Sunday, March 22, 2009

Poll Results Are In!

The results are in for the Negativity Monster Handicap, the first time I took something from my own experience and turned it into a poll because I was interested in seeing how the rest of you felt about it.

Fortunately, most of you voters have never experienced something like this, and I hope it stays that way. The second largest group of voters said that they would delete the comment because it added nothing to the discussion. If this comment had been left on my blog, I would've deleted it. I didn't have that option with Amazon. The person who left the comment reminds me strongly of an acquaintance whom I once told, "Everyone else starts a fire with a couple of matches and some kindling. You start yours with napalm."

Since I didn't have the option of deleting the comment, I tend to agree with the next largest block of voters, those who said they would either treat it as a badge of honor or just not comment. A person like this is looking for feedback so he can bring out more napalm. I chose to let him starve. And once I got over the initial "What the hell?!?", I'll admit that the comment made me laugh. You haven't truly arrived until you've been pelted with a bit of pungent mud!

The fourth largest group of voters either said that they can give as good as they get or that they'd respond calmly and reasonably in an attempt to change the person's mind. Both good ideas; I've tried them a time or two myself with varying results, but as I've said before, I decided to let the guy starve. Unfortunately he's probably moved on to pick on other unsuspecting souls.

One lone soul said that finding something the Negativity Monster had posted and giving him a taste of his own medicine was a good idea. I'll admit that it's a very very tempting idea. I even had a comment all typed up in my mind. But, at the end of the day, I didn't do it. People like this thrive on ill will and disharmony, and I just plain don't have time for them.

I want to thank each and every person who voted on this poll. You all gave me something to think about, and I certainly value your opinions!


10 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for asking me to participate in your Scene of the Blog feature. I've nominated you for the Sisterhood award. Go check it out.
    Karin

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  2. I think you did the right thing. Life is too short to continue negativity.

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  3. Thank you so much, Karin! Community: that's what it's all about!

    Jenners--Thanks. I *am* just snarky enough to hope that he was disappointed in my silence! LOL

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  4. NIce summary post, and bask in that snarky feeling!!

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  5. Thanks, Beth! I forgot all about feeling snarky today because of my quacky visitors.

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  6. that's a wide variety of opinions...but I think you did the right thing and let him/her starve.

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  7. Oddly, I saved that post from several years ago where you told your acquaintance, "Everyone else starts a fire with a couple of matches and some kindling. You start yours with napalm." I loved it and occassionally go back in my Yahoo! mail to read it. LOL

    --Mike

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  8. After I answered your poll, I looked up your review, I don't know what that guy's problem is...you simply said the author wasn't your taste, you didn't say he was bad...weird...

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  9. Mike--I was thinking of you especially when I said that in this post! :-)

    Nicole--I just figure that he doesn't have a problem, he *is* the problem! LOL

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Thank you for taking the time to make a comment. I really appreciate it!