Social Misfits & Your Blog
This little Viking may be cute, but he does come armed. Social misfits do too and they're ready to slice and dice your site!
At some point in your long tenure as a blogger, you’ll come across a handful of people who really want to do you some harm. No, they aren’t people you’re likely to meet in some dark alley nor will you cross paths with them at a convention. Lucky for you, your only dealings with this person will be online where they can sling their barbs, argue with other commentators or undermine your work from a distance – such as on their own site.
I call these people social misfits although the common term used is trolls.
Most people who invade your blog are spammers who are looking to leave links to their porn, pharma or game site. Others are a bit more sophisticated and actually leave behind an on-topic message, but their screen name “Big Pharma” or “Hot Chiczz” demonstrates that they are still trying to entice your readers to leave your site for theirs.
Dispensing Linky Love
I have no problem with passing along a link to someone who offers a solid comment and uses their real name. I assume that these folks are legitimate in what they are selling or advocating, so I usually leave them alone. How someone enters or leaves my site is their business, yet I may extinguish a link if I find something is amiss.
What I don’t appreciate is when people stop by with the sole purpose of trashing my site or undermining my business. I had my share of this back in the day when I managed a niche forum where a small group of jealous, angry and vindictive people established an opposing community in a bid to destroy my work. They didn’t succeed as I took extraordinary measures to shut their site down.
Three “Es” On Handling Trolls
If you have the type of blog where visitors routinely leave comments and subscribe to your RSS feed, you’ll eventually counter resistance from trolls. In most cases, I don’t recommend responding directly to their attacks as doing so will simply embolden them.
Instead, consider doing the following:
- Establish a comment or user’s policy outlining the rules of the game. Include that link within your site’s menu so that it is easy to find. Notify your faithful followers (via a blog article) of your change, supplying a link to the policy page.
- Enforce your policy as you see fit. Admittedly, in my early days of running a forum, I allowed “free speech” to have its way. After all, what’s wrong with advocating a long-held constitutional right? Plenty, actually. You can still get rid of troll comments while allowing this person to say whatever they want. But on their site, not yours. You’re the manager, therefore you’re not only responsible for setting policy, but enforcing it. Besides, your loyal regulars will be pleased as they’re your real supporters, not the trolls.
- Engage as necessary. While responding to social misfits may only embolden them, there are times when someone has a legitimate point, but their delivery is awful. Provided that their intent is reasonable (you’re jury and judge, therefore you get to decide), you could leave the comment in place along with a warning. Delete subsequent comments and ban this person if they follow up with abusive replies.
Be Not Afraid
Some bloggers act as if they are afraid of losing a “valued customer” when weighing whether to silence a critic or not. Differentiate between constructive and destructive criticism by supporting the former while giving no place to the latter.
Ultimately, you’re in charge of your blog, website, forum or other online venture which means you can set and maintain policy as you see fit. You’ve put too much work into your site to allow it to be taken over by those who are bent on trolling for trouble.
Allow them carry out their dark deeds…elsewhere!
See Also — Pitch Me A Perfect Story!
Photo Credit: Samuel Rosa
Tags: blogs, comments, social media, social misfits, trolls, user's policy
Marketing | Matthew C. Keegan, 17 Sep 09
By LarryJackson, September 17, 2009 @ 5:44 am
Where I have had the most problem with is some people accusing me of all manner of things, just because they do not disagree with my views. Once they realize they are going to be unable to “change” my viewpoint, they huff and puff and move on. I have had to simply delete their comments at times, because they were so off-topic. It’s kind of funny in a way, some of the things they come up with.
The main thing I watch for is if they are driving my regular readers away. If I find that to be the case, I will not hesitate to come down on them hard.
At the same time, I have a couple of regular readers who certainly do not agree with me some of the time. We have reached an understanding about that disagreement and one of them is actually writing a few articles for My Take. He is actually doing a very good job too, I might add.
LarryJackson´s last blog ..To disagree with President Obama is not racism
By Matthew C. Keegan, September 17, 2009 @ 7:32 am
@LarryJackson Larry, I admire you for opening your blog up to guest writers who don’t share your viewpoint. Obviously, you’ve attracted a following where people respect your right to say what you believe. Unfortunately, the blogosphere seems to divide people more than anything thus the social misfits who show up.
