How do you react to a sarcastic comment on your hub?

1. 87

   Nell Roseposted 12 years ago

   How do you react to a sarcastic comment on your hub?
   
   I recently went back to read the replys to a comment on a hub, and the person who I usually follow a lot was really sarcastic! I just sat there looking at it and thought, okay, now what? So what would you do? reply? don't follow them again, or what exactly? thanks!

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   mariexotoniposted 12 years ago

   I would just ignore them. Or respond politely- kill them with kindness. People get offended rather easily, it's like walking on glass.

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      Nell Roseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      So true, thanks for the answer, much appreciated, nell

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      mariexotoniposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      no problem.. they probably didn't mean anything by it. It's sort of hard not to respond to people who are kind of rude.. I've been practicing though! But when I respond, I often don't like how I come off and what kind of a person I can sound like.

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   Gordon Hamiltonposted 12 years ago

   Nell, this has happened to me in the past and I've found that the best thing to do is NOT reply immediately. Take deep breaths, go make a cup of coffee or tea and revisit it. Knee jerk reactions often do more harm than good. Returning to it, if they are still out of order, you still have a tough decision to make but you're better prepared. Maybe they had a tough day and regret their comment - no excuse, but possible. Otherwise, either make a concise but short comment and blank them thereafter or ignore it. I find it hard to believe that anyone on HP would be so disrespectful to you!

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      Nell Roseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Aw thanks Gordon, that made me feel better, yes I will put it down to a bad day, I think! lol!

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4. 71

   DanaTeresaposted 12 years ago

   it's hard to say without knowing details. do you know if they meant to be hurtful? or was it a joke gone too far?  if you did not appreciate the comment, but generally have good ineractions with them, you might want to simply say "thanks for commenting" and leave it at that. if it warrants a more detailed response, you could send a message, rather than go at it in the hub comments... i would suggest not ignoring it, because clearly it bothers you.... have you read my hub about turning a negative comment into something positive? you might try the exercise i describe in it. i know it helps me.... chin up. keep on hubbing.  (p.s. hope u arent talking about me!!!)

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      Nell Roseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Dana, lol! no, it was on hub of theirs, I just went back to see their reply, and they were I suppose you would call it curt? not sure if thats right, but it was a bit like someone slamming a door in my face! lol!

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      DanaTeresaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      hi nell. i just got a very "curt" comment myself! shallow criticism lacking anything constructive. ouch! I approved it and replied politely. Too bad for them if they don't like what wrote. Stings! But I feel OK with it.Hope you are moving on and up.

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5. 61

   duffsmomposted 12 years ago

   I suppose there is the possibility they didn't mean to come off like that. It is so hard with the written word to use humor.  I have reread so many thing I have written and ended up rewriting them because they may be taken wrong.
   
   So to put the best construction on it, maybe they didn't mean it that way.  But as Gordon wrote, sit on it a little while, then if it still bugs you, contact them privately and ask what's up.

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      Nell Roseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks duffsmom, yes it could be that, we do write comments so quickly maybe they were thinking one thing and wrote another, hope so, thanks!

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6. 59

   JBrumettposted 12 years ago

   Since I'm the most sarcastic person I know.  I understand it can lead to misinterpretations (burning bridges), but I also learned a long time ago not to worry about things I can't control.  If they're commenting on your stuff; it means they're willing to read stuff you write?  Might want to take that into consideration before going nuclear on him/her.  =-P

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      Nell Roseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hi JB no it was on their hub! lol! never mind, thanks!

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      JBrumettposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I was under the impression it was a comment on a hub you wrote.  If it's on someone else's, then I'd surmise they're trying to bait you into something.  Then I'd agree with what others are saying, and I'd just ignore it. Out of sight out of mind.

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      alancaster149posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It helps to modify your wit if you know you're 'spiky'. Some find sarky comments off-putting if they haven't been writing long. There's a fine line between sarcasm and 'dry wit' (see below); you can tell the difference usually, sarcasm feels leaden.

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7. 67

   houseofjcjeeposted 12 years ago

   I would either ignore the comment or not post it at all. Do not allow him to take control of the situation. At the same time, you should also guard your emotions.

