Read on Twitter
Advice for people who have the internet fall on their head, especially on Twitter:
Say: "I have seen the criticism and I'm taking some time t think about it and my response. I'll have more to say on [day of the week]."
Say: "I have seen the criticism and I'm taking some time t think about it and my response. I'll have more to say on [day of the week]."
Then get off Twitter until [day of the week]. Contact anyone else who's in the splash zone of the internet falling on your head. Lick your wounds. Vent to your friends.
Figure out a) what parts, if any, of the criticism of the internet that has descended upon you is in good faith by people whose opinions you generally respect; b) what you actually think about the content of the good faith criticism .
(You may need friends to help with this part: the internet falling on your head is not fun.)
Make a communications plan to acknowledge valid criticism and, if warranted, apologise for harm, outlining some steps you'll take going forwards to address the criticism. Don't be drawn into tangents or self-justifications.
Like all professional comms, keep it short and keep it relevant. Publish it in the appropriate venues. As part of addressing criticism, you may also need to communicate private apologies. These do not necessarily belong in your public statement.
Then follow the plan.
Part of the plan should involve staying off social media for a while, because even after you make a statement you're going to be raw and reactive and not exactly engaging from the most thoughtful place for a while.
Part of the plan should involve staying off social media for a while, because even after you make a statement you're going to be raw and reactive and not exactly engaging from the most thoughtful place for a while.
(The internet, falling on your head: not fun, even when the criticism is warranted.)
I figure I've had it happen to me a couple of times and seen it happen to a lot of friends, strangers, and acquaintances, it might be worth sharing what I've taken away from the experience.
Like, guys, it *sucks* - but it sucks much worse if you don't get some space from it first.
Advice for people who see people not following this advice: collect your mates and take them (metaphorically) home.
Fortunately back when I was younger and more foolish and more inclined to GRR FIGHT ME BACK and had one or two comment-thread brigades falling on my head, I wasn't on Twitter.
(Twitter makes everything worse. Why is it so horrible?)
(Twitter makes everything worse. Why is it so horrible?)