I’ve dialed back my writing of political articles, at least on this site, not that I don’t want to address certain topics rather there are other things I prefer to explore. Still, when it comes to pulling in the audience, hot topics tend to bring people by. Keep up the good work — the Obama article on not equating opposition with racism is an excellent topic.
By Dominique, September 17, 2009 @ 8:17 am
When I first started blogging a little over a year ago, I had a guy read my blog and he hated my perspective so he went through everyone of my articles and posted horribly mean comments like I was a neocon-whore and so forth. I was so hurt and upset. Then I got angry and realized that some people would disagree with me (which is okay) but they absolutely had no right to trash my whole blog.
From that point on, I have had no problem hitting the delete button!
I allow differing points of view, but in the end, it is my blog, my space, my work. It would be as if I went to a museum and hated all the artwork so I spray painted hateful words on all of the work. You just don’t do that.
Great job as usual my friend!
Dominique´s last blog ..Part One: no KNIGHTS need apply – just LEADERS.
By Matthew C. Keegan, September 17, 2009 @ 8:28 am
@Dominique
How horrible! But, like most newbie bloggers, you soon discovered that you were the ruler over your domain (blog) which means you have final say as to what is published or what is deleted.
No matter how bad the comment, I try not to take it personally, even when a personal insult is delivered. However, personal attacks, lies and distortions never see the light of day nor do trollish comments meant to hijack the conversation.
By sharkbytes, September 17, 2009 @ 8:34 am
Hi Matt- I haven’t had too much of this is the blogosphere, but used to manage a niche forum that was trashed all the time by an opposition group. They called us all kinds of nasty names and made it so our own folks didn’t want to come there. It was a real juggle between free speech and civility. I like blogging better… my blog is mine, as you say.
sharkbytes´s last blog ..The Trees Are Growing
By Matthew C. Keegan, September 17, 2009 @ 8:39 am
@sharkbytes
Civil discourse seems to be dead, especially online.
I’m not sure that I’ll ever own a forum again for the very reasons you cite. They are a lot of work and if your opposition doesn’t want to play nice, too much time and energy is expended to keep everything in shape.
Spirited conversation is acceptable, but boorish behavior is not.
By Laura Spencer, September 17, 2009 @ 9:58 am
Great discussion!
While many bloggers seem to like war of words, I much prefer a gentler approach.
If the person is simply disagreeing (even angrily), I allow the comment – but try not to respond or draw to much attention to it. However, if they break into abusive or foul language the comment is removed (after all, my kids read my blogs). ALso, naturally, obvious spam is filtered out.
Fortunately, most folks who respond to my posts seem genuinely interested and are fairly nice.
Laura Spencer´s last blog ..An End to the Feast or Famine Cycle? (Demand Studios review)
By Matthew C. Keegan, September 17, 2009 @ 10:03 am
@Laura Spencer
Good points, Laura! I, too, allow comments even if they are heated. However, if you use foul language, then those comments get tossed.
I haven’t had a really terrible comment in ages which means that people seem to have gotten the message. If things trend in the wrong direction, I may create a “user’s policy” page and slap that up for all to read.
By John @ Personal Grants, September 17, 2009 @ 1:58 pm
The one thing I hate about bloggin: Trolls. It’s great to be able to blog and speak your mind to whoever wants to read it, but it equally sucks that people can so inconspicuously sabotage your work from a distance. Everything has pros and cons, I suppose.
John @ Personal Grants´s last blog ..Free Government Grants
By Matthew C. Keegan, September 17, 2009 @ 3:55 pm
@John @ Personal Grants
John, trolls are nasty. Worse, are those people who carry on their attacks from afar. In most cases you cannot do anything about attacks on other sites, unless that site is owned by someone else (as in a forum community or blog) then you can have their site taken down by the site owner.
That’s exactly what I had to do. It worked.
By Crabby Blogging Lady, September 17, 2009 @ 6:27 pm
Excellent post. I’ve been attacked by trolls recently, and hate it. I wish they’d leave me along in my crabbiness. If they want to be crabby, they can start their OWN durn blog.
Thanks for the tips. I’ll be utilizing them.
