Since I make every effort to post for two blogs everyday, it means I’m always in need of inspiration. I’m always on the look out for unique ideas that will help my blogs stand out from the rest. Sometime it becomes a great challenge, but thanks to stubborn people who refuse to open their minds and see the full picture – complexities and all – there will always be one source that I can turn to when I can’t think of anything else to write. That source is negative comments.
Yes, I especially enjoy the ones that are low down and dirty, the kind that are a tad bit insulting, that would probably make the average person just a little angry. One day I received a sarcastic comment to a guest post I wrote for Twitip. I calmly replied and after several exchanges, I decided to make the most of the experience. I actually enjoyed his continued negative comments because it allowed me an opportunity to think more critically and I ended up writing a response post.
Yes, I enjoyed the negative comments that continued and here’s why:
Half the time people haven’t even fully read my post, which works to my advantage because I’m able to reply with a comment that highlights a significant point that they’ve seemingly overlooked.
Other times, they really are just blinded by what they believe in and they’ve never taken a moment to challenge the status quo and really consider the fact that life is far more complex. They haven’t yet accepted that most things in life are rarely purely black or white, but are usually colored in various hues of gray. Some of these people lack the ability to intelligently back up a debate, so they often result to hurling insults, profanity, and other expressions that make their inability to respect differences more apparent.
Then you have people, who I suspect know exactly what they are doing and are strategically creating an uproar to gain some attention. Those are the people who look for a high traffic place to pick a fight. They are hoping everyone will get upset and give them some air time.
That’s fine with me, in either of the above cases, I realize we’re all entitled to our opinions and frankly that’s the beauty of freedom of the press.
Depending on how in-depth their rant becomes, I like to take these negative comments and turn them into a blog post. After all my blog needs quality content and my readers deserve an opportunity to consider all sides of a debate and that there is no one and only “right way” to blog. There are tons of options and thank God for that, because that’s what makes infinite possibilities of the blogosphere a reality.
And since many subscribers rarely take the time to read through the entire string of comments, writing a blog post gives me an opportunity to bring the argument before my other readers and gives me a chance to hear what others have to say about the issue.
So I enjoy the occasional negative comment challenge.
The key, however, to successfully writing a post in response to a negative comment is to maintain your cool. That means no name calling. Restrict yourself to discussing the topic – attack the content, not the person. When you stay focused on the content, it keeps you from falling into the trap of making less than intelligent exchanges with another person that you might otherwise like if you had met them in person. It also keeps you from being attacked for trying to force your beliefs and opinions on others.
Include the negative comment and then defend your point by adding facts and clarifications that you may have left out of the original post. Refer to my response post if you need an example.
Don’t simply rehash the post that received the negative comment, but actually extend your argument and address the valid points that the negative commentator may have made. Don’t be afraid to make concessions where applicable – failing to do so will make you appear unreasonable and just as shallow. But don’t abandon your whole debate just because you make a few concessions. Of course there may actually be times where you will have to abandon your original ideas and accept that maybe they were right – being able to do that is probably a greater sign of strength. You know you’ve grown when you can say, I was wrong.
In any case, use negative comments and disagreements to your advantage – see them as opportunities for growth and knowledge increase. Maybe you have been ignoring a particular point of view, but maybe others have also been doing the same, so here’s a chance to challenge everyone’s current level of thinking. Here’s a chance to use a negative comment to establish yourself as a confident writer and also increase your blog’s value.
About the Author:
Kiesha is the author of WeBlogBetter and Highly Favored. She’s a technical Writer, former writing instructor, and internet marketing consultant for small business owners. If you’d like to know more, read her extended bio. Connect with her on Twitter and subscribe to her feed. Kiesha can also be found on FuelYourBlogging
Kiesha, I was going to say something negative here, but I couldn’t come up with anything
I love the idea of turning negative comments into another post by incorporating the comments and extending the discussion.
.-= Jean Sarauer´s last blog ..Note to Self: Take Today Off From Blogging for Birthday =-.
Hi Jean! Oh, that’s quite alright! I guess the negative here would that – you can’t use all negative comments – like Robert just mentioned (comment below) racist comments, hate speech, and other extremely inappropriate comments really can’t be used – those are just things I don’t want seen on my blog for any reason!
Have a great Saturday!
.-= Kiesha @ WeBlogBetter´s last blog ..A Step-by-step guide to guest posting =-.
