… the HR Minion. Because even minions have opinions. And giggles.

Haters be Hating

I’ve been around this social media stuff for a while now and I have to say that I really love the HR online community. Almost everyone is nice, supportive, and fun. If not for the great people and how generous they have been with their time and advice I don’t know if I would have stuck around so long.

But not all online communities are like that and no internet community can exist without the haters. It makes me very sad when I hear from someone about how they put themselves out there creatively, something they are proud of, and the only feedback they got was from anonymous, or even not so anonymous, trolls trying to pull them down.

Now, I know that learning how to deal with haters online is just another skill you need to pick up in your journey to social media glory. And you will always encounter hateful jerks in your life; those that think they know better, hate for no reason, and bully to make themselves feel better.

Understanding that mentally doesn’t make the things they say or do hurt any less.

But we have all been there. And the only thing you can do when the haters be hating is to keep going. If someone wants to stop you from doing something that makes you happy then keep going and be ridiculously happy about it. Because really, it doesn’t matter if some random person you have never met and never will meet approves or not. You do it for you.

The only way haters have any power over you is if you let them. But how you deal with haters will depend on what you are comfortable with. Ignoring them, shutting them down, acknowledging them briefly, or even engaging with them. There is no right or wrong way.

Typically, I will either ignore them or try to address the criticism they bring up, valid points or not. But there is always a line though, and if they cross it they get shut down and even removed from the blog. Hey, it’s my blog and there are some things I won’t and don’t have to tolerate on here.

Just keep going.

6 Responses | Add your Own

  • 1 Chris aka new_resource :

    Excellent and to quote another great rap song by Kanye West “Good Life” … “50 said go ahead and switch your style up; and if they HATE then let them HATE and watch the money pile up”

  • 2 akaBruno :

    Sorry to hear people are hating, especially you, who is one of the nicest, most supportive HR people in the business.

    I’ve been fortunate to not see much, if any, hating what so ever. Either I have really thick skin, or I’m totally oblivious too it.

  • 3 Katie :

    Ha! I love this post… especially for the quote and picture (I have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi)

    I may have to steal this pic from you, with credit of course! 😉

  • 4 Shauna :

    Katie – I love Corgis too, I used to have one, but please don’t credit me for the pic, that I got from Cheezburger (I Think? It’s been a while)

    Matt – I know, right? How could anyone hate me, I’m adorable! 🙂

    Chris – Nice one. 🙂

  • 5 Krista :

    Good advice — online or not.

  • 6 Shauna :

    Krista – Thanks!