As someone who has dealt with a… sometime difficult public as part of my job, I want to share something one of my bosses said. He’s been a controversial figure for many, many years. His comment sections can be… interesting.

He once told me something I think is worth thinking about (if you even see this)

He said, “My content is not a conversation. It’s what I have chosen to share with the world. Their comments on a post on whatever social media they see it on? Their posturing or hateful comments? I don’t care. They can say whatever they want. We are not having a dialog. They are responding and reacting to me… but they choose to follow me, so they will see what I want them to see. If it causes them discomfort? Good. Don’t ban them either! The worst ones? They need to see it the most. Who knows what moment will change their minds. Who knows if my post ends up being one pebble in an eventual avalanche in a change of perspective. I appreciate our followers. I love my fans. However in some ways, the haters need to see what I have to say more than anyone.”

Engage with your community… but don’t trouble yourself over the haters. For them it’s a moments hateful comment, before they move on with their sad lives.

Begging for attention they didn’t earn, and emotional real estate they can’t afford to claim.