I just cam out of a meeting with a guy who’s biggest hurdle in setting up a blog is, what to do if someone post rubbish, porn, inflammatory remarks, critical content on his blog.
There is a line drawn, obviously. But if done correctly, as you point out, negative comments can actually improve interaction, traffic as well as the credibility of a blog.
There is no way that a credible blog, always get positive comments. That’s just not natural. I’m weary of those who delete those comments.
Yes, you do not want things like hate speech, racism, etc. You can moderate, but as you say, use the negative to build a positive.
.-= Robert Bravery´s last blog ..Webdevelopers Carnival – March 27 edition =-.
Hi Robert!
Ooh, you’re right about moderating those types of comments. As a blogger you really have to do your best not to take those things personally – I know it’s hard sometimes (really hard!) but once you’ve cool off – I think it’s best to squeeze something positive out of the situation.
.-= Kiesha @ WeBlogBetter´s last blog ..6 Tips for more efficient blogging =-.
Kiesha, I read that post, I left a comment (mine wasn’t negative though), man they really need to incorporate threaded comments on TwiTip!
Anyway, I think handling negativity is probably one of the most difficult parts of being a blogger or being in front of the public in social media. I am NOT very good at it, but I am the kind of person that usually won’t take too much crap off someone before I blow up on them. Is this bad for my online persona? Yes and no.
For the most part, I ignore idiots on my blog and in the social media realm (although there is one in particular that is about to get on my last nerve).
.-= Keith´s last blog ..20 Podcasts About Marketing Your Blog =-.
Hi Keith,
You’re right about the non-threaded comments there- that is rather irritating. But anyway, I think I know which particular is getting on your last nerve – In a way this post was in response to that debate from a few days ago.
My take is this – lots of people get one thing ingrained in their heads and then they never take a moment to consider what life would be like in someone else’s shoes. They’re so quick to yell “you’re wrong for ABC” without every really considering why sometimes people have no choice in the matter. They want to stand out on their extremes, but really if the tables were turned, they’d be doing the same thing.
Don’t let ruffle your feathers, you’re an alright guy, and that’s all that matters.
.-= Kiesha @ WeBlogBetter´s last blog ..When one egg wont stand, try another =-.
Keith, I’ve found it helpful to allow the person who is misbehaving to have the last word. Let them “win” such as it is.
Down home we have this old saw: “Never wrestle a pig. You both get covered in sh!t, but the pig likes it.”
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..“Dumb it down” they say… No! I say, “Smarten it up!” (Saturday Morning Surfing) =-.
I believe people who comment with negative bashing comments are looking for negative attention. They either can’t see the good in anything or are as you said looking for their own 5 minutes of fame. But you are smarter and came back with a bang. I went through this not to long ago, and I know it really woke up the fire in me. I no longer feel threatened by negative comments, I soak it up and turn it around. Thanks James.
I also think that negative comments often attracts other readers. Usually when people see a negative comment on a post, they would return to the post to see what the blogger would say and how the debate would turn out. They may even join the discussion, which makes it more lively.
.-= Julius´s last blog ..Learning About Web Accessibility Through Everyday Tasks =-.
Hi Julius!
That’s exactly what happened. Comments were still coming in up to a few days ago. The guy was really fiesty and had something sharp to say to anyone who called him out. One reader called him “small-minded” and of course he had a comeback. I didn’t insult him, I simply continued to defend my side of the debate, it actually ended quite friendly – we’ve followed each other on Twitter and he’s visited my blog. No hard feelings for me.
.-= Kiesha @ Weblogbetter.com´s last blog ..How do you choose a site that won’t take forever to publish your guest post? =-.
I think comments can always give great new ideas for posts. Both good and bad. There’s always a piece of gold stuck somewhere if you look hard enough for it. I think your approach is a grand one, don’t get negative back and reduce yourself. Stand tall and continue to debate logically. Readers will admire you for that. You’re a great writer and I’m so happy I spotted this post. I almost didn’t because I’m so used to James only having 2 posts a day. He got me on that one. I’m going to follow you over to your blog.
Well I’m so glad you spotted this post, too! And I’m still waiting to hear about that egg? Did you get it to stand or not?
.-= Kiesha @ WeBlogBetter´s last blog ..Enjoy date night (or day) with the kids =-.
I’ve had commenters ask me to write related articles about particular posts. In a recent series for beginners,
6 Steps to a Better Blog
several questions came up like this.
I also read your post about scheduled tweets, and one comment gave me a whole new perspective about that – meeting people who are online when I’m not. Now, I occasionally schedule some tweets throughout the night.
