tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116582981822927128.post8894713563372818992..comments2023-05-23T11:02:24.102-04:00Comments on Kittens and Books: Should Bloggers Follow the "Do Not Engage" Rule?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10127579893748605629noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116582981822927128.post-33770196984150902582015-06-29T15:23:12.893-04:002015-06-29T15:23:12.893-04:00That's definitely a great way to look at thing...That's definitely a great way to look at things -- not everyone will like your work, and it DOES mean you've made it as a real author if people are reading and giving negative reviews. It means strangers are buying your work, which is the goal!<br /><br />And I can imagine it's probably much easier to get used to not responding on a small scale first!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10127579893748605629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116582981822927128.post-7769802317232888092015-06-29T07:37:07.043-04:002015-06-29T07:37:07.043-04:00I think this is such a good thing to say out loud....I think this is such a good thing to say out loud. It can be easy to feel like we *have* to say something but as much as there are things you want to or could say, you don't *have* to respond. I like your point that this is my space and I have the power to completely ignore people who are negative.<br /><br />As a budding author, I haven't had anyone be negative or mean. Well, I did have 1 one star review but it just made me laugh and celebrate that a complete stranger read my book and now I'm a real author because they didn't like it :) But it's good to practice the discretion of not responding now when hardly anyone is looking. Because hopefully then it will be easier when (again hopefully) lots of people are looking.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10518924127221739383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116582981822927128.post-57080384940398615092015-06-24T19:41:56.142-04:002015-06-24T19:41:56.142-04:00I think it's usually for that reason - to chan...I think it's usually for that reason - to change minds. But you're right, it rarely happens!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10127579893748605629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116582981822927128.post-86017610132116391842015-06-24T18:15:53.715-04:002015-06-24T18:15:53.715-04:00I wholeheartedly agree. Why do people always need ...I wholeheartedly agree. Why do people always need to engage in arguments? Rarely is a person persuaded to change their mind during an argument. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17303683333028066002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116582981822927128.post-85934487624019737192015-06-21T14:02:49.463-04:002015-06-21T14:02:49.463-04:00Yes, definitely! Mean comments should be ignored c...Yes, definitely! Mean comments should be ignored completely - I just don't think they're worth the time, or getting upset over. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10127579893748605629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116582981822927128.post-48331092100179459912015-06-21T13:25:18.482-04:002015-06-21T13:25:18.482-04:00I totally agree with the "Do not engage"...I totally agree with the "Do not engage" rule. Honestly, no good is going to come from that. Just forget about it, and move it. I don't think there's anything wrong with ignoring comments that are mean because more often than not, these people are just looking for a fight (note: I'm not referring to comments that disagree, but rather ones that are just plain cruel.) Awesome post!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01476692203786773849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116582981822927128.post-16685047696523573942015-06-17T23:10:28.264-04:002015-06-17T23:10:28.264-04:00That's a great point, Holly! Bloggers have the...That's a great point, Holly! Bloggers have the luxury of anonymity which authors do not. We would all benefit from thinking before speaking in all areas in my opinion. <br /><br />I agree, Katie, it's more about the online environment which we live in that plays a big role in these kind of arguments. It's just so easy to share your opinion, whether you're trying to make a point or if you're only interested in arguing. Generally speaking, if you are yelling at someone (whether verbally or online), you're trying to be heard rather than listening and you need both in order to solve a problem you have with someone. Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsensehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12100606566359762426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116582981822927128.post-90326136258268746552015-06-17T19:47:52.699-04:002015-06-17T19:47:52.699-04:00I completely understand what both of you are sayin...I completely understand what both of you are saying. I do understand why some bloggers engage - and I actually don't usually see them being nasty about it! Most people (that I see) are just trying to reason with authors, who usually can't be reasoned with. Although I HAVE seen a couple of occasions when an understanding is formed and I get proud of the author + blogger when that happens - it's nice to see real discussions taking place where both sides listen to one another! But most times, that's not the case unfortunately.<br /><br />And that is a good point about young bloggers and growing up online. Social media does invite you to share too much, in a way, to expect to be 'heard.' That said, I've seen plenty of young people/bloggers handle themselves well online, and plenty of adults act poorly - so like you said, Alicia, it's not always an age thing. <br /><br />I really liked your last couple lines as well - "neither side is going to be able to persuade the other if it's a hostile conversation." I think that's something that's often not understood in these types of conversations, when everyone is trying to change others' points of view.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10127579893748605629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116582981822927128.post-28063876758434443672015-06-17T14:40:58.141-04:002015-06-17T14:40:58.141-04:00I totally agree with your point, Alicia! Some peop...I totally agree with your point, Alicia! Some people feel as though they are more "anonymous" on the internet as well, and this might lead them to feel like they have the power to say whatever they please without any repercussions. I think we all just need to think a little more before we speak- or type, for that matter. If we wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of our comment, then it might be best to not write it at all. Awesome discussion post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116582981822927128.post-79847662081435233132015-06-17T13:59:57.037-04:002015-06-17T13:59:57.037-04:00I might be a little harsh here, just a little warn...I might be a little harsh here, just a little warning. I absolutely agree with you with regards to bloggers and not engaging. For an author, they often have people (publishers, agents, etc) telling them not to engage, but bloggers do not have a hierarchy and thus there is no one to tell us not to engage but ourselves. The blogging community is a lot larger than the community of authors and (I hesitate to say it, but I'm going to) when I think about the blogging community, especially when talking about those who mostly read YA, there are a lot of young and immature voices. Yes, you can be immature at any age, but younger generations have grown up in a world where they are encouraged to be heard (twitter, instagram, tumblr, etc) and so I'm not surprised when they speak up. Like you, I have zero interest in engaging a hostile author or a hostile commentator for that matter, but I do know not everything is built like me, so they may feel the need to defend themselves and in many cases "defending" oneself is expressed in a rather aggressive way. I don't recommend it because from my point of view, neither side is going to be able to persuade the other if it's a hostile conversation. It's a waste of time and is often detrimental to yourself. Great discussion! Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsensehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12100606566359762426noreply@blogger.com