Negative people: what is your strategy?

36 replies
Okay, this shouldn't me annoy me even 10% of how it annoys me right now, but I need to post this one here.. maybe just to blow off some steam!

My blog is growing quite nice, no Steve Pavlina thing or whatever but I'm a content man.

I get more comments on social media lately and today I actually got my first AWFUL comment.

Someone said my info helped that person a lot and then someone else reacted that making people happy with non scientific bullshit is mean and low.

First off, what I'm writing about is as scientific as anything can get and I'm never promising great results.. in fact, I am overly cautious with promising results that I can't predict.

How do you deal with this? React kindly and tell the person he can read more about it if he's skeptic? Or just ignore and remove it (if possible) because it's not even worth the energy?

Looking forward to your answers! :-)
#negative #people #strategy
  • Profile picture of the author Sean DeSilva
    An unintentional rub may warrant a kind correction, but this person seemed to show aggression and hostility towards you. I would personally just remove him without addressing his comment, and possibly delete the comment depending on the platform and the circumstances.
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  • Profile picture of the author extrememan
    You will always attract negative mindsets in what you do? I would delete comments like that and don't bother pursuing negative comments. Doesn't do anything for you...
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  • Profile picture of the author GlobalTrader
    Have you ever heard of the old saying:

    "You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can never please all of the people all of the time."

    I would not respond, I would delete his comment and try to id his IP address - if he returns with more negative comments, then block his IP in your htaccess - it is your blog/website, you are the controlling factor and you do not need to tolerate his/her type of comments.
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  • Profile picture of the author BradVert2013
    Getting a few negative comments here and there is actually a good thing. Make some waves in your niche. Shake things up.

    When I had my blog I'd get a negative comment every once in a while. Depending on the comment, I'd either respond or ignore it. Some were obvious trolls looking for attention and a reaction. I ignored them. Others I'd counter with a well thought out response. Sometimes someone else would respond to the negative comment.

    Just don't freak out and start deleting negative comments. Unless they're especially offensive or spam, just leave them there and ignore them.
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    • Profile picture of the author IanM723
      Originally Posted by BradVert2013 View Post

      Getting a few negative comments here and there is actually a good thing. Make some waves in your niche. Shake things up.

      When I had my blog I'd get a negative comment every once in a while. Depending on the comment, I'd either respond or ignore it. Some were obvious trolls looking for attention and a reaction. I ignored them. Others I'd counter with a well thought out response. Sometimes someone else would respond to the negative comment.

      Just don't freak out and start deleting negative comments. Unless they're especially offensive or spam, just leave them there and ignore them.
      I think anytime you have many different people viewing your own personal thoughts and expressions, you are going to have some people who absolutely love it and some who don't. Hopefully the people who respond favorably will greatly outnumber the detractors but I do think that this is just part of having a public forum and expressing your ideas publicly.

      I agree that I would not automatically delete every single negative comment because you want your audience to feel like they can be honest and open. If you just automatically delete every single negative comment, it may actually hurt your blog in the long-run because people are not going to comment as much if they feel like they can't openly express their honest opinions.
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  • Profile picture of the author talfighel
    Don't worry buddy. Just let it go and ignore the negative comments.

    I get that too sometimes in my emails.

    There are some BIG name internet marketing GURUS out there who have helped THOUSANDS make money and they also get this once in a while.

    I just got an email from this lady today and she told me that she thinks I am no good and she will never join what I am recommending. You know what I did since this is not the first time she complains and being negative to me?

    I took her off my list and wished her the best.
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      Ignoring or deleting negative comments is not always a solution, IMNSHO. More than likely, there are others who may actually feel the same way but don't bother commenting.

      The niches in which I market are highly controversial and can be emotionally charged. For example most of the negative comments I get are from a standpoint of ignorance, bias, irrational, illogical, or fundamentally flawed reasoning.

      There may be some risk, but addressing negativity and perhaps even engaging the offender directly and publicly can often result in a favorable publicity coup (ie sales).
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  • Profile picture of the author David Braybrooke
    Thank them for their comment. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, no matter how awful, so show the ultimate class and be gracious.
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  • Profile picture of the author vedremo
    Banned
    There's no such thing as a bad publicity. All publicity is good if it is intelligent. The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.

    These are the renowned lines that reminded me of your situation. In your case, you are given a unique chance to be in the spotlight, respond well to the negativity and come back stronger and more understood by many.

    Everything is energy. For your situation, it's a matter of learning how to transform that negative energy into something positive. Something that is advantageous to your business. It's giving you a chance to explain your side further in a calm, intelligent and mature manner.

