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A modern-day fairy tale about the consequences of being an angry troll
In a town cut in two by a slender river, there stood a bridge crafted from stone that echoed loudly. Each step reverberated along its length, making each traveler's presence known to all. This bridge led to verdant fields where individuals aspired to construct better futures.
Dwelling beneath the bridge was a man named Grumm. Rather than engaging in farming, fishing, or construction, he laid claim to the bridge itself. Whenever tried to cross it, Grumm would bellow at them from below.
"Too small. Too weak. A nobody," he would scream.
He mocked their clothes, their voices, their wealth, and their aspirations with a mix of partial truths and blatant falsehoods.
Often, the mere cacophony was sufficient to deter individuals from proceeding further.
Grumm thrived on the attention he garnered, with each shout seeming to strengthen him and each dispute honing his vocal assaults.
Angry and concerned debates ensued over whether his intentions were evil and mad or merely bold and inspired, yet few dared to cross the bridge amid his outcries.
One day, three travelers arrived separately.
The first was meek and youthful. Grumm's screams turned the traveler back before they were half way across the bridge.
The second traveler, more experienced and confident, faltered under Grumm's outrageous insults. He was accused them of cheating, of being dangerous to the public, and of trying to ruin the bridge. This traveler almost made it to the other side, but finally faltered and returned home.
Finally, the third traveler appeared. This individual appeared to not even hear Grumm's vile taunts, neither praising nor cursing him.
Grumm's scream grew louder than a storm. His insults dripped with poisonous slander, each word meant to wound the traveler's soul as well as his standing in the village.
Villagers had begun to gather as the third traveler crossed the bridge and continued toward the fields full of birdsong and fruit.
Others followed suit, laughter and exclamations of wonder drowned out Grumm's now hoarse voice.
Eventually, Grumm's words no longer frightened anyone. He had not been defeated by force, but by consequence.
The loss of attention, credibility, and control freed to villagers to help each other reach green fields, full of honest conversations and much less angry shouting.
The bridge stood for many more years, and thousands of people crossed it on their way to and from the distant fields.
Grumm remained beneath it, grumbling loudly to anyone who would listen. He had long ago been shown that a troll who only bullies others will eventually find themselves with no one left to bully.
Moral: Bullies draw strength from eliciting reactions, instilling fear, and fostering divisions. Despite their apparent power, it is fragile. By refusing to yield to intimidation and advancing collectively, individuals can dismantle the bully's influence, which crumbles under its own weight.
