Handling Negative Posts

It can be hard to know what to do about negative posts or comments.

Some negative posts as well as blog swarms (groups of negative posts feeding off each other's energy) should obviously be ignored, but some equally obviously need a response.

In this month's Blogger and Podcaster Magazine you can read an excerpt on negative posts and blog swarms from our Blogging for Business book (pages 32-39) as well as an exclusive interview with Shel Holtz and me on the state of blog swarms today, aggregators, my thoughts on how there are multiple parallel blogospheres today, and more.

Comments

[Reg Adkins of Elemental Truths]

Interesting you should be writing on this topic just now Ted. I just had an experience with a barrage of negative comments about a post I did for Leon Ho on Lifehack. As you know my area of expertise is human behavior and consulting. But, after a recent visit to the UK I did a bit on my trip there. Among the tips I left was one quick aside about how fresh water is plumbed in the UK and how the utelize a fascinating system known as "rain water harvesting." Ted, you would have thought I taxed the tea. People went into keyboard frenzy and some even stalked me back to Elemental Truths. Well, after more than twenty years in human behavior, I know better than to argue with a passionate person (or pretty much anybody else). So, I just let the mob mentality dissipate without a return comment.
In any case, my point being, I am a firm believer that if someone takes the time to leave a comment they deserve a reply. BUT, as with any rule of thumb, their is always an exception.
Still love your work. Blog on Brother!

[MorganLighter]

Ted - Great post. While I have not been the target of negative posts, I have visited sites that have. The vitriolic attitude of the comments was insane and yes, they were like sharks in a feeding frenzy. They even attacked typos - (see Reg's comment "the utelize" which should be "they utilize") as though the author was an idiot. The author of the piece did respond to some of these idiotic comments with style and grace. Revisiting this particular site a few weeks later I noticed a different tone in the comments, due to, I think, the authors' handling of the negative remarks. I admire Target and Sun for their handling of the negativity. Thanks for the great post. Oh yeah, I don't think you're dull. Take care.

[Ted Demopoulos, Blogging for Business]

Hey Reg,
Thanks for the comment -- sometimes I guess you have to just let angry irrational mobs disperse themselves. Now if they had pitchforks and torches and were trying to storm your castle that might be different :)

Thanks Morgan,
I try not to be dull!