Comments on: How to Deal with Out of Control Comments on Your Blog http://thetravelersnotebook.com/blogging-tips/how-to-deal-with-out-of-control-comments-on-your-blog/ Featuring insider destination guides and how-to articles from the matador travel community. Our focus is sustainable travel, cultural immersion, plus work, study, and volunteer opportunities worldwide. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:55:11 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: seachild http://thetravelersnotebook.com/blogging-tips/how-to-deal-with-out-of-control-comments-on-your-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-5881 seachild Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:52:29 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=5638#comment-5881 There will always be haters out there, armchair buffoons with a chip on their shoulder. They will always feel compelled to say something, from third world politics (though clearly they haven't been to one) to how light photons react in a vacuum (though they are not a scientist). Yes, I believe in dialogue, in intellectual exchange but that entails accommodating, even at least for a while, someone else's point of view, examining it in the light of one's own convictions. Not doing so is simply a form of fascism clothed in a term called personal opinion. If the comments get nasty, then just delete--they will not contribute any thing to the discussion, much less to the world. There will always be haters out there, armchair buffoons with a chip on their shoulder. They will always feel compelled to say something, from third world politics (though clearly they haven’t been to one) to how light photons react in a vacuum (though they are not a scientist). Yes, I believe in dialogue, in intellectual exchange but that entails accommodating, even at least for a while, someone else’s point of view, examining it in the light of one’s own convictions. Not doing so is simply a form of fascism clothed in a term called personal opinion. If the comments get nasty, then just delete–they will not contribute any thing to the discussion, much less to the world.

]]> By: lauren http://thetravelersnotebook.com/blogging-tips/how-to-deal-with-out-of-control-comments-on-your-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-5868 lauren Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:23:16 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=5638#comment-5868 How timely! I just had a woman post some somewhat hostile comments on my blog. It really riled me, but now seems like not so much of a big deal. I wrote a whole post about it on my non-personal Matador blog (it feels so warm and safe on Matador). Basically, for me, it comes down to what an editor told me a long time ago, when my very first article provoked some seriously nasty feedback: "It's better to stir up controversy than nothing at all." How timely! I just had a woman post some somewhat hostile comments on my blog. It really riled me, but now seems like not so much of a big deal.

I wrote a whole post about it on my non-personal Matador blog (it feels so warm and safe on Matador). Basically, for me, it comes down to what an editor told me a long time ago, when my very first article provoked some seriously nasty feedback: “It’s better to stir up controversy than nothing at all.”

]]> By: William Wallace http://thetravelersnotebook.com/blogging-tips/how-to-deal-with-out-of-control-comments-on-your-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-5867 William Wallace Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:22:50 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=5638#comment-5867 The bottom line is, if some twat leaves a comment on my blog, which I find offensive or is full of crap, I will delete it. The sad little fucker can go and annoy one of millions of other bloggers out there.... The bottom line is, if some twat leaves a comment on my blog, which I find offensive or is full of crap, I will delete it. The sad little fucker can go and annoy one of millions of other bloggers out there….

]]> By: Susan http://thetravelersnotebook.com/blogging-tips/how-to-deal-with-out-of-control-comments-on-your-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-5854 Susan Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:24:16 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=5638#comment-5854 Haha, that's the best idea I've ever heard, Candice. That's the beauty of hatred - learning how to transform it into something positive & constructive. And Josh - thanks for making me almost spit chai out my nose for laughing so hard. That was a great comment to read. I sometimes delete haterade on my blog, but sometimes I leave it and either ignore it or respond to it in the most positive, loving manner I can muster. Usually the folks posting that stuff are looking to dig & push buttons & cause a negative reaction and I've found if I nip it in the bud quickly and tell them something great about themselves to shift the conversation, I have less work to do later. Though my blog thankfully usually attracts positive folks, I've still had a few people telling me I'm a freeloader for having a donate button on my page, or I'm lazy for traveling instead of having a "real job", or that I give hippies a bad name. Haha. It's all pretty funny to me. Haha, that’s the best idea I’ve ever heard, Candice. That’s the beauty of hatred – learning how to transform it into something positive & constructive.

And Josh – thanks for making me almost spit chai out my nose for laughing so hard. That was a great comment to read.

I sometimes delete haterade on my blog, but sometimes I leave it and either ignore it or respond to it in the most positive, loving manner I can muster. Usually the folks posting that stuff are looking to dig & push buttons & cause a negative reaction and I’ve found if I nip it in the bud quickly and tell them something great about themselves to shift the conversation, I have less work to do later. Though my blog thankfully usually attracts positive folks, I’ve still had a few people telling me I’m a freeloader for having a donate button on my page, or I’m lazy for traveling instead of having a “real job”, or that I give hippies a bad name. Haha. It’s all pretty funny to me.

]]> By: Turner http://thetravelersnotebook.com/blogging-tips/how-to-deal-with-out-of-control-comments-on-your-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-5843 Turner Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:48:23 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=5638#comment-5843 Err... yes, sorry about all those comments. Err… yes, sorry about all those comments.

]]> By: Carlo http://thetravelersnotebook.com/blogging-tips/how-to-deal-with-out-of-control-comments-on-your-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-5800 Carlo Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:27:32 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=5638#comment-5800 And these are the majority of people who are breeding...double ack. Have you seen Idiocracy with Luke Wilson? Extremely stupid movie and a complete waste of time, but the premise is right on. And these are the majority of people who are breeding…double ack. Have you seen Idiocracy with Luke Wilson? Extremely stupid movie and a complete waste of time, but the premise is right on.

