How to Handle the Haters

When it comes to handling haters and critics, my old theatre professor gave me the best advice:

“Sometimes you just have to smile and out-class the bastard.”

Best. Advice. Ever.

When it comes to flamers and haters online (or, hell, real life for that matter) the best strategy is no strategy at all.

Chances are good that if their comments sound stupid to you, they sound stupid to the other readers and listeners too.

Let their stupidity speak for itself.

Responding feeds it and pulls you further in (it’s like sinking in idiot quicksand).

If someone rants about you on their website, don’t respond unless it’s really worth defending yourself.

Writing about you is sending people your way.

Those new people will be reading your stuff and some of them might actually like you and become raving fans.

Any Press Might Actually Be Good Press

If someone wrote about me “Daniel Roach is spewing some of the most ridiculous drivel I’ve ever read” (which hasn’t happened yet, to my knowledge) it might sound like bad press, but it’s still going to send a flood of people my way, wanting to see just how ridiculous my spewing drivel is.

Some of them are going to stick around.

Now, sure, that might also convince some people that they shouldn’t read my blog and that I’m not to be trusted, but that’s just one more reason I (and you) should strive to make my (and your) work as good as it can possibly be.

Anyone who comes from a hater’s recommendation, reads my blog, and doesn’t like me, wasn’t going to like me anyway.

The point is: don’t pander and don’t challenge.

Stupid people will reveal themselves for what they are in the end.

Your classiness will do the same.

“Sometimes you just have to smile and out-class the bastard.”

Thanks, Dr. Rankin.