So, not sure if this will actually be any use or just a long thread of me stating the obvious.

I've been thinking, with the various harassment and trolling incidents we've had in fandom recently, that there there may be people who want to step in and help, but don't feel...

...comfortable with confrontation or arguments with trolls.

So I thought I'd put together some thoughts on how you can still help and support your mates, but without getting into something you don't feel you'll deal very well with.

Big one...

The report button. It might often seem a futile gesture, but it's still the best way to try to get Twitter to do something. And it let's you take action without putting yourself in a position of risk as well.

Blocking anyone who might be after a mutual helps as well.

Public tweets of support. You don't have to @ anyone in, just say "Hey, situation X fucking sucks, needs sorting out and I stand with side Y".

If you're a cis white guy, I guarantee the trolls will ignore you, so you can do this safely.

You can also send supportive DMs to mutuals who've been attacked as well. But remember, they will note any difference between how people act publicly and privately, so being out there firmly saying this situation is wrong can mean a lot.

If a big corporation is involved, they'll have emails or even open DMs on their official Twitter.

A polite "I don't know if you're aware of this situation..." message can, if they get enough of them, make a difference as well.

One thing that happens to me a lot because I work nights, is I'll wake up and find something has happened in the day that is hard to make out. Maybe tweets have been deleted, or the original context has been buried under a lot of insinuations.

I find, just straight up asking is the simple. You don't have to do it publicly, not go straight to the likely dealing with a lot target of the harassment. Chances are you'll have a trusted mutual who never sleeps who can fill you in, so you can decide what (if anything) to do.

This all probably seems like small scale stuff.

But one thing I hear a lot is how much the seeming apathy of bystanders in the community hurts as well.

You don't have to be the white knight charging in shouting "FUCK THESE SHIT FACED CUNTS" (though do that if you feel able).

These situations can seem scary and overwhelming, especially if you're not naturally a confrontational person. But if we all support our friends in the ways we do feel comfortable with, however small, that adds up and can, hopefully, stop them feeling so isolated.

Or, to misquote Ivanova in the last Babylon 5: We have to look after each other. Because if we don't, who will?