Thanks for a great post.
Hi Hal!
I’m so glad you gained some new perspective! It’s always so encouraging to me when I hear that I was able to write something that prove to be valuable to someone. Thanks for letting me know!
.-= Kiesha @ WeBlogBetter´s last blog ..10 Interviews every blogger should read =-.
Hey Kiesha,
“Half the time people haven’t even fully read my post…”
I can totally relate to that, what a shame ! People just scan a few phrases and add a comment that’s totally out of context ! But anyways, I love negative comments as well (let’s say some of them!) because they spice up my comment section. I love a little firing action !
“…attack the content, not the person…” I have to remember that one, it’s very tempting to get attached to your blog posts, I want to defend them like my babies
.-= Mars Dorian´s last blog ..Why YOU Should Consider Yourself a Kick-Ass ” I-Empire” Brand ! =-.
There are a bunch of people who just scan the top bit so they can get the link in their comments. I actually caught myself doing that the other day on here, I read about half of the post and just had to get commenting. I got to some suggestions and decided to go back and look at other comments when I saw the end of the post. It made about half of my comments irrelevant to anything. That was a lesson to learn.
.-= Justin Matthews´s last blog ..Our Fighting Men, Our Peace of Mind. =-.
Hi Justin!
It takes a strong person to admit when they’ve done something they aren’t too proud of. I think we all do that sometimes, but I’ve learned that if I’m not inspired enough to read the whole post, then I’m not wasting my time leaving a comment.
.-= Kiesha @ WeBlogBetter´s last blog ..How do you choose a site that won’t take forever to publish your guest post? =-.
James,
You definitely have to embrace your negative comments. The very first Post I ever wrote for http://www.RyanHanley.com, the very first comment I ever received was from a fellow University of Rochester grad that I didn’t know. This fellow alumni basically said I was Terrible and was ashamed of me because I was selling trash…
I just let it fuel and fire and a Year Later similar to TheInfoPreneur we’re rocking sh!t…
Thanks
Ryan H.
.-= Ryan Hanley´s last blog ..The Fine Art of Annoying Prospects =-.
I’ve had my fair share of negative comments, and while it hasn’t always resulted in a post it has lead to some interesting conversations.
I’ve always found it best to never retaliate. I always answer in a diplomatic way showing them where they are wrong. This seems to infuriate them causing them to dig a deeper grave. It really pisses them off when others agreeing with me chip in
.-= Sire´s last blog ..Why Alexa Is More Important To Me Than Google Page Rank =-.
Hi Ryan,
Yeah, that was my whole point for writing the post, so that my readers could back me up – and most of them did!
.-= Kiesha @ WeBlogBetter´s last blog ..When one egg wont stand, try another =-.
I like that you mentioned in the post or in these comments about keeping calm and replying to the commenters comments not attacking the person behind them. Good reminder to keep it clean and classy and there is no reason to resort to name calling.
Because I don’t have a single blog (rather 3 websites), I am not really sure about the whole comment issue. Sometimes I think it would be better to have comments then I could interact with visitors a bit more (I do have areas where people can “have their say”). It would be nice to get a bit more feedback on the things that I write about, both positive and negative.
Sometimes I wonder if the upkeep of comments is time productive on blogs? Because I have my first site (not Taming Time) and it gets 550 – 700 uniques per day and I update 2 – 4 times a month, it makes me decent money and it runs largely on auto-pilot. I have areas where people can have there say, and these areas automatically build me a new page from someones story/comment. I am a little naughty and I have buried them a bit so I don’t get overwhelmed with feedback.
I read a statistic somewhere that on average only 1 – 3 % of visitors actually read the comments on blogs and even less comment. (Could be completely incorrect, remembering this from memory). Obviously on some blogs the numbers would be different, like I expect James stats to be different to this.
I know that this probably goes against the grain here, cos most people are bloggers who visit The Infopreneur. But what about successful blogs with no comments Zenhabits and Steve Pavlina.
OK Kiesha, promise I did read your post…sorry for going a bit off topic here…
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Mar 27, Causes of Procrastination and Help to Overcome this Detrimental Habit: Why do We Procastinate? =-.
Hi Michelle,
It’s okay! I believe you. I enjoyed your post about procrastination – I’m definitely in need of a bit of rehab myself…
.-= Kiesha @ WeBlogBetter´s last blog ..A Step-by-step guide to guest posting =-.