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OPEN BLOG ~ INSERT COMMENT!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Beam & Branch Realty TREC #547752

OPEN BLOG ~ INSERT FOOT COMMENT!

Heavy foot

The other day, I wrote a blog regarding the frustration experienced when trying to show a home.  The post was met with one really nasty comment and as we all know, those can happen occasionally.  While I have thick skin and understand that we can't have 100% positive comments all of the time,  downright ugly comments are never appropriate!

Blogging is a great way to share ideas, learn new things, connect with other professionals and in the process, gain valuable friendships.  Posting super negative, degrading or slanderous comments is never, ever called for.  We can all disagree on various topics and can certainly engage in lively conversations on a post without it becoming ugly.

So here are some suggestions when commenting on a post:

  • If you wake up in one of those CRANKY PANTS moods, avoid taking out your frustration on someone else's post.
  • If you feel the need to lash out to someone regarding their post, do so privately through an email.
  • If you are just a mean, negative person, keep that negative energy to yourself!
  • If you feel really strongly about a particular post or subject, write your OWN post rather than leave a long rant on someone else's commentary.
  • Keep your comments productive, clean and polite.  There is a nice way to express another view without being mean.
  • Avoid name calling!  We all learned this in elementary school and the rule still stands.
  • Remember, your comments DO say a lot about YOU!  And, they are there for all to see- forever!

Of course we all open ourselves up to receiving all sorts of feedback when we write.  That is understood.  What is not understood is receiving a downright nasty comment or in some cases a long rant.  Do this on your own white space!

Fortunately, here in our Active Rain Community, we can get into some lively conversations here and 99% of the time,   people are polite.  Sadly a few Negative Nellie's slip in and really stir the pot.  Disagree on something?  Sure!  Just do so in a professional manner!

 

Posted by

Comments (54)

Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

One of the things that continually amazes me about blogging here on ActiveRain, is the relatively low number of contentious comments that are posted.  I've been blogging since 2008, and can actually count on the fingers of one hand, the nasty remarks left on my blog.  I have only deleted one in all those years. 

Feb 21, 2013 10:23 AM
Kathy Sheehan
Bay Equity, LLC 770-634-4021 - Atlanta, GA
Senior Loan Officer

Paula I could not agree with you more.  I really do wish negative people would keep their attitude to themselves especailly on a blog post.

Feb 21, 2013 10:25 AM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living
Paula, I missed your first post and the comment in question but personally, I don't feel it would be wrong to delete inappropriate or downright nasty comments. It's your post, your blog, and you would have every right to do so. All the best!
Feb 21, 2013 10:46 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Back in grade school, Sister Mary Margaret, with that 12" wooden ruler would emphasize that if you couldn't say something nice about someone or in this case on someone's post, then don't say anything at all.

Feb 21, 2013 11:51 AM
Greg Nino
RE/MAX Compass - Houston, TX
Houston, Texas

Well said, Paula! Hope you are doing well and you're right.. if you have nothing to "add" go away!

Feb 21, 2013 12:17 PM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale
On occasion I have experienced agents who were looking to start an argument. I just ignored the comment.
Feb 21, 2013 12:34 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Is it just my imagination, or do these incidents usually involve a relativelly new AR member who is no doubt trying to show how self-important they are.  9 times out of 10, when I click through to see the profile of someone who writes a nasty comment, it's someone who hasn't even completed their profile. Most people who have been on this forum for very long "get" that we are honored guests to your blog.

Feb 21, 2013 01:07 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Paula - A great list of how to keep comments civil.  I've seen several disparate points of view here in the Rain that still manage to be polite.

Feb 21, 2013 02:19 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

You know Ms. Paula some people have nothing better to do than get up on the wrong side of the bed each morning.  They apparently have no life and want to pull everyone else down to their level. 

Feb 21, 2013 07:41 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I love the post and the photo. Great advice.

Feb 21, 2013 09:05 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Paula, I just saw this post, and then went back and read "Mr Marvin's" nasty comment to you about showing homes, making appointments, etc.

What a jerk.  Using your term "Cranky Pants" is just great.  His comment to you was Marvin's very first comment here on Active Rain.  What a way to start, huh?

"Dear Mr Marvin" mentioned that he takes Sundays off.  That is fine.  But that does not mean his sellers, or the rest of the working Realtor world take Sundays off.  If you are working with an out-of-towner who needs to make a decision by the end of the weekend, this Mr Know-It-All may have just been the cause of losing an excellent buyer for his own seller.

His comment was way, way out of place.  But even more surprisingly, he doesn't think it was.  I wonder what kind of reputation he has in his current market area?  We, as hard-working Realtors simply don't have to put up with this kind of punishment.

Feb 21, 2013 09:25 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

PS... I am very glad you did NOT delete his comment.  That would have been letting him off the hook much too easily.  I agree with your decision to let the comment stay.

Feb 21, 2013 09:26 PM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Thanks Karen Anne.  Yes, deleting the comment would have served no purpose.  I could have easily dealt with the bulk of his comment except for the part in calling myself and my clients inconsiderate people.  That is a direct hit at me personally and is just uncalled for.  It has been an interesting thread to read though.

Feb 21, 2013 10:58 PM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730
Paula, great job on reiterating the ways to play nice in the Rain. If something is ugly and starts the flow of venom, use that delete button.
Feb 21, 2013 11:35 PM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

Paula, this is so true.. Constructive comments, or facts that help - (even if contrary) are good - but embarassing the author, not a great idea, shoot out an email instead.

What I dislike her are the canned, cut and past comments, where you see the same person post the exact same comment on 10 blogs in a row just for their daily point fix.

Feb 21, 2013 11:47 PM
John G. Johnston
John G. Johnston & Associates, LLC - Westcliffe, CO
An Exclusive Buyer's Agent ~ Westcliffe, CO

Paula  I have now started to refer to anything 'out of line' as #27.  If we can 86 the onions we can 27 negative brains.  You ROCK and enjoy your day!

Feb 22, 2013 12:39 AM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Paula~ If I wake up with CRANKY PANTS (and believe me, it happens) I just stay clear of people until I can change my pants. There's no reason to take it out on others.

Feb 22, 2013 01:55 AM
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

Hi Paula - We had a nasty comment on one of our blog posts a few weeks ago, and have taken a bit of a hiatus around AR for a while because of it. I wanted to write a rebuttal post like yours, Wayne wanted to let it go - in the end, we decided that someone else's unprofessionalism doesn't jeopardize ours. If they make cranky pants comments, as did the commenter on your post, then it shows more about them than about you. I totally agree with you that MY blog post isn't an appriate location for someone else to rant, and certainly not a place for him (or her) to call you out. 

For what it's worth, I'm glad you wrote this post and I'm glad it got featured. I'd like a lot of people to read this and hear your message. Thank you.

Feb 22, 2013 08:20 AM
Rose King
David Tracy Real Estate - Friendswood, TX
Friendswood / Pearland / Houston Bay Area

I'm so glad you wrote this, Paula! The nasty comment thing happened to me once, and I didn't appreciate it one bit! I hope the appropriate party reads this post and learns a lesson!

Feb 23, 2013 12:24 PM
Liz Wallace
Century 21 Sherlock Homes - Rockville Centre, NY
Broker C21 Sherlock Homes, Rockville Centre, LI, N

I'm the nosiest person in American and so I had to go back and see the comment.  He was horrible and I do believe he just wanted to be awful.  If you read a post and you don't agree either don't comment of just say I don't agree but Marvin just went on and on and on and on.

Feb 24, 2013 03:20 AM