digital Bullies
So, how do you deal with them? First if you feel something is too negative, aggressive or violent then don't be ignorant report it. What might feel small today will be big tomorrow and you will also get affected by that. Keep pursuing your goals while feeling your soul with positivity and focus on building your finances. If you can’t ignore them entirely, keep them in your contacts or on social media, but choose not to engage, no matter what they say. Don’t react, don’t explain, and don’t show emotional distress—maintain your Zen mode.
It’s difficult, especially since these trolls won’t leave you alone. However, understand that their goal is to provoke a reaction. Any response from you fuels their behavior. You cannot fight these individuals; doing so is a waste of your emotional, psychological, and spiritual energy. People who do not acknowledge your work however copy everything that you do, walk and talk the way you do. Do maintain distance from such people they do not bring any growth to anyone, not even themselves. They are just blocking energy flow thinking if they keep it to themselves then they will grow leaving others behind. Such people are simply takers even though they do not look like typical takers. Channel your energy into something positive, meaningful and productive and ignore such people.
Building a Supportive Community for Personal Growth
Does this mean you’ll lose friends? Sadly yes! Will you be
left alone? Thankfully No! I had the same questions too when I decided to
remove negative people from my life. My circle began to shrink day by day. I
exited numerous social media groups flooded with negativity and deleted my old
accounts. When I returned to social media, it was with a single purpose: to
spread positivity, compassion, peace, and empathy. I wanted to be mindful of
what I wrote and shared.
Now, my circle is small, but I have people I can truly count
on—those who aren’t blinded by rigid ideologies but are open-minded and
receptive to constructive communication. Such individuals foster growth and
make you feel loved and cared for. You may find your circle shrinks too, but
trust me, it will be worth it!
You don’t need a large community that doesn’t genuinely care
about you. A community that resonates with your thoughts and values is more
than enough. You will still grow—slowly but surely. Instead of chasing after a
big goal while feeling anxious, be part of something small where you feel
protected, loved, and at peace. Anything negative will ultimately bring chaos
to the world.
Embracing Love as a Universal Language
This era is termed the “Loneliness Pandemic” for a reason. The only way to tackle this is to build your own small world filled with people you genuinely connect with—those who help you grow emotionally, psychologically, spiritually and also financially.
The universe understands one language: love. No creation
comes to life without it. If your language contradicts that of the universe,
rest assured it knows how to restore balance. Embracing love in all its
forms—toward yourself, others, and the world—creates a harmonious connection
with the universe. When you align your intentions with love, peace and
positivity, eventually same will flow back to you.
If you are willing to take personal sessions with me on "How to identify and deal with toxic people"-click here.
Happy Sunday Fellas!
0 Comments