THINK MCFLY, THINK

Nobody Wants to Read Your Ignorant Damn Comments

Think Before You Leave Pointless, Unnecessary Comments

Like most people, I love reading comments about my writing. At least 95 percent of them or more are truly kind, encouraging, and insightful. They bring a lot to the table and make the overall writing experience wonderful. They’re very appreciated.

But that other 5% or so… Jesus MAGA.

Receiving feedback as writers can be an important part of our Writer’s Journey. Hearing encouraging things about my writing only validates the feeling that I am entertaining others. I love to make people laugh. And think. Sometimes both.

At this stage of the game, I’ve dropped over 15,000 comments onto people’s posts here on Medium. I did the math on that and that’s almost 20 per day for each and every day I’ve been here on Medium. I’m kind of proud of that.

And I stand behind each comment, 100%.

This is because I don’t comment just to hear my own voice. I comment because I have something to say. There’s a difference. Allow me to explain.

If I read a funny piece that makes me laugh at numerous points during my reading, I’m going to comment. If you write something political in nature, and I agree wholeheartedly, I’ll comment. If you leave me a kind, thought-provoking, or funny comment, I’m going to comment back.

Engaging with our fellow Medium Writers is important. Not only do they appreciate your claps and encouraging comments, but they are also more likely to return the favor and be supportive of your work. If they enjoy your writing and you’re an engaging person, they may even subscribe to you.

That’s important. When you have somebody who appreciates and enjoys your writing enough to want to be notified by email every time you publish something new, that’s huge. Having a solid subscriber base will help you grow your following and succeed.

So think about the words that you comment and choose them carefully.

Not everyone understands this concept of how things work. I cannot begin to tell you how many comments I’ve read on social media where it seems the person is commenting just to stir shit up or only to hear their own voice. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s and Lauren Boebert’s Twitter accounts are perfect examples of this bullshit.

We have a need to be seen as human beings. We want to fit in, interact with others, and feel that we have something to contribute to the conversation. Most of us are pretty good at doing this, many are adept at “reading the room”.

However, some are utterly clueless.

The best example of this on Medium I’ve seen was from this fella a while ago. The people who have a problem with the blogs I write about racism, bigotry, sexism, and homophobia are almost always MAGAs, Bros, or conservative Boomers.

When people like the person above take the time to type out a blog-length comment that attempts to minimize the point I was making about racism and bigotry, it’s a complete waste of their time. And a good way to piss me off.

I’m not welcoming of comments that attempt to talk me out of my strong views about willfully ignorant people. I’m not going to say, “Gee, you’re right about this. Perhaps I was a bit harsh in using bad words to express how I feel about racism and bigotry.”

Fuck that.

I have no issue using curse words when I am angry. Especially in my own writing. I write to let out feelings that I need to eject from my system. I find it helps to express the frustration I feel about our nation as a whole, and how far we are from an ideal, respectful, caring society.

So either leave an encouraging comment or disagree. But if you disagree, keep scrolling, or piss off.

I don’t need your approval. I don’t want to read your counterpoint to my intense hatred of racism and bigotry. I don’t need you to attempt to teach me something that supports those kinds of views. You’re wasting your time.

The other kind of comments that drive me nuts are the truly dumb ones. I saw a post a couple of days ago on Facebook, where the person who posted the meme made a very clear point about a topic, and the first comment I saw was from someone who echoed this very obvious point.

“So you’re saying, blah, blah, blah.”

No shit, Sherlock. That’s exactly what the meme said.

I don’t understand why people comment some of the things they do. I try to be patient, and understanding and attempt to realize why certain comments are made. But sometimes it just doesn’t make sense to me.

I see this happening far more often on social media posts than here on Medium. It’s pretty rare to see someone commenting on an article or blog and saying something completely unnecessary and out of left field. When it does happen, I still clap for their comment because I have manners.

But sometimes I wonder, “Damn, how much attention do you NEED?”

Another example of this is when someone is going through a difficult time. Like really going through some shit. And the next person commenting feels the need to also discuss why they too are suffering at the moment. Often, their reasoning has nothing to do with the person who wrote the article’s reason.

We get it. You’ve had bad things happen, too. But it’s not about you, in this setting. Read the room. Be encouraging, but don’t just start typing word vomit all over this poor person’s blog. Think before you type.

Good writing involves using your words in the best possible way you know how. Commenting on peoples’ posts involves the same thing. Be it on social media or Medium, use those words wisely.

Don’t be that 5% who posts ignorant or unnecessary comments. Be like the 95% who genuinely have something kind, encouraging, or interesting to say. I love those kinds of comments. &:^)

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