Feb
21
Anonymity and Cowardice – Guest Post
Posted by Simple Dude | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on 21-02-2011
I have a special treat for all my Simpletons today – a guest post from Fickle Cattle. He was one of the original bloggers I followed last August when I first opened up this joint. He is a great writer and is taking on a subject all bloggers have to deal with at some point in time – anonymous comments.
I’ve had a few anonymous comments on my blog (“I am Fickle Cattle”) before, some of which have been fairly decent folk who really just wanted to drop me a line. They simply had no social networking profile to identify themselves with, so they had no choice but to comment anonymously. Sometimes they put a name underneath their comment, or an e-mail address, just so I would know who they were, and maybe where they were coming from.
I welcome and enjoy comments like those, which is one of the reasons why I generally do not moderate my comment box. I have no issues with people disagreeing with me, only that if they do, it does not go below generally accepted standards of civility.
There are a few however, who use their anonymity as a shield from which they can hide after they leave nasty and personal insults against you. These are a sub group of readers I would rather do without. I have no patience for people who are unable to stand behind their own opinion.
I’ve been blogging for a decent while now, and though the overall experience has been fantastic, I must say that the practice of some commenters of insulting you without even having the balls to identify themselves is pretty frustrating, and, well, sad. It’s the role of the coward to fight from only a position of strength; in this case, when the person you direct particularly nasty jabs to do not even know how to start fighting back.
This is why I have a lot of respect for people who disagree with me and who do so openly and proudly. Sometimes it gives another dimension to a post since it allows for other points of view to come into light. Of course, the caveat is that if you express an opinion that disagrees with someone else’s, then you must also be willing to accept disagreement yourself.
Which brings me to my point, how do you fight cowards who hide in the shadows?
Well, you don’t. From my experience, the best way is to not fight at all. Most of these commenters are really just people trying to get a rise out of you, or who wants to grab some bit of attention for themselves. Why give them what they want? Better to ignore them.
In my case, I usually just delete the comment they wrote. I’ve since learned that trolls hate indifference more than anger. Indifference merely reflects the fact that these people aren’t important at all. To show your anger is to give them some significance. When you do not even try to acknowledge that they made a comment, then you emphasize the worthlessness of their words, which is perfectly okay since their words precisely are worthless.
___________________________________
Big thanks to Fickle Cattle – I completely agree with everything he wrote. If you have been blogging for any period of time you’ve had anonymous commenters, and some of them can be real assholes – those are the ones that bug me. If you come to my site and want to be a prick, at least show yourself. I haven’t had to deal with this very much, thankfully.
Be sure to take some time to go visit Fickle Cattle – he is always a great read.
SD
I agree 100% with this post. People who choose to disagree and remain anonymous are the ones that really have zero ability to defend their thought process. They live in a black and white world where there are no shades of gray. They are entitled to their opinions and I welcome it at my blog, too. I am still too new to know much about advertising my blog to other blog sites and the ones that have managed to find me seem to have no complaints. If there ever was one, I guess my reaction would be the same. I just wonder if their plan to do that all the time on a person's blog is their way to push the blogger to seek deeper into their writing. I guess we will never know because remaining anonymous is their way of hiding from the truth of their words and the reasons behind their actions…..
Posted on: Feb/21/2011@5:11 pm
I do agree with this post too. I'm a-okay for people to disagree with me if I ever right about my own opinion, but people who hide and insult are pretty pathetic. I have had 1 anomalous abusive message on a post that I did write a long time back. Like you did write, i just went on to delete it as I don't have time for people who are to scared to hide behind a dark cloud, especially as they didn't identify themselves at the end of the comment either. Great post from "I am fickle cattle"
Posted on: Feb/21/2011@5:24 pm
Great guest post. I like Fickle's blog. The best way to deal with eDouchebags is to use comment approval. It works wonders.
Posted on: Feb/21/2011@5:40 pm
I think there's a way to fight it. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how realistic it is to send ninjas to get the IP address so they can hunt them down and teach them proper Internet Etiquette. Mostly what I believe is if you can't say something politely, you shouldn't say it at all. Especially when it comes to blogs on the internet. If you don't like it, it's just a simple matter of navigating away from the blog and never reading it again. No harm done.
