Bullies on the Internet

Yes, hard as it is to imagine there are bullies on the internet. 

When a blog is read and if it is successful the bullies will come, just like the spam and the telemarketers.  Why? Simple, they are jealous.  You know you have made it when you have a couple of bullies, and assorted hecklers hanging out on your blog.

Bullies come onto our blogs for a couple of reasons.  They are jealous and they crave attention, they want to be a part of the conversation.  Keep in mind that blogs that do not get read, don't attract bullies either.

When we engage them we are letting them take over our conversation and giving them power.  When we ignore them they go away, because they are not getting what they want.  We don't have to act as gracious hosts to every conversation that happens on our blogs, we can choose not to participate.   

It is easy to ignore bullies but it seems to be easier for most to engage them and try to win.  You really can't win, you just end up looking as bad as they do.  The stuff we write on the internet stays there forever. I smile when I think of some of the things I have read that were written by some of the arrogant asses out there.  I wonder what their grandchildren will think of them when they find it, or a future employer.  Does their mom know they talk like that?

What we put out there is what we get back.  Take comfort in that thought.  We don't need to fight with bullies, they are doing a fine job of self destructing on their own.

Comments

[Bill Lublin]

Not sure I agree with this one about handling Bullies -"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
But I do agree that "what goes around comes around" ;-)

[Teresa Boardman]

I don't beleive bullies are evil, they just have some behavior issues.

[Bill Lublin]

Ok, So maybe Burke was a little harsh. :-)
Maybe it would be better to say " if you don't do something about it, bad behavior will continue" I just can't abide Bullies - must be a childhood thing.