]]> By: Carlo http://thetravelersnotebook.com/blogging-tips/how-to-deal-with-out-of-control-comments-on-your-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-5798 Carlo Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:21:46 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=5638#comment-5798 For some reason, I have a feeling that you've actually had vodka snorted off your dog. Is this true? For some reason, I have a feeling that you’ve actually had vodka snorted off your dog. Is this true?

]]> By: Julie http://thetravelersnotebook.com/blogging-tips/how-to-deal-with-out-of-control-comments-on-your-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-5796 Julie Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:09:14 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=5638#comment-5796 Josy- You're right-- YouTube not only has the most asinine, violent commenters, it also has the dumbest ones. Reading comments--always inadvertently--makes me fear for humanity. Josy-

You’re right– YouTube not only has the most asinine, violent commenters, it also has the dumbest ones. Reading comments–always inadvertently–makes me fear for humanity.

]]> By: Nancy http://thetravelersnotebook.com/blogging-tips/how-to-deal-with-out-of-control-comments-on-your-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-5787 Nancy Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:34:10 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=5638#comment-5787 @Candice. That's awesome she did that with her blog. Way to be. @Abbie. Ditto :) @Candice. That’s awesome she did that with her blog. Way to be.

@Abbie. Ditto :)

]]> By: Abbie http://thetravelersnotebook.com/blogging-tips/how-to-deal-with-out-of-control-comments-on-your-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-5782 Abbie Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:12:20 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=5638#comment-5782 I can't wait for the day that my blog has enough passionate readers that it stirs up some emotions ;) I can’t wait for the day that my blog has enough passionate readers that it stirs up some emotions ;)

]]> By: Joshywashington http://thetravelersnotebook.com/blogging-tips/how-to-deal-with-out-of-control-comments-on-your-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-5760 Joshywashington Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:23:41 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=5638#comment-5760 wheweeee! You want hate? Have a Youtube channel! The hate comments are amazing, truly. People insult my facial hair, my kitchen, my wife...and I let it all stand. Bridget gets far more hits than me on her channel and sometimes we laugh reading hideous comments about face-raping and throat slitting. She erases these comments, and sometimes there are literally hundreds for a single video. It makes me think that we are monsters seething beneath our patina of humanity. The internet brings out our best and our most obscene. wheweeee! You want hate? Have a Youtube channel! The hate comments are amazing, truly. People insult my facial hair, my kitchen, my wife…and I let it all stand.
Bridget gets far more hits than me on her channel and sometimes we laugh reading hideous comments about face-raping and throat slitting. She erases these comments, and sometimes there are literally hundreds for a single video.
It makes me think that we are monsters seething beneath our patina of humanity.

The internet brings out our best and our most obscene.

]]> By: Travel-Writers-Exchange.com http://thetravelersnotebook.com/blogging-tips/how-to-deal-with-out-of-control-comments-on-your-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-5654 Travel-Writers-Exchange.com Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:15:50 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=5638#comment-5654 Negative comments could be a good thing, but they can get out of control. Watch out for the ones that are offensive and hurtful. Not everyone will agree with your blog posting which is a good thing. Negative and positive comments can help your blog ranking...people are reading it! Negative comments could be a good thing, but they can get out of control. Watch out for the ones that are offensive and hurtful. Not everyone will agree with your blog posting which is a good thing. Negative and positive comments can help your blog ranking…people are reading it!

]]> By: aelle http://thetravelersnotebook.com/blogging-tips/how-to-deal-with-out-of-control-comments-on-your-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-5648 aelle Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:52:28 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=5638#comment-5648 Censorship? Fuck that. Blogs are privately owned websites and the author(s) have every right to control what is published there, as tightly or as loosely as they want. If you have a party at home, your friends come, friends of friends come, some random people may crash it and that's all good and fun as long as they remember it's your house. If they start snorting vodka off your dog and destroying your couch, kicking them out is not censorship, it's common sense. There's no freedom of expression in private spaces - but the users of these spaces have the liberty to go express themselves elsewhere. Censorship? Fuck that. Blogs are privately owned websites and the author(s) have every right to control what is published there, as tightly or as loosely as they want. If you have a party at home, your friends come, friends of friends come, some random people may crash it and that’s all good and fun as long as they remember it’s your house. If they start snorting vodka off your dog and destroying your couch, kicking them out is not censorship, it’s common sense. There’s no freedom of expression in private spaces – but the users of these spaces have the liberty to go express themselves elsewhere.

]]> By: Candice http://thetravelersnotebook.com/blogging-tips/how-to-deal-with-out-of-control-comments-on-your-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-5643 Candice Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:22:13 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=5638#comment-5643 Like you said, negative comments can be a positive thing...it means people are reading! The same goes for hatemail. One of my favorite bloggers, Heather Armstrong (Dooce), chose to "monetize" her hatemail temporarily by creating an ad-riddled page displaying some ridiculous comments she received. She then took all the money generated by the hate, and donated it to a bunch of organizations. Creative, yes? Like you said, negative comments can be a positive thing…it means people are reading! The same goes for hatemail. One of my favorite bloggers, Heather Armstrong (Dooce), chose to “monetize” her hatemail temporarily by creating an ad-riddled page displaying some ridiculous comments she received. She then took all the money generated by the hate, and donated it to a bunch of organizations. Creative, yes?

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