Why No One Cares About Your Rant

Sure, everyone has a bad day every now and then but there are some who seem to be in continual rant mode. Brilliant articles are crafted by a writers who are expressing their frustration or anger but constant rant mode sucks. Passionate writing brings real emotions and a new level of writing when the words fly off the fingers on onto the screen. However, a continual stream of this type of content is not healthy and just plain negative. Negative moods transfer easily and who wants to absorb or spread that?

There are a few people who can pull off a good rant, for example Olivier Blanchard, but this is interspersed with quality content, clearly not all that he does. These types of posts do lead to great comment threads but also bring out negativity as well. You need some serious cahones to battle the fools in the comments as Marc Ensign did recently on a post.

Olivier’s How to suck at social media: 101 level course

Marc’s 12 Most Offensive Phrases You Could Use in Your Business 244 comments including this foolish comment “pretty gay post. get on with life.. if you have one, that is. (remember, i’m doing you a favor)” Punctuation and grammar, or lack thereof, typical of this type of comment, interesting, no?

I’d like to offer a few tips to deal with people who try to push our buttons.

“When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudice, and motivated by pride and vanity.” – Dale Carnegie

“Everybody has a hot button. Who is pushing yours? While you probably cannot control that person, you CAN control the way you react to them.” – Unknown

“I don’t have to attend every argument I’m invited to.” – Unknown

Here are a few resources to look at what is behind the chronic complainers and ranters behavior.

The Survival Guide for Dealing With Chronic Complainers

“The constant negativity issuing forth from chronic complainers presents a huge challenge for those around them. Trying to remain positive, motivated and productive amid a constant stream of complaints and dissatisfaction can try anyone’s patience. Trying to be helpful will always backfire. Nothing makes chronic complainers happier, than being more miserable than their friends.” This post has three essential survival tips for dealing with chronic complainers.

Internet Trolls: The Psychology Between the Rants

Jerks of the Web

“Scammers, stalkers, online antagonists ready to pick a fight, folks who are just plain mean–what is it about the Web that turns people into jerks?”

It Takes A Village Idiot: The Jerks of Online Forums

While we can’t change other people’s behavior, we can choose how and if we react to such people. Sure, people love watching a train wreck, but make sure you protect your own social presence and maintain your course. I would put a rant in the fats and oils pyramid of your content chart: use sparingly unless you want to look like a numpty. (Hat tip to Jason Konopinski for the fab new word.) From Danny Brown, “Don’t sacrifice what made you great by attaching it to the mundane. Be great the way you aspired to be great.”

Don’t let those negative vibes throw off your day. Be strong!

What do you think about rants? Do you ignore them? Jump in the comments or just scratch your head?