Posting online in presumed anonymity brings out the worst in those who have only the worst to share.

“Your reputation and integrity are everything. Follow through on what you say you’re going to do. Your credibility can only be built over time, and it is built from the history of your words and actions.” — Maria Razumich-Zec

I also love your expression “taking responsibility for one’s own emotional health”– now there’s an empowering idea! Many of us should make it a mantra!!

Your counsel about not engaging nutcases and trolls is similar to an expression I heard recently: “not taking the bait.” Life serves up a lotta bait– and it’s a wise person who ignores it. Wish I’d been smart enough to realize that years ago.

Great post, thanks.

For the first time since I started blogging, I have just received a nasty comment. I tell you, I was really affected by it since it attacked my writing and my own preferences regarding a topic talked about on that commented blog post.

Actually, I have handled criticisms before and I can say that I can easily shrug them off and not be bothered by them. But this really recent comment affected me because, for the first time, someone attacked the way I write. Well, I write as a pastime, and I can say that I’m good enough to for my own blog. But for some reason, I doubted myself.

Which then prompted me to go over your blog and look for a post regarding nasty comments. And it’s a good thing I found the above post!

I can’t thank you enough for making this blog post ’cause it reassured me of my esteem. For a second there, I almost lost it. You’re right–you’re the author of your blog, you’re the one who decides what goes in and out; all to keep your inner piece intact. Yeah, there are trolls out there on the Internet, so I guess you just have to be sturdy enough to face them

Thanks very much!
Cheers!