Gympie, Hervey Bay businesses subject to trolling

Businesses in Gympie and Hervey Bay have responded to vicious online trolling, with one venue taking legal action.

Two venues in the Wide Bay area have responded to vicious attacks from online trolls, with one venue taking legal action.

The Bent Cucumber, a cafe in Gympie’s iconic main street, has taken legal action after what it describes as relentless trolling online.

The Bent Cucumber in Mary St was targeted by a troll and has now taken legal action. Photo: Facebook

The owners of the business took to Facebook in July, and said the trolling had targeted not only the cafe but other business ventures.

MORE GYMPIE NEWS: Named: Wide Bay’s sticky fingered workers revealed

“It’s bullying, and it’s not okay,” they wrote.

“We employ staff locally, use local products supporting the Gympie community. We’re here to give you the best food, drinks and service, seven days a week.”

A second Facebook post shared on Tuesday this week revealed the owners had taken legal action.

However, this affected kitchen hours, with the business apologising to customers and thanking them for their ongoing support on social media.

“Our apologies for inconsistent hours of kitchen, due to appointments dealing with our trolling of this Facebook page, which is now a legal matter,” they said.

MORE GYMPIE NEWS: Temperatures plummet as Wide Bay shivers through cold snap

The details on what was allegedly said by the trolls was not shared.

The Gympie Times has reached out to the Bent Cucumber for comment.

A Hervey Bay fish and chip shop was also the subject of trolling after a customer left numerous negative reviews about the restaurant.

Migaloos Seafood Market Owner Robert Tralau said the fish and chip shop has been the target of online trolling numerous times. Photo: Facebook

Migaloos Seafood Market owner Robert Tralau said the restaurant had come under fire from trolls numerous times, including once where his children and family were threatened.

“They were advocating violence,” he said.

“They posted they wanted to get drug addicts to come and smash the shop.”

MORE GYMPIE NEWS: Major Curra property deal goes ahead after Covid delay

Mr Tralau said the business was once trolled by an ex-employee.

“I called (them) out on it … and we’ve got a big TV on the roof and I said ‘you’ve won our troll of the week’.”

He said he regreted the decision and felt it only made things worse.

Migaloos Seafood Market in Hervey Bay. Photo: Facebook

He said the best way to tackle online trolls was through social media administrators, who had access to the pages and could remove nasty comments quickly.

“People are entitled to have their own opinion about your business, that’s perfectly reasonable,” he said.

“Some of these people need to have a very careful think.”