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   1. 87

      Nell Roseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks house, great advice

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8. 68

   Angela Blairposted 12 years ago

   I followed a Hubber intensely and faithfully until she made a comment on one of my Hubs that hurt my feelings so badly I totally withdrew from her -- and I admire her as a writer and thought she was a friend. I didn't even unfollow her but make no attempt at reading anything she's written since that day. Her comment wasn't sarcastic it was downright cruel, unnecessary, accusatory and in my opinion totally uncalled for. I asked her  in my reply to explain exactly what she meant by her statement (as I thought I might have been overly sensitive and misconstrued her remark -- although that would have been pretty hard to do) and I've yet, to this day, gotten  an answer to that from her. It's like she struck and disappeared. Occasionally I think someone makes a comment that just comes out all wrong and was not meant to be mean or unkind and if there's doubt I think that person should be given a chance to explain their position. If there's no mistaking unkindness or an attack -- address it by all means -- and then go on and ignore the offender.
   
   Having received direct and personal attacks from those with an opinion differing from mine -- I allow their comments until the conversation starts to get mean and then I refuse to accept their comments any more -- and I'm certainly not going to let anyone attack other people who comment on my Hubs (and I've had this happen too). I've even had someone send an email to me and make some really bad and hateful accusations. When that happens I just turn it over to Hubpages and try to forget about it. We may not be able to promote Hub-love but promoting Hub-peace is possible by ignoring what we can't change -- like idiots!

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      JBrumettposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Those are called Modern Day Ninja's.  =-P

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   2. 87

      Nell Roseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Angela, thats so true, thanks for your input, I will see what happens in future

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      Seeker7posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hello Angela, I received a comment a when I first started on one of my hubs. I sent an e-mail to the person to ask what the problem was and to say that their comment was unacceptable. I did get an apology but the sting still remained.

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9. 0

   TechTrendyposted 12 years ago

   Everyone has their off days and some of the days don't always come off polite. It might of have been intentional it might not have but if you enjoy following that person then don't paint them with a single colored brush over one incident.
   
   It's best to give benefit of the doubt unless proven otherwise.

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      Nell Roseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Tech, you are right!

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10. 70

    Larry Fieldsposted 12 years ago

    Hi Nell. Sometimes I'm sarcastic. I hope that I have not said anything to offend you.

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       Nell Roseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Larry you are the sweetest man, you could never offend me! lol! thanks anyway, no it was a woman!

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    WD Curry 111posted 12 years ago

    
    
    I swear to you . . . I was only joking. I apologize.

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    1. 87

       Nell Roseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Hahahaha! I am a wise ass too! and no, wasn't you either!

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       Sunshine625posted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I like this comment!!

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    3. 87

       Nell Roseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks linda! lol!

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12. 66

    GracieLakeposted 12 years ago

    It's so nice to see a common thread throughout these comments Nell - and that's that people are, at bottom, friendly and supportive. What a great group! Sarcastic, snarky comments are hard to take, and while I haven't gotten anything too nasty, I occasionally run into someone with a chip on their shoulder. What to do? I've always subscribed to the Wayne Dyer quote that he got from his teacher to 'be free of the good opinion of other people.' That allows you to be friends with people who may disagree because it takes nothing from you. Cheers!

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    1. 87

       Nell Roseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Thats a great point Gracie, thanks! never thought of that! lol!

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    DS Dubyposted 12 years ago

    I deny the post and chalk it up as immaturity if you don't agree with a hub move on to the next one there is never an excuse to be rude to another hubber were all striving for the same goal and there's plenty of room at the top for everyone, but encouragement is the key not rudeness. For the record I've found a few of the writers that have been here for 4-5 years to be quite rude and it seems like jealousy to me. Keep Hibbing your writing is great.

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14. 68

    Jlava73posted 12 years ago

    Hi Nell,
    
    I wouldn't take it personal at all. Sometimes the person is having an off day or maybe it is an attempt at humor or maybe they misunderstood your comment.

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       Mazzy Boleroposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I agree.  Words look different in black and white than when they're spoken and you can see the person's facial expression and hear their tone of voice. You have to be careful not to write something that can be taken in a way you didn't intend.

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    teamrnposted 12 years ago

    I don't get a lot of sarcastic replies to my hubs, but I've gotten them. If this is uncharacteristic, I ask the individual if there was something that I had written in my hub and in what way did he disagree with it.
    