Posted on: Feb/21/2011@5:57 pm
I’ve had my fair share of anonymous commenter’s that do nothing but attempt to hurt. Also, no patience for them, though like you, I do not at all mind a difference in opinion when stated with respect and decency. I’m always open to a debate that can potentially provide me with a new opinion. I don’t delete their comments because more often than not I have other wonderful readers that provide me with encouraging words or sentiments when it happens. Adverse opinions also reinforce that I am making a statement that may be controversial but is necessary to address. I do generally ignore them. They’re not worth my time bothering with.
Posted on: Feb/21/2011@6:46 pm
Bullies hate NOTHING more than being ignored. I've had some vicious anonymous comments and it's funny that they stand out. I've had nearly 4K comments altogether, so why worry about the 5-6 that are mean??
Posted on: Feb/21/2011@6:57 pm
Nice guest post! This is a topic that I am rather passionate about and have even dedicated an entire post myself to addressing anonymous asshats. There is nothing wrong with a reader putting forth a differing point of view but when they take what you have written completely out of context and/or spew nonsense and hateful comments, well then their ass is fair game. Also, why a coward would try to pick a fight is rather puzzling. With that being said, I find that the majority of bloggers/readers are supportive of one another.
http://rantersbox.blogspot.com/
Posted on: Feb/21/2011@7:42 pm
I have been lucky enough to not have to encounter this yet…but I completely agree. I've seen a couple other bloggers complain of these commenters and its sad that they don't have the courage to even give a name.
Posted on: Feb/21/2011@7:49 pm
I agree with you completely. The cloak of anonymity gives douchebags free rein to say whatever douchebaggy (NOTE: I'm almost positive this is not a real word) thing they want without fear of reprisal or toilet paper in their trees. But, no such smack-talking from me. I think this was a great post!
best fishes,
Al Penwasser
http://alpenwasser.blogspot (shameless self-promotion)
Posted on: Feb/21/2011@8:11 pm
That is a great post! I have nothing useful to add because everyone has basically said what I was thinking…
Posted on: Feb/21/2011@8:21 pm
Well said fickle cattle. I have gotten a huge amount of hits the last couple of days after my blog got posted on a hockey gossip blog (the hubs plays) and I am so nervous to get a these anonymous meanie comments. Crossing my fingers because I haven't gotten any just yet, but thanks for the heads up on what to do. Great feature Simple Dude!
http://texagermanadian.blogspot.com/
Posted on: Feb/21/2011@8:21 pm
Fantastic post and like the others I agree. Luckily I haven't had much in the way of this problem but I am sure my time will come.
Comment moderation certainly works and I think that there is even an option to prevent anon commenting.
Every one has a right to an opinion but there is a way to get it across without being mean
Posted on: Feb/21/2011@8:22 pm
I've been lucky to not get hateful comments but I don't think I'd mind somebody disagreeing or being angry with something I wrote if they took ownership of it.
The internet is already anonymous enough and removed enough from who you really are that if you can't stand behind what you say here…well you must be a pretty sad person in real life!
Great guest post…I'll have to head over and check out Fickle Cattle!
Posted on: Feb/21/2011@9:48 pm
I love me some fickle cattle.. he is one of the first ones I started reading too.. in fact i think he is what lead me to you back in like october i think.
amberlashell.com
Posted on: Feb/21/2011@10:01 pm
Well put. As a new blogger, I haven't experienced this yet. I suppose it's something to look forward to. On a related note: maybe I should get something of a profile up.
Posted on: Feb/21/2011@11:15 pm
Well said! I've had a few trolls on my site, and brought in moderated comments to combat one particularly nasty prick who seemed obsessed with my blog… then figured moderation was just discouraging my regulars from posting comments, so I dropped it. Now I just delete from that one individual (even though he regularly changes profiles to temporarily elude deletion…) as fast as he can post comments.
Too bad we can't hook up an arc welder and send a few hundred thousand volts back to one specific IRL address. Reach out and fry someone's computer for them?
Posted on: Feb/21/2011@11:21 pm
Agreed. People like this are just trying to gain attention and ruffle feathers with arguments which can't be backed up.
visions unto myself
Posted on: Feb/21/2011@11:32 pm
Ah! I follow both of you guys (kind of a lurker), but I figured this is as good a time as any to chime in! Agreed, that the best way to deal with unnecessary negativity is to not engage it. This works in "real life" too.
Posted on: Feb/22/2011@12:03 am
If they can't post anonymously, how are passive-aggressive postal workers supposed to disperse their pent-up rage?
Posted on: Feb/22/2011@12:27 am
Wow, this is such a good topic. But since I am neither an anonymous poster nor do I have anonymous commenters, I really don't have much experience with this phenomenon. If only indifference was used more often in real life as well!
