Bloggers Need a Thick Skin to Deal with Negative Blog Comments

Posted on 13. Jan, 2012 by Kimberly in General Blogging

In my 40 fabulous years on this planet I’ve learned that when people give not so positive feedback, there’s a little more history behind their words so I try not to take it personally. As a blogger, I’ve learned to apply this theory (which I learned from my wonderful dad) to not so positive encounters I have online.

The first time I received a negative blog comment, I wanted to delete it, because the person left an “anonymous” comment – if you can’t stand behind your words, then don’t comment (in my opinion), but I let it stand. Since then, I’ve allowed comments to ruin my day, wondering what I did to make this person hate me so much – a little melodramatic, I know. But now, I see that negative blog comments come with the package of being a blogger.

The other day, I received the following comment in response to my post about getting a logo from Fiverr. I’m not going to break down why I think Theresa was wrong; that’s not the point. The point is that when someone disagrees with something we say or do, the first thing we have to remember is that everyone has a right to their opinion.

I didn’t agree with Theresa and I didn’t delete her comment or stop following her blog or unfriend her on Facebook. It can sting a little when someone doesn’t get where you’re coming from, but that’s part of life and that’s part of blogging. If you want to be a blogger, then you have to develop a think skin and an open mind. Our readers don’t know our backgrounds, don’t get the benefit of tone and body language (unless we Vlog), so they respond to what we put out there.

I read Theresa’s comment, thought about it, and then responded…

I don’t think I’m alone when I say that I want everyone to adore what I write. Theresa’s comment isn’t mean; we just don’t agree. I’ve received some mean comments and I believe that unless someone is being abusive or derogatory, we should let their comments stand, because (1) inspiring a conversation will open someone’s eyes to a new point of view, (2) if the conversation gets really good, it can equate to more traffic and back-links to your site, and (3) SOMEONE COMMENTED!!! You inspired someone to leave a comment!!!

The people who leave negative blog comments don’t “know” us – they only know the cyber version of us – so don’t take negative blog comments personally.

43 Responses to “Bloggers Need a Thick Skin to Deal with Negative Blog Comments”

Rachael

29. Jan, 2012

I have a pretty small following on my blog, so I don’t have to deal with negativity much. One time someone left a negative comment (anonymously of course) and even though it rubbed me the wrong way, it also made me giggle a bit because they obviously were not a regular reader and were reacting to something in one post that I wrote. It’s hard not to take things personally, but you’re right, our online selves are such a small part of our life.
- Kimberly
  
  29. Jan, 2012
  
  Hi, Rachael – thanks for stopping by. I find it interesting that people get upset by bloggers. I appreciate that someone thinks that I have so much influence that I need to be put into check; that part feels kind of good. But the drama that sometimes come along with it is silly. Someone once told me that a blog post of mine made them cry for 6 hours. Really? It was a post about how our puppies were being brats. They thought I was abusing the dogs even though nothing in the post even hinted at that. LOL
Marie Cole
Twitter: decondemand

31. Jan, 2012

Yep you did the right thing, just let it go….
Marie Cole recently posted..Baby Got Back Splash
hotdeal

05. Mar, 2012

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