Internet Bullies

We’ve all run into this current rage. Someone will leave a comment on one of our posts, indicating this, that, and the other thing is wrong about it. Or they’ll say something completely out of line that will leave you wondering if you really want to be part of the internet world. Your first instinct is to respond to their outrageous comment on Twitter, to debunk what they’re saying on Facebook, or to argue with them about their review on Goodreads.
Stop!
Don’t comment. Don’t react. Do nothing that will encourage these bullies. They are safe behind their phone or computer screen. Nothing can touch them there and they’re venting out their frustrations on what they see as the perfect victim, the author gushing about their book. Your reaction, whether it be a carefully written comment or to complain on social media will only give this individual the impetuous to get nastier, until you want to vanish from sight and give up being an author.
We live in an age of anonymity. People can vent their rage about their own less than perfect lifestyle by attacking those they see as likely victims. Their only purpose is to make themselves feel better and the only way they can see to do that is to attack someone who is successful. Their biggest victim is the indie author, because these individuals are working hard not only to sell their books but also on branding their name. They are on social media seven days a week, with all sorts of promising advertisements about their books. A person in a rage, looking for a likely victim, sees this as an opportunity to attack and continue their attacks if they get a response.
How, then, does the struggling author handle internet bullies? Whether or not you respond, they seem to keep coming after you. It’s very hard to avoid saying at least, “Why don’t you read my books before you say they’re no good?”
And you’ve just committed a cardinal sin. The bully has their ammunition and they fire a hard shot followed by many more at the author attempting to cool down their temper. Soon, you’ll be in the unenviable position of walking away and ignoring the bully.
Will this bully stop because you’re no longer responding?
Probably not, unless you block them from your social media sites. Unfortunately, you’ll hear from people that the individual is calling you a coward wherever they can post, because you decided that ignoring them was the better choice. You’ll have to quietly vent your anger at the situation until the bully moves on to more fertile grounds where they can get the victim to respond.



About the K.C. Sprayberry
Born and raised in Southern California’s Los Angeles basin, K.C. Sprayberry spent years traveling the United States and Europe while in the Air Force before settling in northwest Georgia. A new empty nester with her husband of more than twenty years, she spends her days figuring out new ways to torment her characters and coming up with innovative tales from the South and beyond.
She’s a multi-genre author who comes up with ideas from the strangest sources. Those who know her best will tell you that nothing is safe or sacred when she is observing real life. In fact, she considers any situation she witnesses as fair game when plotting a new story.
Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
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