[In case you skipped out on my about page, I have PSE/photosensitive epilepsy! And that one dedan gif with the white/red drastic flashes is starting to really get to me. Just please tag it with 'epilepsy' or something so I'm not taken to the hospital. Thank you!]
Hello, friend. If you're reading this you're probably having anonymous hate mail, a friend who is receiving anonymous hate, or you're an anonymous hating douche bag that wonders what I have to say. Either way, this is going to be a step by step guide to help keep from letting those pesky haters get under your skin and ruin your day.
Step 1: Do NOT publish the hate asks.
By doing this, you are practically covering yourself in fresh meat and throwing yourself into the crocodile pit. By publishing that ask you are setting yourself up for a number of things-- you're feeding the troll and giving them a reason to persist. Not to mention depending on your reaction, you could be attracting even more gutsy dicks who are going to think it's okay to openly insult you. If one punch is thrown and you're still standing, more people are going to be inclined to jump in and join the fight.
One might think the public positive feedback from friends/peers is a good thing, but in reality it is not. By getting a bunch of sympathy you're probably just making the anonymous pissed they aren't succeeding in provoking an action out of you. This will just make them try harder to break you and even lash out towards your friends. When someone is saying rude things about you they typically look for a specific reaction.
Step 2: Delete it as soon as possible.
"Life is too short to be around people you don't like," is a quote that rings strong in my family. I think it applies to this too because why the hell would you keep around shit that bothers you or makes you uncomfortable? As soon as you read the ask it's best you delete it. Don't stare at it, don't keep it around, don't let it get to you on a level beyond an anonymous person shouting something rude to you on the street. If you feel like you can't just ignore it that easily, don't worry! I'll be covering that in the next part.
Screencap it and tuck it away if you gotta, but really it's best to just move on in life. It's the internet, don't let it get to you!
Step 3: Don't be afraid to get upset.
It's okay to be upset. After all, some jerk just had to slam their opinion into your face and you probably didn't want to hear it at all. But don't just whine out in public eye about it, it's best to go to your close friends or if you don't have someone available to talk to, just make a post asking if anyone is free for you to vent to. If you still have the ask around or screen capped, you can even send it their way so you can get it off your chest. But over all, be strong! It's just the internet.
Everyone has their opinions, and not everyone is always going to agree with you. It's your choice if you're strong enough to accept this person doesn't like you, your blog, your beliefs, or things you do. They might not be the nicest about it and you yourself have the ability to be the better person in the situation. If you think you are strong enough to accept the things this anon has to say, go ahead! But don't overdue it. It takes a very stable person to face these things and I don't recommend it.
Step 4: Consider what's being said.
If you're getting repetitive anons saying the same things like "stop whining", "that's not how you do that", "you're this, this, that", "you're bad a this", you might want to take a moment to let it sink in what's being said. No I don't mean if they say delete your blog/go kill yourself to go do it, I mean take a moment to think about what would make more than one person go out of their way to say something to you. I'm not not saying the anon is 100% right, but if the same result keeps happening maybe it's time to re-evaluate your actions.
In the event more than once someone has to anonymously yell at you to "stop your whining", that's a good indication you probably are venting onto your blog a little too much and people don't want to see that. Your roleplay blog especially should not be your personal venting grounds, that's what a personal blog is for. If people are following you on a blog that isn't your personal they probably don't want to see too much of what's going on in your real life, they're here to get away from all that and have fun.
If someone says "you're bad at roleplaying", or "your art is bad" that might be an indication your roleplaying and art might need some work as well. It doesn't mean you're in an irredeemable pit of shame and you're never going to get better in life; it just means you might need some practice and do a little research on whatever it takes to be better. Remember, practice makes perfect and not everyone is going to be #1 awesomeness on their first try. We all start somewhere!
Step 5: Don't live a life of fear.
If you got anon hate, there's a good chance it's going to happen again. Even if you resolve an instance, it's more than likely it won't be the last negative thing you hear. But that doesn't mean you should board yourself up, delete your blog, or run away. If you cannot handle the heat, do not have your anonymous asks on. You can turn it off at any given moment; by leaving it open you're leaving the door unlocked for anyone to walk in and ruin your day. You're probably not alone and have plenty of friends who will talk to you without the anonymous turned on.
Remember that everyone is going to have their opinions and is not always going to agree with you. An anonymous isn't wrong for saying what they have to say and having an opinion, but they probably shouldn't say it the way they do. But we don't have control over people who have these impulses, so it's best to just leave them be. Even off the internet you're always going to have to face people you don't like, so it's best to find your own way to handle them.
Thanks for reading!
I hope this helps you out in your tumblr journeys or anywhere else you encounter anonymous assholes. If you're ever having issues or need someone to talk to, my ask box is always open for you! Never let anyone keep you down, just be yourself and live life happily. That's about all the advice I have to give and I hope you remember it in your heart.
Note: All gifs used are from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure!
It's a great anime and by all means very bizarre, I recommend if it you ever need a laugh.
