My first Etiquette Week post, "How to Respond to Bad Review," hit the mark with several people.
ProBlogger Darren Rowse posted something today about how devasting it is to lose blog readers – and ways you can keep some of them from straying.
No. 7 on his list for how to lose readers fits with how to respond to bad reviews. When reading, replace "blog" with "book." Excerpt from "How to Lose Readers [And Not Get Depressed]:
Two years back I wrote about a lesson I’d learned from a Bhuddist monk. In short it is:
“When someone attacks you with anger and hatred say to them:
“thank you for your ‘gift’ – but I think you can keep it for yourself.”
It is easy to take on the anger of other people and to wear it as a burden of your own but it is usually unhealthy to do so. “
Life is too short to get drawn into the anger and bitterness of others. While not every reader who leaves your blog will fit into the angry category there are times where you just need to release them and the emotion that they have about your and your blog.
Letting someone’s anger toward you interfere with your life slows down and negatively affects your creativity. Don’t get sucked down into their toxic vortex. Forget about them, because they are truly not worth knowing, and move positively forward. You will get to where you want to be, to where you’re supposed to be. Surround yourself with positive, creative people, and fend off the negative, toxic ones, and you’ll create magic.
"So true… There is no point is wasting your energy or getting upset and frustrated over something negative.
Move on and forget it, is my advise.
Life's too short to fret over negativity…
-Freya"
Excellent point and sage advice for all areas of life. Everyone makes someone mad some of the time, no matter what, so letting it eat you up is a waste of energy.
Hey thanks for following my blog. I agree, it's easier to respond to anger with kindness. It usually gets the other person!