It doesn't happen often.
But it does happen. And when it does, I have to shake my head and wonder what some people are thinking.
What am I talking about?
Well, let me set the stage for you with a little anecdote.
You have a place of residence. It may be a house, a condo, an apartment, a townhouse, whatever...
It's the place where you keep your stuff.
More importantly, it's the place where you find your loved ones, be that people or pets.
It's your pad. Your crib. Your home.
Let's say you open up your home for a gathering of some kind. It may be a party or some other event.
On rare occasion, someone will show uninvited.
If you have a party, you may have a surprise guest or two.
Imagine if one of those guests began verbally abusing you, calling you names and taking you to task for some supposed offenses.
What would you do? Would you kick them out or let them continue with their tirade?
I'm sure you would show them the door and tell them that they are not welcome in your home!
My blog is like my home.
It is my place to share my thoughts, feelings and experiences.
Sometimes I use it to post movies reviews. Other times I use it to share my travel experiences.
Sometimes I write articles to help others with their online business. And other times I will promote a useful product and insert an affiliate link.
I open up comments so that my readers can enter into dialogue with me by leaving feedback, asking questions and interacting with other readers.
The point is, my blog belongs to me.
But on rare occasion, a "guest" to my blog will take it upon themselves to curse at me. They will call me names and insist that my address is 667. (That would make me the neighbor of the beast)
It's a pretty amazing thing, really. I can't imagine posting stuff like this even on the blog of someone who deserves it, let alone an average guy like me.
Yet, it does happen.
And when it does, I do what any self-respecting homeowner would do. I show them the door.
That's what the DELETE function is for in my Movable Type install. Yes, it comes with Wordpress as well.
And inevitably, within 24 hours of deleting the rude offender's post, they come back to publicly state that I delete comments and censor my blog.
DELETE.
Guess what? On your blog, First Amendment rights do not apply. It is a privately-owned entity and you have the right to publish or not publish whatever you want.
That doesn't give you the right to slander other people or infringe on anyone's copyright, but it does give you the authority to allow or disallow comments.
It's said that if you delete comments off your blog that you are discouraging discourse from other readers.
In this case, I would state that I see no constructive reason to leave abusive or profane comments on your blog. Believe me, you won't lose any readers by deleting these kinds of comments. Your real readers will probably appreciate you for it.
Welcome to my home on the web. I've created pages and pages of content intended to entertain and teach.
I hope you enjoy your stay. :-)
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
January 10, 2009 12:44 PM
Hey Joel.
I'm amazed that people can be so low, especially after all of the knowledge and tricks of the trade you have shared. I completely agree about deleting the comments, no one wants to read them, let alone the owner of the blog. Even if you did leave them to rot on your blog, you've lost by acknowledging and giving them a voice. In many arguments, even if you win, you lose. So I'm with you on this, why even dignify their comments?
I've read the adsense code, watched and loved the next internet millionaire, and am currently reading your newest book Click Here to Order. Its amazing that someone took the time to compile a history of internet marketing in the awesome way you did. I can't say many other internet marketers would take the time to do that, especially with all of the other options on their plate. This book is valuable simply because of the fact, "if you want to know where something is going, you have to know where it has been."
You're a great writer, and your works have inspired me.
Here's to a good home,
Reed
January 10, 2009 12:59 PM
Joel, I couldn't agree with you more. I say those people are simply in a lower level of consciousness and are frustrated that you are in a place in your life and career where you can express yourself freely.
I find that people of lower intelligence who do not have anything to contribute (more often then not, they themselves do NOT have a Blog, or a youtube channel, or if they do have a youtube channel, for example, it is only to rank videos but they do not contribute to society with their own videos)
Those are the first to critisize and be mean.
They are simply frustrated because they are seeing YOU do the things that they will simply not PERMIT THEMSELVES to do.
So instead of doing something proactive, they imeediately shoot down the person who is living out their dreams or desires.
Oh well, such is life.
You can only Love them & Accept them for they are clueless, and then DELETE Them :)
We Appreciate your contribution :)
Barbie
January 10, 2009 01:21 PM
You took the Right Stand, Joel. That is the type of person that lives daily with 'limitations.' We are to 'run' from the negative,,,,so that would be- delete! It is like flipping the switch, turn off the darkness and bring in the light. Since I don't want darkness and the negative controling my life, I would not allow such on my blog, either. To allow it would be like planting a 'bad' seed, thus it would only multiply on your blog.
You are a motivating leader and I thank you!
Jeanie
January 10, 2009 02:09 PM
Dear Joel,
Very well said!
Once again you have given us valuable info about conducting a SUCCESSFUL business (emphasis on successful).
Keep up the good work!
Brennan
January 10, 2009 02:12 PM
Good idea to DELETE when you gotta Joel. Keep the info coming....
January 10, 2009 02:33 PM
Hi Joel,
Good posting and I couldn't agree with you more.
It's a MAJOR Waste of both Time and Energy to speculate on - and wonder about, what exactly goes in these negative and destructive peoples minds.