    You don't play fire with fire. You pacify your negative commenter with wit, humor, kindness, a lot of patience and understanding.

    If it still doesn't work and it's beyond your level of maturity then by all means just delete the comment and focus your energy into something more positive and productive. It's definitely not worth your precious time.

    Be open-minded and keep a calm state of mind. If the situation is becoming unusually stressful then by all means just annihilate that entity in your blog. Blocked the IP if needed. You deserve respect and a peaceful online existence.

    Good luck and more power!
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    I was researching a particular IM coach recently and found a few negative comments on some "scam" website.

    These comments looked really bad at first glance. Several of the guy's students jumped to his defense and then the coach himself eventually joined the thread.

    The result was a very positive one for the coach.

    There is no bad publicity, as long as they get your name right.
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  • Profile picture of the author OfficerIM
    I would personally block their ip
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  • Profile picture of the author BellaGeen
    Congratulations! Your business is growing!
    You will have to deal with those comments more frequent as you have more readers and followers. Why? Lot of reasons!
    - First of all because people have different points of view
    - Some people use Internet to release their aggression
    - People like to be important and some can feel that way only when creating a provocative comments and causing a disturbance
    - Some "lost" competitors can do it... very few though
    - Sometimes people just have a bad day....

    Please, be happy with each comment you get, and twice as happy with each negative comment,

    What to do besides being happy?

    - Create rules and enforce compliance
    - Moderate comments
    - Let your followers to answer first - some of them will stand by you very actively
    - Always thank the person, be polite but never argue or attack back or make excuses
    - If it is pure bullying or provocation - delete the comment and block the person

    hope it helps
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  • Profile picture of the author Willie Crawford
    I would put a curse on the poster, making all of the kids
    in their family, for the next 10 generations, really, really
    ugly.

    Actually, I'd just ignore it... and probably delete the comment.

    Don't let them zap your energy.

    Willie
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    • Profile picture of the author Jeff Schuman
      Delete the comment and focus on the one that said your info helped that person a lot. Good Job! Keep up the good work.
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    • Profile picture of the author heavysm
      Originally Posted by Willie Crawford View Post

      I would put a curse on the poster, making all of the kids
      in their family, for the next 10 generations, really, really
      ugly.
      But what if that's already happened!!

      That might explain why he's so negative.

      But in all seriousness deleting the comment is probably the best way to go.

      Why let them get to you?
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  • Profile picture of the author Upstate1
    There is a few things you can't run from in life and one of those things are: Negativity.

    When running any kind of websites especially those where users are enabled to leave comments; you will experience some negative comments here and there. Sometimes negative comments can be a good thing because it can spark a debate and draw more of an audience but sometimes negative comments can have no place on the site.

    There are a few things you can do: You can delete the comment and also if you have the capability depending on the platform you're using you can even block the poster IP.

    I like to use negativity to fuel my ambition and push for success even more. When someone say "no you can't" or etc I take that as a challenge.

    Don't let other negativity get to you. Keep doing what you do and succeed.
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    • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
      ignore the negatives - not everyone in this world is going to like you or your stuff - if you want to succeed online you have to grow a very thick skin and to ignore anyone who threatens your purpose or peace of mind
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  • Profile picture of the author gerardojv
    You have to understand on the internet society, there are genuine people, who both will tell you they either love it or hate, within reason, and then there are the trolls, who simply are nothing but a waste of time.

    If you cannot handle one bad comment, then I'd suggest you close down your blog and just do something else.... take the high road and ignore this guy and all the further straight out insults, unless someone posts their opinion within reason, then of course thats their opinion, but other than that, I'd simply just ignore and continue blogging.
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  • Profile picture of the author ceenote100
    Well if someone actually took the time to write a negative comment on your blog then you're doing something right I guess.
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    Don't let Caliban Darklock get under your skin. :p

    Just ignore him.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rory Singh
    I may be wrong but it sounds like you made someone happy with your content and then someone else got jealous and made a negative comment.

    No biggie.

    John Chow said that he would let all comments show on his blog. But that is John.

    You can not please everyone.

    Except for yourself.

    The more successful you become, there will always be more haters.

    Just don't focus on them and don't try to please anyone

    Just keep on being you.
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  • Profile picture of the author shadeofinfo
    Originally Posted by FingerPicker View Post

    Okay, this shouldn't me annoy me even 10% of how it annoys me right now, but I need to post this one here.. maybe just to blow off some steam!

    My blog is growing quite nice, no Steve Pavlina thing or whatever but I'm a content man.

