Comments on Cranky Fitness: Nattering Nablogs of Negativism

The only thing worse than a negative comment on a ...

2009-05-23T05:01:08.791-04:00

The only thing worse than a negative comment on a blog is repeated negative comments about the same thing, all with different names attached, but all written by the same person. And the only thing worse than *that* is getting personally abusive emails on the same subject.

I've noticed that negative commenters have three basic things in common:

1. They're incredibly self-righteous. It's as though, if they don't like one thing about the blog, it turns into "bloggin: ur doin it rong". If something doesn't conform to their ideas of how things should be, they cut loose.

2. They've got amazingly short attention spans. Nine times out of ten, really nasty comments come from people who've read only one post, or even part of only one post. They don't bother to learn the backstory or get used to the blogger's style.

3. They're simply not all that bright. Never mind that little things like grammar and spelling escape them; they can't wrap their heads around irony, sarcasm, or whistling in the dark. Sometimes I wonder how those folks actually get on to the 'Net, let alone navigate to a particular page.

I give negative comments exactly the amount of weight they deserve: none. Positive comments get slightly more weight. Constructive criticism I take seriously. You can't do any more than that and keep sane.

Okay, it probably says something about my only-chi...

2009-05-22T10:10:27.284-04:00

Okay, it probably says something about my only-child self-centeredness that I automatically assumed this post was written about a comment I made.

Though, I am thinking really hard & can't think of an instance when Cranky Fitness ever rubbed me the wrong way- I love this blog!

I have been known to leave harsh comments from time to time on other blogs. At the time I am writing, though, I don't feel mean-spirited, just impassioned about the topic, or shocked or horrified or critical. Sometimes words just come out the wrong way and you don't realize until after you hit "post".

Though,whoever wrote "your blog is boring" needs to reconsider their writing skills and buy a thesaurus and maybe repeat fifth grade.

Yeah, that was harsh. But it felt good :)

My Mum always told us, "If you can't say something...

2009-05-22T00:39:36.394-04:00

My Mum always told us, "If you can't say something nice, then don't say it all all!". Nasty kids grow into rude adults. Cranky, we need to teach the kids not be negative and rude before they grow up!

This is an awesome post, thanks for writing! I am ...

2009-05-21T20:49:31.903-04:00

This is an awesome post, thanks for writing! I am always amused by the angry comments I receive. I don't receive many on my own blog but I do tend to receive them on some of the other blogs I contribute to - usually places where people are really passionate about one thing - being a vegetarian. I felt like my head was in a blender the day (heaven forbid) I posted that I think its cool that my local Starbucks is now selling bananas. If you don't want to eat a banana from Starbucks, totally cool, I don't really care?

hahaha, but thanks! I love your post.

Negative comments were something I had not anticip...

2009-05-21T16:41:06.358-04:00

Negative comments were something I had not anticipated having to deal with when I started blogging. At first there were a few that actually made me cry or scream but then I kinda got used to 'em. I had my own special troll for a while and now that he's gone I kinda miss him... Blogging at HuffPo also helped thicken up my skin too.

Still, I don't understand why some people get a rush out of being anonymously mean to strangers.

Aw darn it! And I was coming back here to write th...

2009-05-21T15:42:13.027-04:00

Aw darn it! And I was coming back here to write the most negative comments I could think of. Such as ----"I don't like the sound of your voice."

At least in the way I picture how it sounds. Ha hah.

Seriously the internet is a place where there is good but and plenty of bad. (like many of the vids on You tube. Yikes! The comments are even worse!)People can sit around ALL day and give themselves momentary "feel goods" and then they have to do it again to relive it. Again and again. Like a mini hit on a crack pipe.

So cute of you to correctly credit William Safire....

2009-05-21T15:40:12.860-04:00

So cute of you to correctly credit William Safire.

I can imagine leaving a negative remark if it were constructive criticism or correction or something like that. I recently got upset with a "depressed people need to just get over themselves" comment (in response to the recent cover story in the NYTimes magazine) and I left a comment in reply. In retrospect though, I probably shouldn't have. It was probably a waste of time.

Then of course there's the political blogs, where the back and forth gets really intense! But debate is the whole point there...

Just being snarky and nasty, though, shoot...

Because they have tiny penises. Classic overcompen...

2009-05-21T14:57:50.626-04:00

Because they have tiny penises. Classic overcompensation.

Annabel said ... "master plans to take over the wo...

2009-05-21T14:36:52.444-04:00

Annabel said ... "master plans to take over the world"

Nah. I know a few people planning to take over the world, and they're all quite nice and fairly well educated.

But destructive people are usually insecure and looking for the adreneline rush that comes from feeling anger of the self-righteous variety. It's their drug of choice.

I have no idea why people are like that. A blog I ...

2009-05-21T14:32:21.223-04:00

I have no idea why people are like that. A blog I followed, the girl actually stopped blogging for a while because the person was so plainly rude and mean. I'm inclined to think that these people are so miserable that they need to spread the...not joy. The sad things are that blogs are a way to monitor progress, but also to relay deep feelings that you may not be able to talk about otherwise. It seems especially cruel that some people take this very intimate, vulnerable moment and post such hatred (usually in desguise and annonymously).

Irritating things to tell a vegan? Nah, I know you...

2009-05-21T13:49:22.190-04:00

Irritating things to tell a vegan? Nah, I know you lovvvvvve us vegans! We invented the apple and other fine plant foods ;)

Anyway, yes, that's why when you leave mean comments you get called a troll. 'Cause it's so mean and unncessary!

Admittedly, I just left a negative comment on some...

