Image Credits: unsplash.com
You’re scrolling through your Facebook feed when you see a post from a friend and the comments are already full of hate.
You decide to read them, and suddenly you’re in the thick of things. Someone has said something about your friend that’s downright rude, and you feel the need to reply.
Before you do, stop and think for a moment. Is responding to this hateful comment going to make things better? More likely than not, it won’t. It could make things worse by inciting more anger and hatred. You never know who might see your response, and it could end up causing more harm than good.
There’s no need to put yourself through that kind of stress when there are better ways to deal with hate comments. In this post, we will explore some of those ways and talk about why you should stop responding to hate comments online.
Be the bigger person
When somebody hurls an insult your way (or a loved one’s), it’s natural to want to fire back. But before you do, take a step back and think about the consequences.
Are you going to stoop down to their level and engage in a pointless back-and-forth? Are you going to make the situation worse? Are you going to give them the satisfaction of knowing that they got under your skin? There’s no need to waste your time and energy on somebody who’s not worth it. Just ignore them and move on.
The psychology of hate comments
Here’s the thing: responding to hate comments only fuels the fire. It can be hard to walk away from an online argument, but trust us—it’s worth it. Not only will you be sparing yourself from hours of stress, but you will also be sending a message that hate doesn’t win.
Studies have shown that ignoring hate comments works better than replying to them. When someone doesn’t get a reaction, they tend to give up and move on. So next time you’re faced with some negativity, just take a deep breath and walk away.
Responding to them only makes it worse
Image Credits: unsplash.com
By responding to negativity, you’re saying, “Yes, this is something worth getting worked up about.” And that’s not what you want. You want to ignore the hate message, or better yet, delete it. That way, you’re not giving it any power.
If you decide to respond to a hate comment, what should you say?
If you do decide to respond to a hate comment, you should never attack the person. That will only escalate the situation and could end up with you getting into a heated argument.
Instead, try to stay calm and constructive. Address the issue that the person has brought up and offer a solution. Most importantly, try to stay positive. No one wants to read a long rant about how terrible someone is. Keep your response short and sweet, and end on a graceful note.
No one deserves to be attacked online, especially not for something as innocent as posting a photo or opinion. At the same time, just because someone leaves a hateful comment doesn’t mean you have to respond in kind. Think about the consequences of your response before you post. Will it lead to an online argument that will just get messy? If the answer is yes, then it’s best to walk away. It can be hard not to react when you’re faced with hate but remember that responding won’t change anything, and it might just make matters worse.