Crabby Blogging Lady´s last blog ..World’s Ugliest Shoes
By Matthew C. Keegan, September 17, 2009 @ 6:31 pm
@Crabby Blogging Lady
You tell ‘em, Crabby! I like to be grumpy myself at time and I certainly don’t want people to take that privilege away from me. Miscontents should run their own blog, perhaps calling it “What’s Wrong With The Blogosphere” or something of that sort.
By The Hawg!, September 18, 2009 @ 9:31 am
Good advice. However, I’ll admit I do kind of like the insult-flinging trolls that pop in from time to time. Gives me someone to rant at, see?
By Matthew C. Keegan, September 18, 2009 @ 9:35 am
@The Hawg!
LOL — I understand the need to pick back at someone from time to time. Especially if you can put them back in their place. If they get the message, fine. If not, give ‘em their walking papers I say.
By Jude, September 18, 2009 @ 11:53 am
I really don’t have a confrontational blog so I haven’t experienced this type of thing, but I have seen it on other blogs when someone didn’t share the same view points. I have also seen some blogs in Entrecard slamming other blogs and bloggers in a nasty way and it’s not very nice so I’ll keep these tips in mind if ever I get a troll and like you said there’s always the delete button.
Jude´s last blog ..My Last Depressing Post
By Matthew C. Keegan, September 18, 2009 @ 11:56 am
@Jude
Even with a blog that doesn’t confront, there are always people who will dispute what you say. You could cover a topic such as “birding” and someone will take exception with the type of birdfeeder you use, for example.
Granted, the more “colorful” the blog, the more likely people’s emotions will get the best of them. If they can’t act civil, then encourage them to move on. Yes, the delete button can certainly become handy!
By Stacie, September 18, 2009 @ 2:24 pm
Interesing post. So far I haven’t come across any trolls yet. I am sure I will in time. I hope you don’t mind me asking what is Buzz Up? I noticed in the bottom of your post. I have never seen that before and it caught my interest.
By Matthew C. Keegan, September 18, 2009 @ 3:13 pm
@Stacie
Thanks for stopping by, Stacie. The trolls will eventually come by especially if you express your opinion or simply write something somebody doesn’t like. They may already be around, lurking for the moment.
The “Buzz Up” button is for Yahoo Buzz! where you can submit news and related information much like people use Digg, Reddit, and similar sites. You can find it here:
http://buzz.yahoo.com/
If you use WordPress, you can find the plug-in here and install it to appear in your posts:
http://www.conversionrater.com/2008/08/18/yahoo-buzz-plugin-for-wordpress/
By Queen Katherine, September 19, 2009 @ 3:48 am
Really great post. I hadn’t thought about several of the issues you mentioned – and you did a great job explaining what to do when someone steps over the line. I appreciate your blog and enjoy reading the things you write. Very concise and informative. Keep it up! xx
Queen Katherine´s last blog ..A Business Networking Idea
By Matthew C. Keegan, September 19, 2009 @ 7:35 am
@Queen Katherine
Glad to help out, Katherine. Unfortunately, creepy people think they can mess up our blogs without a strong response from blog managers. I can’t understand why anyone would roll over and play dead when these social misfits show up!
By Rok Mejak, September 19, 2009 @ 10:20 am
My blog was also sabotaged by the competitive bloggers and they were spaming my posts and writting non-sense in the comments. I banned most of the IPs repeatedly and the problem stopped. But despite that I still find that there is a lot of people that contribute productive comments therefore it is worth having them around.
By Matthew C. Keegan, September 19, 2009 @ 10:37 am
@Rok Mejak
Rok, taking aggressive action against spammers is the best approach. When they see how difficult it is for them to hammer your site, they’ll more than likely move on to a blog where they can have their way.
By Annabel, September 20, 2009 @ 4:38 am
Really great post Matthew. I used to run an online Forex trading club and had a number of posts submitted which only served the interest of one. I took the approach that if the item didn’t benefit other members then I would write to the owner explaining why I was deleting their post. I have no problem using the delete button! I do the same with my blog too. It takes time, energy, hard work and knowledge to build a blog, forum, club, etc. and is insulting to the owner if this effort isn’t valued or indeed is harmed in any way. Respect to all you guys.
Forex Trading´s last blog ..The Lowdown On Choosing Your Forex Broker