2009-05-21T13:20:30.928-04:00

Admittedly, I just left a negative comment on someone's blog yesterday. They had reposted another blogger's recipe and picture as their own and it annoyed me so I told them so.
I WANT to leave negative comments on a few people's blogs, mostly saying that I really enjoy their blog but since they rarely post anymore it's a waste of time to go there and be disappointed, but I don't because I assume a negative comment would exacerbate the problem.
That doesn't really help you, but there you go.
-Karell

Great post, Merry! I've been fortunate on my blog...

2009-05-21T12:08:57.507-04:00

Great post, Merry!

I've been fortunate on my blog to never have received a negative comment. And I hope I never do.

I fail to understand why anyone would take the time to leave a nasty comment, unless it just fulfills some desire to spread unhappiness.

My word verification, BTW, is anoni. Does that mean I should have posted anonymously?

Anonymous negative comments are the equivalent of ...

2009-05-21T12:04:10.349-04:00

Anonymous negative comments are the equivalent of lobbing stink bombs into an otherwise positive environment. Cyber punks is all. Just looking for attention.

Yup, people are pretty brave when they're anonymou...

2009-05-21T12:02:06.177-04:00

Yup, people are pretty brave when they're anonymous and there are no consequences.
I guess some folks just feel so powerless in their everyday lives that making other people feel miserable gives them a sense of that power. They just thrive on being a**holes. (I've noticed a similar phenomenon on the roads; some people drive like jerks because it gives them that sense of power. They tailgate, cut you off, flip you off, etc. and they feel as if they've "gotten one over" on you.) It's sad and pathetic. But just think; at least we are not them!
I think it's also, unfortunately, part of our culture. The people who get the most attention are the ones who rant and rave, say horrible, nasty things, and generally act like spoiled children. They are rewarded for it.
We're becoming a nation of bullies.

If I don't like a blog - I move on. I don't visit ...

2009-05-21T11:53:18.093-04:00

If I don't like a blog - I move on. I don't visit it. Why would you want to visit one you don't care for? I don't understand the logic there.

I mean, what is your end goal when you post a nasty comment? It's one thing to not agree, but you don't ever need to act like an a**. That applies to blogs and everyday conversations.

I don't know what's wrong with some people. They are just miserable and negative - and they feel the need to spread their lousy mood to everyone.

Of course, on the one hand you could look at this sort of person and feel sorry for them - their life must be pretty terrible. If you have to resort to leaving mean, nasty comments that speaks volumes about who you are and what your life is like - and it isn't a pretty picture.

I agree with you. Someone left a nasty comment on ...

2009-05-21T11:52:11.578-04:00

I agree with you. Someone left a nasty comment on my blog years ago and I still get cranky when I think about it. It was just spite with no real purpose. Unless I am debating something the author has said, I tend to just leave. People assume we are blogging for *them*...not always the case, especially for fitness blogs. I'm assuming if I bore someone they shouldn't waste more time leaving a negative comment.

Constructive criticism or correction of errors though? THAT is good, in my mind. Nothing like healthy debate.

PS- the word verification is RANT :)

Yeah, I feel depressed when I see some of the vitr...

2009-05-21T11:30:17.280-04:00

Yeah, I feel depressed when I see some of the vitriol in various comments spots on the 'net and get all the-future-is-gonna-be-like-oryx-and-crake, just-like-it mournful. But honestly? After reading this post, I'm just all, "ooh, ooh, what was the negative comment?" Which is, like, horrible, because of course I believe the most powerful response to sh*tty stuff is usually just to ignore it and definitely not to repeat it.

I totally agree that it's people power-tripping on...

2009-05-21T11:20:44.892-04:00

I totally agree that it's people power-tripping on the anonymity of the internet. Same with people who post nasty comments on forums. But she who controls the delete/ignore button is the most powerful of all!

Gigi! A fellow Python fan. Would that all the nega...

2009-05-21T11:13:36.311-04:00

Gigi! A fellow Python fan. Would that all the negativers could be that funny.

Well, so long as they're fulling their potential.....

2009-05-21T11:12:44.422-04:00

Well, so long as they're fulling their potential...

For the most part, I've dodged the negative commenters, myself. That's why I could say this on Cranky Fitness without sounding whiny and wounded and taking-it-all-personally.

I can't be sure but suspect I may be related to ma...

2009-05-21T11:10:28.194-04:00

I can't be sure but suspect I may be related to many of these people (as any of my post holiday blog posts/rants will demonstrate). From first-hand experience I know people like this are generally desperately unhappy with their own lives, can only lift themselves up by tearing someone down and have way too little fiber in their diets.

As the bumper sticker so aptly says, "Mean People S*ck". I couldn't agree more.

Keep the Monty Python coming. I had fancied myself quite the Python aficionado but this clip was new to me. I'm still laughing!

The anonymity of the Internet allows jerks to fulf...

2009-05-21T10:49:05.597-04:00

The anonymity of the Internet allows jerks to fulfill their pathetic potential! Sorry buddy!

I agree with you 100%! I've never understood the n...

2009-05-21T10:22:53.643-04:00

I agree with you 100%! I've never understood the need to spread negativity around. I'll never understand why someone feels its okay to insult a person or be rude to someone they've never met.
Maybe some people are just miserable and feel a tad better when they try to make someone else feel just as bad.

Negative comments and my sensitivity is the reason it took me so long to start a blog. So far no negative comments but I'm trying to prepare myself for when it happens.

i think negative comments (especially the ananymou...

2009-05-21T09:34:11.051-04:00

i think negative comments (especially the ananymous ones) are their way of acting superior or somehow make them feel they have purpose in life.