"Be careful of the words you say,
Keep them soft and sweet
Because you never know, from day to day,
Which words you'll have to eat!" - my Mom
They say the eyes are the window to the soul, but lately it seems like our keyboards have offered another option for soul peering - more like those creepy Amityville skylights. It often feels as if the door of polite conversation closed when the window of online commenting opened. The most innocent remark or photo can throw back the sash to some serious sass. When an online commenter gets ugly, it takes a little savvy to shutter up. Here are some tips to help deal with those pane-ful exchanges:
Keep them soft and sweet
Because you never know, from day to day,
Which words you'll have to eat!" - my Mom
They say the eyes are the window to the soul, but lately it seems like our keyboards have offered another option for soul peering - more like those creepy Amityville skylights. It often feels as if the door of polite conversation closed when the window of online commenting opened. The most innocent remark or photo can throw back the sash to some serious sass. When an online commenter gets ugly, it takes a little savvy to shutter up. Here are some tips to help deal with those pane-ful exchanges:
- To paraphrase Twain/Carlin/Murray or anyone else to whom it's attributed: "Never argue with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience." You always have the option to simply ignore the comment and move on.
- Anonymity breeds contempt. Keep your chats with strangers on the lighter side. Save those deep and insightful conversations for people you know. Better yet, have those kinds of conversations in person...while enjoying a glass of wine.
- Be kind. People want to be heard, so try listening. Even if you don't agree with someone's point of view, you can grasp their perspective. Sometimes, the most effective reply to an angry person is, "I understand why you might see things that way."
- Try to find something you CAN agree on. Maybe you like opposing teams, but you can both admit you love the game.
- Agree to disagree. There is nothing wrong with admitting you've reached an impasse.
- Consider hiring a social media manager. Maintaining a good online presence is a skill. As a moderator for a variety of chat rooms and online groups, I have cultivated techniques for gently keeping the conversation between the navigational beacons. Click CONTACT at the top of the page to inquire about services and rates.