Dealing with social media

[leatherback]

Dear All,

Many of us are on social media, and post about our trees and their progress. I am sure several of you have encountered idiotic remarks of people clearly not understanding what is going on. Recently I have noticed an uptick in very harsh, insulting, personal comments to the point I feel like just not posting anymore. "Moron with double ulcers" is one of them. "Die like you kill this tree" is another that comes to mind. The posters were blocked from my account, but I also realize people who just want to troll make a new account and continue.

I was wondering whether who has experience with this, and how you deal with this.

J.

 

[KateM]

Dear All,

Many of us are on social media, and post about our trees and their progress. I am sure several of you have encountered idiotic remarks of people clearly not understanding what is going on. Recently I have noticed an uptick in very harsh, insulting, personal comments to the point I feel like just not posting anymore. "Moron with double ulcers" is one of them. "Die like you kill this tree" is another that comes to mind. The posters were blocked from my account, but I also realize people who just want to troll make a new account and continue.

I was wondering whether who has experience with this, and how you deal with this.

J.

Very sorry to hear that you are experiencing this personally.
I find your posts on YouTube invaluable.
I am not sure if there is any full proof way of dealing with people like this.
As it been said before - people always find a way to disappoint you.
For what it's worth - we love you!

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

No experience but I've heard how to deal with it: you don't.
Don't read the comments and state that clearly in your videos or in the text below them.

It's a waste of energy to give it any attention. You can go ahead and moderate everything, which takes a long time and also.. as you said: they just make another account or use a vpn. There's no way of stopping trolls.

 

[Dav4]

I assume you're referring to posts on Youtube?? You've got to have thick skin to open yourself up to that kind of potential abuse. You obviously shouldn't take those derogatory posts personally, but I know that's easier said than done. I couldn't do it, so I only post trees here and very rarely on Facebook, usually when my tree is in a show. For me, at this point in my life, my personal bonsai related participation on social media is purely for fun and I don't want or need anything other than that out of it. The minute it isn't fun anymore, I'll stop.

 

[Hartinez]

Dear All,

Many of us are on social media, and post about our trees and their progress. I am sure several of you have encountered idiotic remarks of people clearly not understanding what is going on. Recently I have noticed an uptick in very harsh, insulting, personal comments to the point I feel like just not posting anymore. "Moron with double ulcers" is one of them. "Die like you kill this tree" is another that comes to mind. The posters were blocked from my account, but I also realize people who just want to troll make a new account and continue.

I was wondering whether who has experience with this, and how you deal with this.

J.

Best to delete as it comes and move on for sure. I used to always tell people that if they want to see the worst in humanity, read what’s written inside of portable toilets, and on YouTube comments.

On a second note. Congrats on your recent bonsai certification!

 

[BrightsideB]

I’ve heard people say not to even look at the comments specially when it comes to YouTube. Sometimes fans of a persons content will help moderate the comments. The negativity can be a downer for the creator. And waste of time when one is taking it seriously and the other is trying to waste their time and be negative. I’d suggest not to read the comments. Don’t let the trolls win.

 

[Underdog]

Turn off the comments. That's an option.

 

[HorseloverFat]

I experience attempts at online extortion and threats to myself constantly... (It's a vulgar side-effect of the life I used to live)..

If it is bothering you, I AGREE with what others have said.

Just don't read the comments, and state in the videos that you "had to do so"

...

The problem here, being that YouTubers who interact with their communities receive more accolades FOR it.

A conundrum, for sure.

 

[SWfloirda]

Ignore, block or delete. Sometimes I'll do all three.
Never respond.

 

[Clicio]

Don't let them bother you, Jelle; you are bigger than that bs.
Just don't read the comments.
I see many yt influencers turning off the comments, and still have great engagement.

 

[BrianBay9]

Social media has done more to damage modern society than any other invention. I suppose there are some positives but on balance it has seriously damaged our relationships with one another.

 

[trigo]

What im going to say may sound harsh but i don't see any other way...
You either man up and block / delete these trolling comments or just don't deal with it at all, blocking all comments on your youtube videos. Haters gonna be haters, there is nothing you can do, but why do you care about those said comments? random people of the internet, with nothing to back them up shouldn't trouble you at all. I myself would laugh at those comments , i mean what the hell do this mean? "Moron with double ulcers", maybe i lost something while translating it, but i think it's funny LOL.

