Standing out and handling negative comments

< What do you do that others don't? : Think up your own ideas, don't just copy someone else's >

Three weeks ago, I asked: what do you do that others don't?  I mostly looked at the importance of writing good content every single time you blog.

I'd like to build on that blog entry by asking a new question: do you want to stand out?

Are you different?

As I've gone through school, worked for a few different companies, and attended numerous social events, I have met various people who are singled out for being different.  The reasons are often to do with the characteristics that make up that person, rather than something they can easily change.  For example:

1. Looks
2. Accent
   
3. Beliefs
4. Hobbies
   

Sound familiar?  Well, it's all too familiar to me.  I know I've been singled out for some of these reasons and many others, too.

Can you handle your blog being the topic of conversation?

Let's say you've been writing blog entries for a few months, and one of your work colleagues stumbles on your blog for the first time.  That person doesn't write a blog - the concept is alien to them.

The next day at work, the person just happens to mention that they found your blog.  Someone else overhears and says that blogging is only for people with no friends.  Another person says that bloggers think their voice is so important that they have to broadcast it for others to see.  And what's to say they are even having this conversation with you?

While you might make a positive impact on some people, others may ridicule you and your blog because they think all bloggers are self-obsessed idiots.  Can you handle other people criticising the things you write?

It only takes one blog entry to stand out.

Some people seem to chase fame and then regret it when they become well-known.  It only takes one blog entry for people to find out who you are, and it only takes one scathing remark to get you down and make you wish you had never written that blog entry in the first place.

But it goes both ways.  If enough people read your blog and think "wow, this is really good," then word is going to get around about you and your blog.  Is this what you want - to be known for your blog?

You need thick skin.

If you want to be known on the Internet, then you need to be able to deal with criticism.  Some people do not wish to offend others and will word their comments carefully.  Others are not so nice and will say whatever they like.

Constructive criticism can be very helpful.  Abuse isn't much use.  You need to find a way to deal with both.  Believe me, not everyone gives positive feedback.

Apologise for your mistakes, but don't apologise for being yourself.

If you've done something to upset someone, you can apologise for that.  Remember to learn from your mistakes!

However, there will always be people who just don't like you for reasons that you cannot control.  Those people are best avoided.

What to do with "bad" comments

If someone posts a really brutal comment on your blog, you have a few options:

1. Reply to it.
2. Ignore it.
3. Delete it.
   

I would go with option 1 or 3 depending on how bad it is.

Move on, don't give up.

Don't let bad comments get you down.  Keep blogging.  That's the most important thing to do!  If you do decide to stop blogging, only do it if that's what you want to do - not because someone posted a bad comment.

What do you think?

Do you consider yourself to be "well-known"?
Do you stand out?
Have you had any negative comments?
How do you deal with them?

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