When and How to Respond to Comments On Your Think Pieces

Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash

Many of us write well-thought-out, logical, well-structured articles that provide perspectives on important topics and current events. I believe most of us understand that not everyone will agree with our perspective, and we all have a bit of concern when we press the button to publish our masterpiece.

Still, you will receive a comment or two that are hell-bent on disagreeing with you. Here are three reasons why people may leave a less-than-pleasant comment on your article, followed by how to react and respond to each.

Reason 1: Misinterpretation Due to Reading or Thinking Ability

Some people are not as thorough of a thinker and reader as some of us. Not everyone can (capacity and ability) or will (willingness) read your article on the intellectual level you wrote it. Further, some read a word or two of your title or a sentence, assume what you’re saying, and never read or interpret the article in its entirety absent their thoughts. Therefore, they don’t read what is written; they read what they are thinking. This leads to misinterpretation of what you wrote in your article.

How to React

Breathe. I say that first because it is important to slow down your heart rate and mind so that you respond on the level you wrote your masterpiece rather than react on the level the person wrote the comment — even if they were polite; they are still inaccurate. You don’t want to continue the cycle.

How to Respond

Carefully read what they wrote and pick out just one or two great sentences from your article that prove they did not read your article (accurately).

Compose a reply that first thanks them for reading your article and commenting. Then, politely — not passive aggressively — craft a response that addresses their comment and provides those one or two sentences that prove they did not accurately read and interpret your article. After you do this, do not reply anymore to that person. Conserve your energy.

Reason 2: Addiction to Debate

Some are just looking for a debate or argument, and your masterpiece is a great controversial topic to pick apart just to satisfy the reader’s addiction. (This is a nice way of saying some people just want to displace their anger somewhere.)

People who are critical of others do so because they are critical of themselves.

How to React

Breathe. Pause. Be careful because everyone who debates is not equipped to debate. Some don’t have the data to support their claim; it is just a strong opinion. Some don’t have the emotional intelligence to have a healthy debate.

How to Respond

Wait a day. Re-read the comment and decide if this person is worth a debate. Part of writing a think piece or unpopular opinion article is the debate. Further, great writers don’t run from positive critique that challenges their thinking and/or writing skills. Iron sharpens iron. Don’t run from iron.

If you sense that this could be a healthy debate that you intend to make you a better thinker, writer, and communicator, then craft a healthy response that first thanks them for reading your article; next, points out that you understand their comment; and then, factually disagree with them. (Note, I said that “you intend to make you a better…” Go into the debate with that intention. It is your ‘why.’ When your ‘why’ is no longer being served, exit the discussion. Take that lesson and apply it to every aspect of your life.)

If you sense that this could not be a healthy debate or you choose to conserve your energy, then send a polite reply that thanks them for reading the article. (Note, I did this the other day, and I felt like I may have been passive aggressive. So, maybe no reply is better than the ‘thank you’ reply. I don’t have all the answers, Sway.)

Reason 3: Self Gratification

Some want to appear as deep as you and thus, repeat what they’ve heard or just come left field with comments to make themselves feel smart. You will recognize these by their left-field comments about things you didn’t mention or a lack of evidence (provided or not) for their response.

How to React

Breathe. Smile.

How to Respond

One clap because that’s what they want — applause — and that’s all they’re worth to your time and energy. One. Clap.

I wrote this article as a means to channel the energy from a commenter on my popular article, Why Kamala Harris Doesn’t Get as Much Black Love as Michelle Obama. A commenter accused me of saying ALL and went on to stand up for VP Harris. I never said ‘all’ and actually provided a paragraph that clearly stated that my article was an opinion piece and was in no way a means to take away from the credentials of VP Harris. I started to reply, “I guess you didn’t see the paragraph I wrote that said…” or “Where did you see me say no black people love Kamala?” Instead, I just thanked the person, who I think fits Reason 1 in this article, for reading my article; and I channeled the energy I would’ve given one person to create a new article for many.

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