Your videos are good Jelle and you should not seek approval from anyone, that being said... Those that are trying to learn bonsai, or at least, are not stupid enough to say that you are "murdering trees" like your videos.... Listen to the opinion of those that matters to you and let random trolls do their thing.

 

[Snorlax99]

I wouldn't let it bother me were I you. Your videos are great and the opinions of strangers are not important unless you make them so.

"Die like you kill this tree" sounds like a great t shirt slogan, lean into it or let it be like water off of a duck's back. You know who you are.

 

[August44]

I personally think social media is pure evil in many, many ways. It still saddens and bothers me how very mean and evil some people can be, and they love doing it. I never look at or post on TikTok, Snap Chat, Be Real or any other site like that, and think they should be banned because of what they can do to kids and some adults in some cases. I do watch Bonsai videos and my church services on U-Tube but never post anything. Sick, sick people out there!

I will back you 100% Leather and enjoy your comments, your opinions, and your videos.

 

[PeaceLoveBonsai]

Idiots like that never bothered me. It’s the oddly toxic bonsai community that forced me to stop creating content.

 

[TrevorLarsen]

I personally think social media is pure evil in many, many ways. It still saddens and bothers me how very mean and evil some people can be, and they love doing it. I never look at or post on TikTok, Snap Chat, Be Real or any other site like that, and think they should be banned because of what they can do to kids and some adults in some cases. I do watch Bonsai videos and my church services on U-Tube but never post anything. Sick, sick people out there!

I will back you 100% Leather and enjoy your comments, your opinions, and your videos.

I wouldn’t be so fast to call the people acting so poorly “evil” (which is a garbage concept based on religious nonsense, but I won’t get into that) I think it is more the disconnect that people have between reality and the internet. I am confident most of (if not all) of these people would never say that to Jelle’s face. I don’t think it’s primarily because they think he would beat their ass (though he does look muscular as hell) it is because they don’t have to look at his face and realize they are hurting a real person with real feeling over little to nothing. That’s just my thoughts.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Dear All,

Many of us are on social media, and post about our trees and their progress. I am sure several of you have encountered idiotic remarks of people clearly not understanding what is going on. Recently I have noticed an uptick in very harsh, insulting, personal comments to the point I feel like just not posting anymore. "Moron with double ulcers" is one of them. "Die like you kill this tree" is another that comes to mind. The posters were blocked from my account, but I also realize people who just want to troll make a new account and continue.

I was wondering whether who has experience with this, and how you deal with this.

J.

Wow...no, I can't say to the same sense you are seeing.

I've had more being inappropriate because they learn I'm a female who..."actually knows how too do bonsai." Their words ... Some I block outright as...one...tried calling me in messenger for ... phone sex. ... then threatened me. He was going to hunt me down. Thing was...he was a "friend"... until I added my face to my profile image. For years.. I only had trees as my profile on Facebook. So...turn around fare play. I stalked him. Reached out to ones I knew he had threw their names out when we did talk. I learned...a lot. I also gained some amazing friends...But I also learned where he stood in his profile image...and asked what importance it had in his life if any. ... it's...why I now have my Instagram account. He blocked me on Facebook...so I chased him to Instagram. He pretty much thinks I'm freaking crazy...to have stalked him. But...don't threaten me and expect me to hide in a corner scared...until you decide to say BOO! I'm way to stubborn for that crap.

One said....I was a rare colorful bird...a golden pheasant who did bonsai.

 

[BobbyLane]

Would just block, delete or report as spam/abusive behaviour. Keep creating, you must be doing great if you have haters.

 

[Cruiser]

I wouldn't let it bother me were I you. Your videos are great and the opinions of strangers are not important unless you make them so.

"Die like you kill this tree" sounds like a great t shirt slogan, lean into it or let it be like water off of a duck's back. You know who you are.

 

[lucany]

Dear All,

Many of us are on social media, and post about our trees and their progress. I am sure several of you have encountered idiotic remarks of people clearly not understanding what is going on. Recently I have noticed an uptick in very harsh, insulting, personal comments to the point I feel like just not posting anymore. "Moron with double ulcers" is one of them. "Die like you kill this tree" is another that comes to mind. The posters were blocked from my account, but I also realize people who just want to troll make a new account and continue.

I was wondering whether who has experience with this, and how you deal with this.

J.

don't pay attention to them....what's your youtube channel I would like to follow it