If You’re Going to Troll Me, At Least Bring Your Own Face

Apparently my book reel has found that part of Instagram.

You know the part.

The people who don't like something, which is perfectly normal, but instead of continuing to scroll like emotionally regulated adults, feel compelled to stop and announce their displeasure.

“AI slop.”

Oh no.

Anyway.

You don't like my book?

I genuinely do not care.

Don't buy it.

Don't read it.

Don't use AI.

Print your emails and send them by carrier pigeon if that brings you joy.

We do not have to agree.

But if you decide to wander onto my page and be an obnoxious asshole about it?

Well.

Now we're having fun.

At Least Bring Your Own Face

My personal favorite is when the nasty comment comes from an anonymous profile.

Sir.

Ma'am.

Mysterious Internet Goblin.

You came all the way over here to insult me and left your identity in the car?

Commit to the bit.

If you're going to tell me the thing I put my actual name, actual face and actual lived experience behind is garbage, surely you can summon the courage to attach your own profile picture to the review.

Otherwise this is basically heckling from behind a shrub.

And I cannot take that seriously.

Also, You Have Chosen a Very Specific Page to Troll

This isn't The Well-Behaved Caregiver.

It's not The Caregiver Who Politely Ignores Bullshit.

You have arrived at:

THE FERAL CAREGIVER.

The warning is quite literally in the name.

I respond.

Usually with the same energy you brought with you.

If you're respectful, I'm respectful.

If you disagree, cool. We can disagree.

If you show up acting like an asshole from behind an anonymous profile?

Congratulations. Now I have a hobby.

And here's the truly beautiful part:

Meta loves engagement.

Comments?

Engagement.

Replies?

Engagement.

Back-and-forth conversation?

Oh, Meta LOVES that shit.

So while you're furiously explaining how terrible my book is...

you're interacting with the reel about my book.

Again.

And then I respond.

And then you respond.

Again.

Look at us!

Building community.

Having a conversation.

Helping the algorithm understand that people are VERY interested in this content.

It's honestly quite generous of you.

For the Record: I Still Don't Care If You Hate the Book

I mean this sincerely.

You are allowed to think my book sucks.

You are allowed to hate AI.

You are allowed to think nobody should use it.

You are allowed to read my book and decide I am not your cup of tea.

I am probably not your cup of tea.

I'm more like gas-station iced coffee someone accidentally poured bourbon into.

There are other beverages.

Go find yours.

What you're not entitled to is some expectation that you can walk onto my page, insult me, and I'll quietly absorb it because creators are apparently supposed to smile sweetly and say:

"Thank you for your feedback."

No.

You didn't leave feedback.

You acted like an asshole.

I can tell the difference.

And before anyone says:

"Kari, don't feed the trolls."

Counterpoint:

They're already feeding me.

Every comment.

Every reply.

Every outraged return visit.

More engagement on the post they apparently wish nobody would see.

It's almost beautiful.

You brought contempt.

I brought sarcasm.

Meta brought analytics.

Everybody contributed.

So please, Anonymous User.

Tell me again how much you hate my book about teaching caregivers how to use AI to organize the overwhelming amount of information that comes with serious illness.

It doesn't tell people to replace their doctors with ChatGPT. Quite the opposite. It repeatedly explains that AI is a tool—not your oncologist, pharmacist or medical team.

It teaches caregivers how to organize information, understand terminology, prepare better questions, build timelines and make an impossible mental load slightly more manageable.

But you would have to actually read the words to know that.

I realize that's considerably more demanding than looking at the pictures like a fucking toddler and typing “AI slop” from an anonymous profile, but imagine the personal growth opportunity.

Anyway, please keep commenting.

Meta loves our little conversations.

Just understand that I may respond.

I will probably make myself laugh.

Other people may laugh too.

And somewhere deep inside a Meta server, a tiny algorithm is looking at all this activity and thinking:

WOW. PEOPLE REALLY SEEM TO LIKE THIS POST.

And that?

That is fucking delightful.

The Feral Truth: You don't have to like my book. You don't have to like AI. You don't even have to like me. But if you show up on The Feral Caregiver's page acting like an asshole from behind an anonymous profile, don't be shocked when the raccoon answers. You brought the comment. I'll bring the engagement.