Blogging Ministry » -Blog Comments

Learning to Take Criticism Well

Dr.D — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:47:29 +0000

(Picture by Sybren A. Stüvel via Flickr)

From Problogger Blog Tips: How to Improve Your Blog – Learn to Take Criticism Well

This post got me thinking about some of my own experiences over the years. When I first started blogging 3 1/2 years ago, I would take to heart and dwell on every negative comment that came my way and spend hours trying to properly answer, justify, and respond to every critical word. I can remember even losing some sleep every once in a while over what some folks, that I never met from somewhere I have no idea of, happened to say.

These days a lot of stuff just runs off my back like water off a duck . In fact anymore, I find some of it down right humorous. But first I look at every comment to see if there is any merit at all in what is being said. Usually there is at least some degree of truth there that can be helpful, even if the comments are mean and over the top.

I am convinced that some of those mean and ornery jibes have ended up making me a better blogger and a much clearer communicator. Besides remember, a blogger always has the last word—happiness is sometimes only one ‘delete’ away.

No Such Thing as Delete on the Internet?

Dr.D — Tue, 26 May 2009 07:01:00 +0000

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Here’s an interesting article by Yahoo Tech: “No such thing as "deleted" on the Internet”

It Reminds folks that some of those horrible pictures and stuff you ‘deleted’ a month ago are probably somewhere out there still on the Internet—particularly if it was on Facebook.

This should be a lesson for all of us in ministry to be careful what we say and what type of info. we might publish. I know for example, some of the things that I have published about Islam on my Apologetic blog might be none too popular among some in the Middle East, though I get quite a few visits from there. However, I have been careful to be as accurate as I possibly can be.

On a couple of occasions my responses to some comments on a blog or two have not been all that charitable. I am learning to be far more loving than I used to be. In the mean time, there are a few comments still out there that I’d take back if I could. A lesson I am still in the process of learning.

This media is far more permanent than the ‘delete’ button promises.

Comment Policy–Why it’s a Good Idea!

Dr.D — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 08:29:23 +0000

Image by ario_j via Flickr

Anyone who’s been publishing a blog for a while has received comments that are inappropriate for a Christian site–comments full of obscenities or bearing links to pornography–or comments that you would rather not have published on your blog.

There are always those Christians who consider it their mission to drop pre-written articles into the comment line of any post that comes close in anyway to their specialty issue. Mention ‘baptism’ in a post and you might receive an unsolicited 2 page teaching on "why infant baptism is a false practice"–posted on the comment line. You may even agree with the teaching but it really doesn’t respond in any way to the original post–what do you do?

On other occasions you might receive a ‘comment’ that is longer and more detailed than the original post–usually in opposition to what your take is. Then there are those who show up and choose to use the comment line as an opportunity to make a promotional announcement or post a veiled commercial link–how do you respond?

I have even received an angry email when I edited or deleted one of those 2 page off-topic ‘comments’. I didn’t have a policy posted at the time.

Every blogger eventually faces commenting problems and must develop some standards on how to respond. At first you’re happy when anyone shows up and leaves a comment. later when your blog actually has some traffic, all the spam begins to show up.

If you’ve been blogging for a while, you already have developed a policy–you might as well let your readers and commenters in on it. If you’re brand new, you might take a look at the comment policies on some of your favorite blogs and settle on some principles to start with.

Here’s my Comment Policy –probably more than most of you will want or need. It was originally developed for my Answers For The Faith blog which handles controversial culture-war issues.

It’s really a good idea to let your readers in on your comment policies and expectations. Especially if you are a Christian blog with different ideas of acceptability than the general blogosphere. That way there’ll be no excuses and readers will be able to respond more appropriately in their comments.

Here’s a link to a post on the Blog herald with some great ideas on creating a comments policy. *Top

Blogging Ministry » -Blog Comments

Learning to Take Criticism Well

No Such Thing as Delete on the Internet?

Comment Policy–Why it’s a Good Idea!

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