Blogging is an interesting medium. We bloggers put ourselves out there, offering opinions, thoughts, advice to those who care to read. As bloggers we don’t know what reaction our writing with have. It may be received with high praise, scathing criticism, or not be read at all.
Similarly if our writing is misread or misinterpreted and that impression is published on other blogs that information remains out there as a permanent record. A situation similar to this happened to me the other day. It made me realize that as a blogger growing thick skin is a job requirement, as it is for many other professions.
I’m not going to get into details or name names, that wouldn’t accomplish anything worthwhile. The point is that in life people get under our skin.
The true test is in how we deal with these situations.
- Do we lash out at the offender?
- Do we retreat into ourselves?
- Do we feel sorry for ourselves?
- Perhaps we get angry.
- Perhaps we do nothing at all.
For myself, I try to let it go or deal with it constructively. I could have gotten angry at the individual and lashed out with an attack. Or perhaps I should have sent an email demanding an apology and a correction to what they wrote. I did neither of these things, though they crossed my mind, instead I’m writing this post about developing thick skin.
I realize that this type of a situation is going to happen again. This is just the tip of the iceberg. If I travel down the life of a blogger, where I’m in the public light (ok the shadow of other great bloggers), I should expect that someone is going to take offense to what I say or perhaps be critical of my work. That’s life, I’ll deal with it. And I’ll deal with it like an adult taking it in stride and not letting it effect my daily routine.
It’s the art of having thick skin and a short memory, just like the elephant. After All life is too short to get wound up about nothing of consequence.
My challenge to you is that when in a similar situation will you attack back or will you take it in stride knowing that time will eventually set the record straight?
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
cave2626 11.27.08 at 12:08 pm
Great advice. I like how you took your negative experience, learned something from it, and turned it into a positive.
vfosdal 12.03.08 at 6:06 pm
Yes, i’m dreading the day that i get flamed. i’m not sure if i’m going to delete the comment however. it depends on if i consider the critisim garbage or not.
francetales.com 06.07.09 at 12:55 am
Thick skin is important. It is easy to overlook this. When starting blogging and trying to find your niche and community you will run into plenty of people who don’t like you. Have a clear sense of direction, that helps.
http://francetales.com/2009/06/06/five-free-or-low-cost-ways-to-amuse-yourself-in-toulouse-in-june/
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