    If there was not a disagreement, but the remark/comment was sarcastic in tone, I'd again redirect and ask WHY the response was stated sarcastically. But, in no terms would I take it personally, Nell. You've got to be one of the most giving and friendly people on this planet and sarcasm is not YOU!

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    Seeker7posted 12 years ago

    Hi Nell - what an upsetting thing to happen, especially as you say you follow them a lot.  I've had one or two comments like that in one hub. Basically I ignored one of them. However, depending on what was said, ignoring the issue is sometimes not an option. On one of the comments I did receive I sent a private e-mail message to say that I felt the comment left was unacceptable and what the problem with this person was? I did get an apology and the person said they had been in a bad mood when they wrote the comment - hardly a good excuse for being rude to other people, but I left it at that.
    
    So I guess depending on how you feel about the issue Nell, I would either communicate with them privately or delete their comment and ignore their rudeness.

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    alancaster149posted 12 years ago

    Wasn't me, was it? I sometimes write what I think is dry wit, but might be taken another way.
    If I find one on one of my Hubs and don't understand the joke I just let it be, in case someone else knows what's going on in their mind... Meanwhile, soldier on. If I think someone's left a 'Funny-ha-ha' number on one of my Hubs I'll chuckle and go on to the next. If it's 'Funny-urgh' I'll just raise an eyebrow (you know, Roger Moore style) and bash on with something else. Maybe if whoever it is left the comment reads it again they'll probably cringe and either keep their opinions to themselves or modify their wit.
    Easy remedy.

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18. 61

    fpherj48posted 12 years ago

    Wellllll.....Nelllllll......Hellllll,  let's talk about this, my sweet friend.  If you are 100% positive it was a nasty and/or sarcastic comment.......IMO, you surely do, at the least deserve an explanation.   I would do what Angela did and ASK the hubber, what exactly was meant by the remark.   In Angela's case, the person did not ever come back to explain.  Could they have missed Angela's question?...or purposely ignore her!.  It's always hard to assume in cases like this.
    You could send a simple comment back, saying you were very shocked by her words and could she give a reason for the sarcasm.?......OR.......you could let it slide this once.........and watch to see if it happens a 2nd time.   If it does, you have every right to be hurt or angry and just not interact with this person again......unfollow and if she comments on your hubs, simply deny it.
    It's never worth getting all worked up and upset over one person....who has an obvious problem of some kind.  Just be assured, the problem is not you!!

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    shara63posted 12 years ago

    'your words reflect your inner'  is a fact!  so are sarcastic comments..it reflects the mental status of the commentator and that is definitily of unstable & intolerant/immature type!....so, better to ignore them with their outlooks than trying that they comprehend beyond their capacity!

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       Nell Roseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks shara.

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    i scribbleposted 12 years ago

    Calmly, I take the higher ground.  If someone persists with negative comments, seemingly wanting to argue, i stop approving their comments.

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       Nell Roseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks that sounds the best way to go, cheers nell

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    Suzie HQposted 12 years ago

    As a fairly new writer here, I would take the line of many of the other comments here.Whilst i may feel like replying immediately, i would hang back and wait awhile before asking for an explanation. You may have picked them up wrong, so don't jump in guns blazing, just in case!

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       Nell Roseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks Suzie, yes you are right!

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    Cardisaposted 12 years ago

    I have had sarcastic comments from hubbers. In one instance she disagreed with my point of view and would not understand where I was coming from. I did not feel offended by her comments so allowed them.
    
    If comment offends me (note I said offends me and not offensive) I will have to deicide whether or not to publish the comment if the hubber has a good point.
    
    One hubber said something on a hub recently and I was a little ticked but the comment was not offensive, but I was offended due to their point of view which was opposing my hub and I allowed the comment because I stepped back and looked at it objectively.
    
    There have been comments I have not allowed because they are too sarcastic or and made no point at all.

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23. 69

    howlermunkeyposted 12 years ago

    The same way I react to a sarcastic comment at the poker table. I don't react at all.

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    Shri Mcposted 12 years ago

    I would shut it down with a positive response but get there take on the issue.

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    kaykay7posted 12 years ago

    Every coin has two sides.Sarcasm is one side of a coin,the other side is humour.Meet the sarcasm with a humorous reply.One canot always get a HEAD when you toss a coin.If HEAD comesup it doesn't mean that tail is not there.It is hidden for the present.

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