Yesterday I noticed a comment on my blog and like most bloggers I was very excited about a new comment...until I read the comment. It was from an anonymous writer that said "you make me want to puke".
Yes, you read that right it said "you make me want to puke".
I do not like anonymous comments but until now I have allowed them because... well to be honest I like comments of any kind. Until this comment I have only had positive comments or comments that further the discussion so never worried about the possibility of negative comments. I have even been "taken to task" by readers when it was needed and accepted the comments happily. But I have never before received an openly mean comment.
And I am a little sad, not about the comment (more on that in a bit) but because we live in a world were these "comment and run" practice are very common. The internet has made it so easy to be mean and not be held accountable for your actions. People leave mean hateful comments all the time then disappear never to be heard from again.
I think this is a little cowardly. If through the anonymity of the internet you are brave enough to make the comment "man up" and leave your name. Start a dialogue don't just throw out mean jabs like "you make me want to puke" or 'I hate you" (I haven't received this comment but a blogger friend of mine did.)
But despite all that I have decided to exam this comment more thoroughly. So everyone put on your thinking caps.
What does the writer mean when they say "You make me want to puke"? Since I don't know who wrote the comment I can not infer any meaning into the comment. Do I know you? Did I cook one of my amazing meals and it made you ill? Did I "share" my germs and give you the stomach bug I had last week? Did I say something so offensive that you become physical ill? I don't feel like I have enough information to give this comment any real meaning or to understand how I make you want to puke.
Because of this I am okay deleting this comment from my blog. I have never done that. I believe that all comments can lead to discussion and are valid but since the writer choose not to leave their name I am choosing to not keep the comment.
So my friends did I handle this situation correctly? What would you do if it happened to you? Or what did you when it happened to you?
I remember my first negative comment...
ReplyDeleteI was spending three months traveling and writing about it on my blog.
Some guy left a comment about how "arrogant" I was for traveling, and having fun.
I replied back and asked him why he was in such a bad mood.
From there, he started following every post I wrote and describing me and every person I wrote about meeting as a self-absorbed d-bag.
You can make fun of me... That's fine. But I banned him when he started making fun of my friends.
He was clearly a troll, and after a few weeks he just got bored and gave up.
I think you handled the situation appropriately.
Remember, this blog is your "home" on the internet. You get to make the rules about how people are allowed to behave, and if they don't act with respect in your home, you have the right to kick them out.
Clay thank you for the support. I am confused why someone think you are "arrogant" for travelling and having fun...I am just jealous. :)
DeleteI do not have a think skin and it probably would have hurt my feelings, at least at first, and then I would hope that I don't actually know the person and they hopefully didn't know me, and I would delete it too. And that would make me feel better. Cause I'm shallow like that.
ReplyDeleteSashbury I will admit I had pleasure in deleting the comment but it is probably a control thing with me. crossing my fingers you only receiving positive uplifting comments.
DeleteI think your great and people who don't know you would only say bad things. but what do I know? I'm only your mom. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks mom!!!!! I am coming over and setting you up a goggle account so you dont have to leave anonymous comments.
DeleteNow I have to find that blog entry to find out what you said that made someone say something ugly! I would have deleted it, too. I guess I should go ahead and start a blog or something so I won't be annoymous.
ReplyDeleteBobbie
Bobbie just create a goggle account and then you wont be anonymous anymore.
DeleteYou make me want to puke... after a night of drinking vodka.
ReplyDeleteHell ya baby sister. Remember the time you feel off my toilet when we were drinking?
DeleteI remember many times of falling off of a toilet while drinking. It seems to be a thing of mine.
DeleteI remember you ping ponging through my kitchen in Idaho...that was so funny.
DeleteYou handled it great. Nice response/reaction to someone who wasn't courageous enough to stand behind their words, by printing their name.
ReplyDeleteThank you Victoria. I appreciate your positive feedback...today I would appreciate the bad comments as long as you leave your name. :)
DeleteWhat a coward to leave the comment annomously. I think you handled it just fine. I have not received any kind of mean or rude comment before. Once I received sort of a condescending comment Challenging my decision to Chase Joy. I handled it by writing a blog post answering his questions. I do respect the fact that he posted the comment with his name, not annomously.
ReplyDeleteIt seems odd to me that someone would object to you chasing joy...people are weird.
DeleteI would probably delete the comment as well. I would not want my blog to be a place for that kind of negativity. That gives me an idea, maybe I'll place a warning on my blog, that if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all. And if you leave a hurtful, negative comment then don't be surprised when I delete it. It's one thing to leave constructive criticism, it entirely different to just be spiteful and hurtful.
ReplyDeleteI would delete it. An anonymous negative comment like this adds nothing to the conversation.
ReplyDeleteStopping by from SITS
Hello from St. Louie. Stopping in from SITS. I think deleting it was your best option. Glad to hear it hasn't kept you from blogging. Have a great day!
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