Nasty Questions

1. 76

   TIMETRAVELER2posted 5 years ago

   
   I get a lot of questions.  Most have been fine, but lately I'm seeing a trend where people are using the Q and A to criticize rather than ask, and some of the criticisms are not only unwarranted but quite ugly.  Of course, I delete them, but I do have to wonder why these people think it's OK for them to use this feature to vent anger against a writer or her views.  The worst is when someone tells me I don't know what I'm talking about when I've been RVing for more than 50 years!  One even asked me if I have ever even owned an RV!  Pretty nasty and upsetting.  On my second site, earlier this week, I have an article written as though I were a man who stole another guy's wife.  The reader wrote that I was a "F....ing..A...hole" and that one day some husband was going to catch me and kick my "fu...ing..a..."  What is wrong with people??

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2. 97

   Rupert Taylorposted 5 years ago

   TT2 I have disabled the QandA function. Not because I was getting obscenities thrown at me but because most of the queries were pointless and were answered in the articles if the questioner had bothered to read them.
   
   I wish I could answer the question you pose but I can't, except to offer the opinion that the descent from civility is encouraged by those at the very top of the body politic. However, to suggest that is to invite profanity-laden rants.
   
   I would not have thought that articles about RVing would stir up such levels of anger. But, some people just need to be obnoxious to mask whatever issues are really troubling them.
   
   You clearly do not deserve such attacks so you have my sympathy.

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   1. 76

      TIMETRAVELER2posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you so much.  This actually has shocked me because my take is that if someone doesn't like what you write, they have the option not to read it.  I keep the Q and A because a good number of readers have meaningful questions that allow me to help them and that can make things easier and often less expensive for them.  However, it's always surprising, too, when they ask a question whose answer is right in front of them in the article.  Lazy, I guess!

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3. 97

   Shesabutterflyposted 5 years ago

   I haven't had any nasty Q&A's, but I've had several that have criticized my opinion and basically demand that I give more ideas. They didn't like what I initially wrote, but they want different/more ideas. Not sure how that makes sense, but like you, I just delete them and go about my day. It never ceases to amaze me what people will say behind the safety of their computer screens.
   
   I actually had more hateful/hurtful e-mails through the contact author link. I disabled that real quick. I had several people that used it and were wanting genuine help, but the vast majority of it was spam and people spewing curse words and hatred at me. I actually had one individual go as far as to tell me it was my fault their family member was in legal trouble and that I should go kill myself. Not sure how or why that was necessary, but I guess we open ourselves to anything and everything when we write online. Just goes to show how sad our world is becoming.
   
   I really hope the few don't ruin it for those who are genuinely searching for answers/advice/opinions. Your articles are great and it would be a huge disservice for your readers to lose out on the Q&A.
   
   I just found out that our comments have a spam filter. Mine doesn't work too well, but if they can do it for the comments I think it should be easy enough to make a similar function for the Q&A. There is no reason we should have to be subjected to this kind of spam. I know we open ourselves up to criticism and comments, that's just part of the job, but what you are experiencing now is uncalled for.

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   1. 76

      TIMETRAVELER2posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Sounds like you haven't had much fun either.  I like the idea of a filter...maybe one day???

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4. 64

   EricFarmer8xposted 5 years ago

   A few people did this to me as well. I am not sold on Q and A myself. I ended up pausing it because I did not want to bother using it. I might change my mind in the future.

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5. 98

   CYong74posted 5 years ago

   I'm lucky not to have that many nasty questions. But occasionally, I do get those that are just impossible to answer. Quesions like, can you recommend a hotel, a restaurant, etc. Maybe I'm too particular about such things, but I really don't see how any answer would be useful when I have no clue what's the person's budget, itinerary, preference, etc.

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6. 93

   ziyenaposted 5 years ago

   I've paused Q&A because I don't have time for commitment nor want the headache … hopefully I haven't alienated myself when it comes to garnering more traffic.  A personal choice one has to weigh … plus, there was a discussion not too long ago about Q & A - which left me leery about the tool and it's overall impact with HP.  Don't even know if that was ever addressed to certainty being the can of worms that it was.

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7. 76

   Don Bobbittposted 5 years ago

   TT2 - We have both been on HP for years! Hoorah!
   As you know I focus many of my Hubs on the technical aspects of RV's and what goes wrong with them.
   But, also get the occasional response to a few of my answers that are from people who seem to not like what they read in my articles.
   Its hard to just "grin and bear it' as they ay, but that's what we have to do when we get attacks.
   Just keep on Truckin'
   DON

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   1. 76

      TIMETRAVELER2posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Will do!  Nice to hear from you again!

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8. 95

   wildernessposted 5 years ago

   The final in a series of emails asking for help with a project.  From a disabled vet trying to do work on his home (he had offered to pay me to help guide him, which I obviously refused):
   
   "A blessed Tuesday to you sir.
   
   Thank you immensely for your latest response to me.  I could not have asked for a more complete, extensive step-by-step instruction.
   
   I am so grateful for all of the time you have given to me with our email exchanges.
   
   May God greatly reward your charity sir!"
   
   One of these makes up for a whole raft of nasty ones.  In my mind, anyway.

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   1. 96

      gerimcclymposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      That is precious--thanks for sharing.

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   2. 76

      TIMETRAVELER2posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      I've had those, also, and I totally agree with you.  It's one of the reasons I don't shut down my Q and A.

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   3. 94

      Jeremy Gillposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed. At the end of the day, the nice or constructive responses outweigh the death threats (sad but true) and unnecessarily negative or nonsensical posts.
      
      Like others have said, delete and forget the hate. I fully respect the choice to not use the Q&A, but it offers advantages for SEO and interactivity that I wouldn't forfeit (like the ability to edit reader grammar errors, something unavailable with comments).

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      1. 64

         EricFarmer8xposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks for the advice. Your comment is something I have thought about and I agree.

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9. 60

   Randy Godwinposted 5 years ago

   Like TT2 and others, most of the questions were already answered in my articles. I don't use the Q&A any longer.
   
   And like Dan, I help many people by email and on my hubs with most being very grateful for the advice.

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10. 86

    Sherry Hewinsposted 5 years ago

    Most people who post stuff like that in forums, comments and Q&A are trolls. It gives them a sense of power to upset people and push their buttons. The worst thing you can do is respond to them. Exercise your power. Delete and forget them.
    
    It's not easy, but we have to develop a tough skin. When we get upset, those people are accomplishing their twisted goal.

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    1. 76

       TIMETRAVELER2posted 5 years agoin reply to this

       +1

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    2. 96

       gerimcclymposted 5 years agoin reply to this

       Yes, and reading some of these comments can be a real time guzzler, or free entertainment, depending on the comment, lol. Always best to delete them and move on. I agree with others that turning off the Q & A feature, at least temporarily, is a good option.

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11. 91

    TeriSilverposted 5 years ago

    There are a few of my pieces that I don't allow comments or Q & A, especially the ones on my circus big cat  animal trainer friend(s) and a few others like that.  People are narrow minded and nasty, and I just won't tolerate it, especially because I know what I'm talking about and they just spew repeated animal rights' rhetoric that they find on the internet.  Used to be I'd welcome intelligent questions on the subject and answer them, but I'm not interested in "arguing" with people who have no capacity to learn beyond their own belief system.  It's too bad, really, but this is the world we live in.

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