Your home = your rules. It's that simple! Either you behave with a timely, normal, polite and well-behaved manner, or your out.
Some will... Some won't... Who's next?! Let's move on...
I (try to) live by this 'golden' rule:
-------------------------------------
- First "offence"... Normally overlooked (depends on the "offence")
- Second "offence"... Deleted
- Third "offence"... Strike! Your out and (IP) banned, permanently!
No exceptions - you've had your chance!
You're a very good writer, and your works have inspired me also.
Here's to a great home,
Hans Fredrik
January 10, 2009 03:23 PM
Hi Joel Comm!
If you think that because off something I was rude I ask for apologise from you, so if you don,t mind now I say a sensitive last farewellfor you and I think now I am unsubsricebeing from you.
I wish you more more good friendships. Thank you for contacting.
1/9
January 10, 2009 03:44 PM
Amen, Mr. J!
Thanks for having to courage to be who you are.
Keep the faith and keep up the good!
Signed your friend in Texas,
~Ronald
January 10, 2009 06:33 PM
Hi Joel,
Great analogy of the house /blog. I've been following/reading your stuff for a few years (am finally doing this full time now)- and I have to say that with all the people who have a significant presence online, you're one of the few who I really resonate with! I appreciate your honesty, integrity and overall approach to building an online business (and congrats on the iFart app!).
I'm looking forward to the twitter book (and yes, would love to see the Adsense code updated (again) too!).
All the best,
Kim
January 10, 2009 06:45 PM
Hi Joel,
Bravo, Job Well Done. The guy you're talking about is probably a spammer who is looking for fame and notoriety. More than likely, he is a Drama Queen looking for a way to get noticed.
Next time don't even bother posting about the stupid, just delete them and move on.
Ricardo
January 10, 2009 10:50 PM
Don't feel bad, Joel.
You're going to get your share of
'haters' - folks who say & do the
worst to and about you for no real
reason.
Forgive them,for they know not what they do,
and delete their post if they use profanity
on your blog!
Love the new App.
Hope it does well.
Vince C
January 11, 2009 11:13 AM
Hi, its a pleasure to comment on those who constitute themselves into a nuisance on the net. Most of these people don't appreciate good work and they ressort to using unauthorised or obscene languages on other people's blogs. The only available option to them will be to redirect them to the trash where they belong. You must come to terms with the fact that some other people love your blog, expecially the content. I want to say here that you please keep it up. I always anticipate your posts and they have been most educating.
January 11, 2009 11:24 AM
This person obviously doesn't have anything better or more constructive to do.
January 12, 2009 08:49 AM
I can not believe that someone would be rude to you. I mean- you guys created the iFart app. Who could be upset at you?
I had an experience where someone left a comment on our blog where the link they left sent the reader to a site that I did not care for.
So, I simply edited it, but left the comment.
You have every right to edit, or even DELETE anyone's comments (but mine- ha!).
Best,
-K
January 12, 2009 06:21 PM
Hey Joel,
I could not agree more.
Harry
January 12, 2009 06:56 PM
" The few that do is the envy of the many who only watch." There are people that just get joy from tearing others down, so you are right Joel to use the DELITE button as often as you need :-)..
January 13, 2009 03:03 PM
Well, Joel, I guess the great thing is, you know you are most successful. For the most successful people are the ones who often receive the most criticism. I'm glad you have the marvelous delete button. Use it often and use it well. In the meantime, I have to start working on being successful enough to engender some hate mail :)
January 13, 2009 05:30 PM
I couldn't agree more joel...
screw them!
that's rude and disrespectful!
I would do the same thing!
January 17, 2009 01:12 AM
Ha ha ha, funny analogy but yes, you are right. This IS your home and it should be treated as such. About the people that deserve to be shown the way out, you are right about them, but the good news is that according to my mentor Jim Rohn "there's only 6 or 7 really miserable people in the world, but they move around a great deal" :) that's why you find them all over the place. And when they come around to your blog, show them the way with the DELETE button. Thanks for sharing this, Joel. I loved it!
January 22, 2009 11:52 AM
Hi Joel,
when I had the first hype on one of my YouTube videos (it showed up in related videos of a YouTube partner) they were bashing me. Well, ok, the quality was really bad. Had no experience in making educational videos plus my mic and webcam where old as Graham Bell.
So they left me comments, you would no believe. It was not about giving a critic about, it was just to be rude, very rude.
So I deleted the comments and now every comment will be approved by me before it shows up.
Result: never received a rude comment since then. These kind of people only seem to be "cool" in a group. If you cut of their alpha leader (the first comment) they are quiet.
Thanks for this post, and of course, I could not agree more ;)
See you,
Kirsten
January 22, 2009 11:30 PM
That picture that you say is your house is funny. Nice try Joel..lol
January 23, 2009 09:55 AM
Well Said my friend.
Sometimes I wonder if we (those who blog) should just quietly share our thoughts and ideas with those who get it.
January 30, 2009 07:20 AM
WOW , i wish i have a home like this :D