Posted on: Feb/22/2011@12:44 am
Fickle:
I disagree with everything you said and believe that you are probably the result of generations of inbreeding.
HA! Now what? You'll never find me!
http://arealgoodblog.blogspot.com
Posted on: Feb/22/2011@1:22 am
I used to just try to ignore the trolls, but since commenters will respond to them, I just go ahead and delete them now.
Posted on: Feb/22/2011@1:27 am
I've never had an anonymous comment – probably due to to the subject matter of my blog tho – tragedy and abnormality sprinkled with a dash of sex
http://normaltoeatpb.blogspot.com
Posted on: Feb/22/2011@1:28 am
People like this are pretty much just trolls with no life. You still did a pretty good job summarizing their actions though.
Posted on: Feb/22/2011@2:38 am
Bravo well said
Posted on: Feb/22/2011@3:24 am
I rarely publish anonymous comments.
–Terrace Crawford
http://www.terracecrawford.com
http://www.twitter.com/terracecrawford
Posted on: Feb/22/2011@5:24 am
That's the best way to deal with internet trolls – delete and move on. They're simply cowards.
Jai
Posted on: Feb/22/2011@5:27 am
Completely agree with this post. I don't blog really, but I know from all around the internet about those nasty trolls. If you are going to insult me, at least stand behind it! Not putting your name or anything just proves that you don't believe in your words!
On a off-topic note, why are we called Simpletons? I know, a name for all who follow you, because you're Simple. And that simply why we subscribe to you. But what if we are rather complex? I know for sure I'm not, but surely someone must be complex, coming here to trying to simplify their minds. So wouldn't they be called…complextons? Wait. No. Thats sounds too much like complexion. Nevermind.
Posted on: Feb/22/2011@6:04 am
I have yet to receive a nasty anon – though when I do the advice given I shall take.
Posted on: Feb/22/2011@7:59 am
I've not been blogging for long at all but have recieved 2 anonymous commenters, i got rid of them…whats the point in wasting your time with people who wont even put a name behind their insults. Like Berit said, it just proves you dont believe in your words!
Posted on: Feb/22/2011@8:25 am
I've never had any irritating trolls commenting on my blog before but I've seen these kinds of comments before, which usually floats around Youtube.
I've to say that the people who actually replied the troll's comments are the most irritating of all. They'll flood the comment thread with their passionate beliefs and insults to the trolls while the trolls happily respond to them.
Posted on: Feb/22/2011@11:28 am
Dude I totally agree! It's fine to share your opinion, but if you insist on attacking other peoples work you should at least identify yourself. If nothing else it helps people visually try to get to know you and understand why your opinion is a certain way…I mean, it's hard to level with someone you know nothing about. Luckily I've never gotten any bad comments on my blog. Just awkward answers lol. I'll for sure check out your blog dude.
Hey SD, check my blog sometime. I'd love to do a guest if you like it. I actually just finished a fuckin amazing post about dolphins. Your life is incomplete without reading it!
http://whatwouldjareddo.blogspot.com
Posted on: Feb/22/2011@3:30 pm
Oh, if I'm going to be a prick to you, SD.. I'm damn sure gonna make sure you know it's me. I don't know Fickle Cattle well enough to harass him… yet.
I have been lucky enough to not have attracted those types yet, but I'm sure I will. When I someday get as big and famous as SD…
TalkativeTaurus.com
Posted on: Feb/22/2011@5:53 pm
Trolls suck! Plus, they have small hands and smell of cabbage.
Posted on: Feb/22/2011@9:25 pm
I delete anonymous nasty comments, too. If they don't care enough to leave their name, I don't care enough to leave their comments up for others to read.
Posted on: Feb/23/2011@6:59 pm
I am an anonymous commenter sort of. I do not always agree with the stuff in posts but I can not fathom being nasty or mean in comments. these people I believe have sad lives and only desire to bring others down where they are so they can feel better about themselves.
Posted on: Feb/24/2011@12:43 am
I have yet to get an anonymous comment but I have read some on other blogs and what weirdos!
Hopefully when the time comes for me to have one, I can deal with it rationally.
The Adorkable Ditz' Missteps
Posted on: Feb/24/2011@3:53 am
I love how easily and honest you state you ideas and suggestions. It promotes and open forum for ideas to be shared and even challenged so that the people who participate can find out about themselves and even realize that some of the things the think or believe are unfounded.
Bravo!
Posted on: Feb/25/2011@6:48 pm