A simple question on social media often brings out the worst in people. I’ve read the hateful and snarky responses when a fledgling writer asks for advice from other writers. Condescension abounds on writing forums. It’s as if some people need to stomp on others for absolutely no good reason. I don’t understand the need to be mean when another seeks help.
Usually, I lurk in the shadows on such sites —helping when I have a legitimate answer that might shed some light on an issue and watching for answers to concerns that match my own. I wasn’t eager to take a pounding for my own inquisitiveness. Cowardly, I know.
Yesterday on a forum in Social Media Land, though, I made the apparently egregious mistake of asking a question about royalties from Amazon. One would’ve thought I’d asked how many fingers and toes the average human comes equipped with.
I was called a dunce. An idiot. A lazy b*tch. “If you can’t read, then why are you attempting to write?” asked one respondent.
Yes, I knew I was risking the disdain of the elite when I posed the question, but I had read the information on Amazon and was still confused. Clarification would’ve been nice, but in its place I learned that I’m “too dumb to breathe.” I’m amazed I’m still able to do so, but maybe I’m breathing all wrong.
Some people are asses.
Peace, people.
Praying for Eyebrowz 
Oh, right—because all these people never had to ask questions!! They are born knowing it all. Ugh, this makes me so angry. Why can’t people look at it as an opportunity to help a fellow writer, not an opportunity to call her names and hope she goes away. That is so awful. I hope you were able to get the information you needed, but gee whiz, people…!
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There were some nice folks who helped out. It’s just so sad that the mean people come running like jackals to the kill.
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This is why I don’t do SocialMediaLand, but then again, I can afford not to 🙂
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If I wasn’t in need of the marketing platform, I’d leave it, too.
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I’ve just realised that I often write you when you should be sleeping, yet you always answer right away…? What time can I comment without waking you up?
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I promise it’s not you waking me up. I don’t even have my notifications turned on. Right now I’m at my daughter’s home in a different time zone than my usual.
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There are trolls everywhere apparently. I’m sorry you had to encounter all that needless hate over a simple question.
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You know it didn’t crush my soul or anything. And it did make for a decent blog post. I just worry about those who will be hurt by the hateful responses.
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Listen, most of the writers I have met are wonderful supportive people. Like any other profession, there’s downright know it all nasties though. And a lot of these said FB groups are really not about support, they are about ME ME ME, my book, brilliance, readers, fans, my you name it, which is why I have come out so many of them. Anytime you want to ask anything feel free to email me. Or message me on messenger okay? If I can answer your question I will. xxxxxxxxx
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Thank you! I thought it was such n innocent question. Never even thought it would get so much negative response. Live and learn.
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Some folks are just butt holes plain and simple. x
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Truth!
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Sorry you had to endure this. People suck
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Sometimes they do.
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Holy crap! How awful. Yes, people can and are asses a lot of the time, but this is over the top. I’ve seen some really stupid things in the writing community and I’ve heard of others dealing with similar things, but I haven’t experienced it myself (probably because I’m way too much of an introvert to ever really attempt anything other than lurking). Did anyone at least answer your question? I might be able to help if not.
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I did get an answer. Normally I’d have asked one of my author friends, but I’m not thinking clearly these days. Lesson learned.
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I’m glad you at least got that. Maybe it’s time to find a different author group? Not that I’d have a clue where to look for one!
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There are a couple of genre specific groups I’ve found that are quite supportive. One is for Cozy Mystery writers and the other for Romance writers. My first novel doesn’t fall into either of those categories, but I enjoy the camaraderie there. And while my second novel is romance, I mostly just lurk on that page.
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So sad we live among such folks. Trolls everywhere indeed and they don’t care whose ox is gored. Sorry you were the target.
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It didn’t bother me too much, but for some it might be devastating.
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Great that it didn’t bother you. And, yes, you’re right – “it might be devastating” for some. Glad you made a post out of it, too.😊👍🏾
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Thanks!
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How rude! I never visit those types of forums, so I’m truly surprised the writing community as a whole isn’t more helpful.
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Wouldn’t it be nice if they were???
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Lol just remember alot of those “people” aren’t people. They could be bots and trolls
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That’s true.
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I agree, some people can be real meanies!
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Sometimes I wonder if they’re just trying to be clever and it comes out as mean. I hope that’s the case.
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Yup, trying to be clever and also very unhappy with themselves
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Sad, isn’t it? They put someone else down to feel superior.
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People are losing their minds!
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I wonder if they had much of a mind in the first place.
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Haha, true!
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Oh, Sweetie, you are none of those mean things. I’ll burn some sage for that awful forum to cleanse it of hate. You just keep on doing what you do.
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Thank you! It might require a bundle and a half of sage, though.
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People like to take out their frustrations on others. Maybe it’s because they go through a lot, I don’t know.
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It’s puzzling for sure.
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Wow! People are asses indeed. I would be curious about the answer to that question. It seems like a question a LOT of people would be interested in the answer to. Seems to me, you took a hit for the sake of many other people who were too afraid to ask this question. So, you’re sort of a hero. Sorry people had to be jerks about it.
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My husband believes spoke like that live fit the opportunity to knock people down. I guess I provided a public service that day!
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I suppose. Shame it had to be you.
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Oh my gosh I am sorry you received those types of responses. 😦 That’s beyond brutal for asking such an honest question. As you say, the “elite” can get nasty. I remember being a new writer on a forum and how mean the seasoned members were to myself and other newbies. It was an eye opener. Thankfully there are a lot of kind ones, too, but those mean ones really stick out when they appear, don’t they?
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Thank you. I’ve tried to figure out why people feel the need to be so snarky.
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