One of the things that may not be apparent to readers who haven’t maintained a blog of their own is that there’s a certain amount of overhead associated with it. Every day I spend at least a little time doing housekeeping.
By far the least agreeable housekeeping is moderating comments. Many are quite obnoxious. I have one operating principle: do not feed the trolls.
Something else that may not be apparent: you’ve got to grow a tougher skin.
A writing buddy of mine, a very good writer by the way, argues that the advice writers often get to “grow a thicker skin” is wrong. He points out that writers are often people who observe closely and by virtue of over-active imaginations, feel keenly. He says that it’s essential to a writer to take things too hard, to become too easily incensed, to metaphorically take on all the troubles of the world.
I think he has a point, at least if you’re writing fiction, I don’t know about blogging. In fiction your job is very like acting in a way – you inhabit a made-up person’s mind and try to see and feel what they would see and feel. I sometimes tell young wannabes that “cool” is the enemy of fiction writing. If you can’t get genuinely angry or sad or depressed on behalf of your character, you probably can’t write fiction, and that argues for a thin skin.
If I took the insults I receive on a daily basis seriously, I’d hang myself. Fortunately, I know who I am.
Well you’ve done a fantastic job because this comment section is the best around. I guess I should be shocked that people would insult you given your even keel and demeanor, but then again this is the internet.
This is one of the best-run blogs I’ve encountered. You have a way of asking questions that invites only useful comments. Often I feel I have nothing substantive to add which is likely a good thing.
IMHO, the commentaries presented here are cut and dried, informational, and hyperbole-free. Such understated opinion and purity in these discussion pieces is a blog rarity.
Also, it’s hard to believe anyone could find a basis to merit writing anything unkind in their own responses.
*shouldn’t – geez I need to proofread more.
“If I took the insults I receive on a daily basis seriously, I’d hang myself.”
Hmmm. Augmentation, clarification, challenging assumptions or conclusions, seeking balance etc isn’t insulting. “My dear fellow, I find your views on taxation wholly inadequate and misguided, and your mother wears Army boots”…….now THATS insulting.
Just be thankful you aren’t employed as a National Hockey League player where notoriously delicate sensibilities could land you a 1 game suspension should you utter the wrong words.
It’s not readily visible to the regular commenters here but there are lengthy and sometimes heated discussions going on in the comments threads of posts that are 5 or even 10 years old. Most of what I’m talking about goes on in those comment threads.
“heated discussions going on in the comments threads of posts that are 5 or even 10 years old. Most of what I’m talking about goes on in those comment threads.”
Too much ADD and not enough time to do that. I don’t know if I should be jealous or feel sorry for people who have that kind of time.
Steve
@Dave Schuler
… there are lengthy and sometimes heated discussions going on in the comments threads of posts that are 5 or even 10 years old. Most of what I’m talking about goes on in those comment threads.
You cannot just throw something like that out there and walk away. You have aroused my interest. Are these people stumbling across the comments through Google results, or do you have a second set of participants who follow old posts?
There are two different things going on. One is, as you suggest, people happening on an old post through Google results. The other I think is that I have a few trolls who look through old posts for something they can argue with.
I also have a few old posts that attract comments on a regular basis, usually favorable. That’s typical of my dog posts.