    I get more comments on social media lately and today I actually got my first AWFUL comment.

    Someone said my info helped that person a lot and then someone else reacted that making people happy with non scientific bullshit is mean and low.

    First off, what I'm writing about is as scientific as anything can get and I'm never promising great results.. in fact, I am overly cautious with promising results that I can't predict.

    How do you deal with this? React kindly and tell the person he can read more about it if he's skeptic? Or just ignore and remove it (if possible) because it's not even worth the energy?

    Looking forward to your answers! :-)
    I would contact the person and ask them exactly what makes them think that way. Just as a way to clarify what they're saying.

    You could be dealing with someone that's just jealous like someone said ... you never know.

    I would personally address it and just try to find out. Has the person left any other comments on other posts of just that one.
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  • Profile picture of the author devonm
    I just think "A naysayer" What can you do?

    They are in a negative mindset entertaining the Won't Can't and Will Not Happen train of thought. Nothing you can do about it if you don't know them and really, not much you can do to change their mind. They have to be willing to change themselves and their mindset, but only if they are willing.

    3 years ago, I was personally in that shitty state of mind. I got out of that from someone's comment, very inoccuous in a IM chat. It took me 2 weeks to try it and I found so much power with a new mindset.
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  • Profile picture of the author stufftheme
    you overreacting my boy
    let them talk and put them in spam
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  • Profile picture of the author Greg71
    Leaving a negative comment on there will demonstrate to people reading it that you let everyone speak their mind. If there are only positive, it would seem unrealistic, possibly.
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    Hi,

    Ignore angry or mean people. As for others, remember this: their feedback has everything to do with them and nothing to do with you.

    They are offering an opinion; nothing else. Knowing this can be freeing because you will see negative comments as feedback or opinions rather than a personal vendetta.

    I still get cheesed for a few minutes after some nasty comments. After breathing deeply I remember this truth. Their view, their projection.

    Then I assess my feelings. In your case, you would want to establish full clarity around what you do. If you were 100% clear on the fact that you back up your content with scientific data his comment would not bother you Forgive yourself; this happens to all of us at one time another.

    Just double down in the clarity department because once you believe from your heart in your blog, his comment will be laughable, and you will let it go in seconds, and you will move on with your life.

    He people react to you has all to do with them and how you react to their reactions has everything to do with you.

    Happy to see that you broke your blogging cherry lol....keep up the great work and do link to your blog so I can check it out!

    Thanks!

    Ryan
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  • Profile picture of the author fallison
    I agree deleting comments can be a bad idea. You are working hard to build a community so you don't want them to be afraid to disagree. Someone's disagreement with you may lead to the next big idea for you when you see they have a point.
    I only delete comments that are personal attacks on me or on the other members of my community. Dissent I can handle, bad manners not so much.
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  • Profile picture of the author datingworld
    remember the following quote,


    "there will be Haters,
    there will be Doubters,
    there wll be Non - Believers
    and then there will be you proving them wrong"


    prove negative people wrong if you can, if you can't, then ignore them and move on.
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  • Profile picture of the author Leon Zykos
    Hi,

    I think that negative people will always be around. What matters is that you continue to grind away and use your success to prove them wrong!
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Ayton
    Unfortunetly negative people on social media are something everyone person and company have to deal with, people feel like there are no reprecutions for their comments from behind the computer screen..
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    If you can dream it, you can do it - Walt Disney

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  • Profile picture of the author FingerPicker
    Wow, thanks a lot for all of your supportive replies!!

    I took the time to read all of them and they helped me a great deal in dealing with this situation.

    Again, thanks!
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    • Profile picture of the author The Great Gordino
      My first reaction would be to engage, because that will be sending a message to your viewers, I suspect with comments like that you won't get very far, but at least you have tried.
      If it gets trollish, or down a dead end, then you can either close that comment thread, or delete it - your readers should be onboard with that anyway,
      cheers,
      Gordon
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  • Profile picture of the author Greenville
    There will always be negative people to doubt of your intentions. Are these people doing better than you? Surely not! Except criticize and complain, they do not do much! It's good to be criticized, it helps to improve ourselves but when it is negative, do not worry about it. Keep your energy for positive people, they deserve it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
      Here's another saying:

      If you're not pi$$ing anyone off, you aren't trying hard enough.
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      "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"

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  • Profile picture of the author hustlinsmoke
    Well if you need some help, me and my buddies can pay this ole boy a visit my home town way. Beat him with a rattlesnake skin till he bleeds like a stuck pig trying to get through a barbed wire fence.
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