Does negativity and destructive criticism pay off? Do you get more attention (after attempting to conquer stardom through decent cyber mannerism) if your articles are a collection of ironies and “so you think” tasteful jokes? Perez Hilton and folks running blogs based on criticism only seem to prove that this strategy works. 

The idea of writing about negativity in the cyber world came after watching a documentary called “Heckler” on HBO. The show was put together by comedian Jamie Kennedy as a response to the merciless treatment he encountered from the blogging community after the release of his movie “Son of the Mask”.  The documentary was an interesting piece of television, exposing the devastating effects the critics and their comments have upon actors in general and Jamie Kennedy in particular.

The idea of defending Jamie Kennedy is far from me and this article is not intended to polish his or anyone else’s image. I am merely pointing out that even if you disagree with someone’s performance, I believe you lower your writing standards to morally attack and individual based on the simple fact that his/her performance in some kind of theatrical act was poor or lacked enthusiasm at the box office. 

Are we so morally handicapped that we chose such a vitriolic attitude towards our fellow men just so we can have our 15 minutes of fame? Do we feel obligated (some might call it “the right to an opinion”) to obliterate someone’s character by wishing death upon them? Seriously? Just because a movie was not really up to viewer’s standards? I wonder what would this world be if very actor would be Oscar material.

It takes a fool to destroy 10 things but 10 smart ones to create one thing. – Romanian Proverb

At least Jamie Kennedy tries to create something – comedy, movies and ultimately a successful career and I wish him all the luck. What do these so called “critics” have to show for themselves?  Scahdenfreude.

So what does this have to do with blogging? Well, I happen to believe that bloggers employ a mighty sword – the written word; very often those who have nothing to create chose to abuse it and cause unnecessary pain. If you don’t like something, shouldn’t be enough to simply state that? I thought freedom is about being entitled to your opinion but it’s also about being decent and respectful.

It is widely believed that creating controversy and behaving like jack-asses, the spot light turns towards us, elevating our egos on the plateau of expertise and mystery generators. Pepper that with a dust of intellectual irony and a pinch of comic wisdom and you got yourself a savory concoction of self-indulgent pie a la mode.

My advice – be the better man (or woman) and leave these acid comments buried deep in that dark part of your reptilian brain. Don’t succumb to this destructive behavior by joining forces with non-creators. Instead do something constructive and each day be at peace with your conscience that you have made a positive impact upon this green earth.

Describe and take position when you don’t like a person’s performance, a service or a product but don’t just attack the person. It is immoral and considered poor form. Your blog might be popular but at the end of the day, people will still think you are a jerk. Can you live with yourself knowing that you are the source of pain inflected upon another human being? I guess lots of people can.

I can’t. 

Her are some rules I picked up from www.therealitycheck.org. This was posted by Patricia Nordman in the article called “Accepting our Fellow Men and Women”:

1. I WILL MIND MY OWN BUSINESS. This is the cardinal rule of tolerance. What we don’t know perhaps can’t hurt us, but what we do know can hurt others when we pass it on for the sake of some excitement. If someone confides in us it is our duty to treat his confidences as a sacred trust. 

2. I WILL REMEMBER THAT I AM NOT INFALLIBLE. I cannot possibly be aware of all the motives and circumstances that cause a person to act as he does. Were I forced to wear the shoes of someone whom I am tempted to criticize or condemn, I might find the pinch even more unbearable than he does.

3. I WILL VALUE INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES. It would be a dreary world if we were all alike. There are people who want to go where the action is, and people who prefer to contemplate what the action is about. We need both kinds. We need people of differing tastes and abilities.

4. I WILL DO MY OWN THINKING AND FORM MY OWN OPINIONS. Too often our first impressions of people are colored by what we have heard about them, in all probability from prejudiced persons. We can’t always avoid hearing gossip, but we can refuse to be influenced by it.

 Claudiu Geanta is a successful online business owner and founder of Design by Satori Inc. & ProIncome Marketing, LLC. He teaches businesses how to build an optimum online presence. He is also and accomplished web designer and photographer. You can follow him on twitter.

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