WATCH: A Journalist Met His Online Troll For A Pint But He Wasn’t Expecting This IRL Response

It’s not surprise that with the decision to open yourself to Twitter, you stand a strong chance of being trolled. Whether it’s somebody pulling apart your beliefs, commenting on your appearance, or just giving their two cents, having a thick skin is vital on social media. People regularly say a troll would never make these comments to a person’s face, but Guardian columnist Owen Jones decided to put this theory to the test. Arranging to go for a pint with a man who he had previously blocked on Twitter, he said: "He tweeted me over, maybe, two or three years, and he called me – amongst other things – a racist, a homophobe, and a few other snarks thrown in for good measure." So how did things pan out when they met in real life? The reaction might surprise you. Video: Owen Jones