Editorial: Don't feed the trolls

I'm pretty sure he or she is an internet troll.

And I hesitate to give them any publicity.

So no names.

But I do feel a need to let those of you not on social media know what kind of repository of "alternative facts" it can be.

The post on my newsfeed was from a page that rates New Zealand provincial towns. Bad reviews only.

It insults each town with as much caustic offense as possible.

No doubt the page owner might claim it to be satire, or comedy, and you might even agree - until they review your town.

And yes they reviewed Whanganui.

I will not repeat the nonsense said about us, suffice to say it made no pretence at being balanced, fair or even true.

I could have leapt to the city's defence by pointing out its numerous great characteristics, but then I remembered the golden rule of social media - don't feed the trolls.

And so I read what others had said instead.

Almost all spoke with great fondness for this place we call home, quirks and all.

People defended our fish and chips, our corner dairies, some became highly defensive, while others took it as a giggle but still said Whanganui was a cool place to live.

In short it was an outpouring of civic pride, from real people, who rather like where they live.

There is of course a place for organised promotion of our city, but this heartland stuff was publicity you couldn't buy.

Trolls, it seems, may have their uses after all.