I think it’s a mistake that we tend to define success around the troll. Whether or not we "win" the argument. Whether or not we convince the troll to stop their behavior.

Saying it out loud, it’s kind of ridiculous parameters. They’re not going to change their behavior. They’re trolls. How about redefining them around your goals of engagement than his response or lack thereof.

Reading through you’re article, it seems to me that you gained a few things.

You successfully outed a false friend. No doubt that’s painful, but you now know he’s a waste of time and trust. You’ll find someone more worthy of yours.

You held your ground. Being a woman in this culture is death by a thousand cuts. All the tiny pushes, slights, and declarations we see and hear every day that tell us we are hated. Still viewed as a deformed male. Scrutinized at every turn. You held your ground with your head up. One less cut. Doing so publicly may help heal the cut wounds of other women.

You paved a path for others to follow. By speaking your truth, you show other women how to do the same. They’ll learn from where you shined and where you could have done a little better.

By my estimation. It was a rousing success. You definitely gained way more than he did.