READ TIME – 2 MINUTES
In 2014 when I began to share my thoughts on personal development on Facebook, I got a few comments suggesting I didn’t know what I was talking about.
One of them said something like, “you’re teaching people to do XYZ when you yourself need to learn XYZ?”
This made me very uncomfortable to the extent that I had to shut down my account. Yes, I bailed on all my friends and the memories I had built on that account simply because a few people told me I was a joker trying to help others.
Criticism is good if it is constructive, but some people will not criticize you to help you improve; instead, all they want to do is make fun of you.
If you fear expressing yourself online because of potential negative comments, here are some tips on how to handle social media trolls:
- Avoid responding to snide comments
- Don’t engage negatively
- Use humor
- Empower your community
- Ignore or block.
Avoid responding to snide comments:
When faced with snide comments, it is advisable to refrain from immediate responses, allowing time for emotional cooling and maintaining a composed demeanor in your reply.
Don’t engage negatively:
Avoiding negative engagement is key; respond with a probing question to highlight the lack of substance in the troll’s criticism, encouraging a more constructive conversation while maintaining a respectful tone. This approach redirects the focus and encourages thoughtful dialogue.
Use humor:
Blend humor with cynicism to diffuse tension. For instance, when accused of being too young to teach about impact, Inject humor with a touch of cynicism to defuse tension; for instance, playfully apologize for your perceived youthfulness and cleverly inquire about the registration details for the accuser’s supposed impact class, creating a light-hearted atmosphere while subtly addressing the criticism.
Empower your community:
Foster a supportive community that can counteract trolls on your behalf.
Ignore or block:
Report, delete, and block when needed. This approach helps maintain a positive online environment.
Pro tip: Invest in your self-identity to boost self-confidence. Remember, people’s opinions are just opinions, and your opinion of yourself should matter more.
Despite ongoing negative comments, I’ve realized that my opinion of myself is more crucial than others’ opinion of me.
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