Reply #64: Truly, I urge you. Don't. Despite the desire, which I'll be we all share

[JerseygirlCT]

that's exactly what they're counting on.

They WANT confrontation. If it results in anything even vaguely actionable, they're thrilled. Even if it just gets them in the paper, they consider it a good day's work.

This is seriously just a small family group that calls itself a church. Their only means of support is from the other like-minded nutjobs out there, who've heard of them via press reports. They drag their pathetic little grandkids around to stand there and shout hateful things, hoping, just hoping someone will engage them.

They are real-life trolls. And like internet trolls, the best response is no response at all. Unsatisfying as that is.

I understand; our small church was picketed by them a few years ago. I didn't want to, but I bent to the wisdom of our rector and other church leaders in town. We came to church, went in, and completely ignored them. Didn't even look their way. They left after 5 minutes. No action to be found, time to move on to greener pastures.

Don't engage. Ignore. Starved for attention, they'll die. They feed off the energy of those opposing them.