Or, the golden PR (public relations) rule.
It is very simple.
Do not reply to something that doesn’t merit a reply. It is beneath you. It takes a lot of resolve, but do not get drawn into arguments about something that is basically ill-informed, skewed, inaccurate, insulting, ignorant, or whatever.
So there we have it. Don’t add flames to someone else’s fire 🙂
About roughseasinthemed
I write about my life as an English person living in Spain and Gibraltar, on Roughseas, subjects range from politics and current developments in Gib to book reviews, cooking and getting on with life.
My views and thoughts on a variety of topics - depending on my mood of the day - can be found over on Clouds. A few pix are over on Everypic - although it is not a photoblog.
And of course my dog had his own blog, but most of you knew that anyway. Pippadogblog etc
roughseasinthemed
Clouds moving in 
I’m headed to the ER now. You’ve broken all my toes stomping them. 😉
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Highly unlikely given the state of my legs/ankles/feet.
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I’m right there with you Ruth.
I do think we have to choose our “battles” wisely. I’ve been on posts that where “ill-informed, skewed, inaccurate, insulting, ignorant, or whatever”, but gained a good bit of knowledge by those counting those “ill-informed, skewed, inaccurate, insulting, ignorant, or whatever” posts.
There are some bloggers, however, I won’t waste my time with, but I appreciate the effort of those who take the time to educate. It might not make a difference to the author of the post, but it could with their readers.
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Victoria, you know you have taught me that we don’t just talk to commenters and followers on our blogs.
You also know that my battle fields are limited. I can’t argue Ezekiel 25 v Corinthians 10, because I just have no interest. You, and Ruth can do it so much better. You are far more up on it.
I can’t believe the comments on Nate’s about letters to Kathy. Just. Unbelievable. The only one that caught my interest had nothing to do with religion, and was when she said a broken window was evidence of a burglary. Nooooo! Fortunately Arch got in there before temptation called me.
There are issues worth writing about and replying to because we need to say that a certain viewpoint is not agreed to by all. Leaving it implies acceptance. But, choosing where to intervene is critical. Why give credence to no-one in particular by replying? Why respond to insults on your own blog? Sometimes, best to leave alone. Let it die.
Two different issues really. One is about not defending yourself/your organisation in a PR battle because it’s not a smart move to make. The second is, yes, we should speak out for our beliefs where it matters.
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There’s a lot of wisdom in this comment. First, I don’t consider myself on the same level as Ruth, Nate, or Arch, etc.. They know their chit. I read and studied the bible a lot. But I didn’t leave Christianity because there were bible contradictions, or the authors, or none of the authors knew Jesus, or what not. I left because the foundation of their belief system is unethical and anti-life on many levels. I don’t get that involved in Nate’s blog when he’s discussing Ezekiel 25 v Corinthians 10, for example, or the current discussion he’s got going on. It is irrelevant to me. That so many people are under its spell IS relevant to me because it affects so many people’s lives and hinders our evolution as a species.
“Why respond to insults on your own blog? Sometimes, best to leave alone. Let it die.”
I concur. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt at first because I know the stuff I present can ruffle feathers and take people out of their comfort zone. They might have an initial impulse reaction and regret their behavior. But when they keep repeating that behavior, then IMO, they are simply not worth my time.
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Wisdom no, just acceptance that some people know about Christianity and the indoctrination. I – luckily – don’t.
But as Mak said, we pick our battles. Me saying, ‘this is rubbish, it doesn’t make sense’ is hardly going to convince anyone, however true (to me) it is.
I’ll fight against religion a different way. That’s all I can do.
I’ve taken comments into moderation sometimes, and totally ignored every comment on a feminist post here on Clouds. I can really do without arrogant men telling me about feminism. And I can do without silly baiting. I enjoy intelligent and thoughtful discussion. Is that really so hard these days?
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“Do not reply to something that doesn’t merit a reply.”
Translation: Don’t feed the trolls. This I agree with.
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In fact it came well before the internet. It was a journalism thing. How do you respond to bad publicity? Reply directly? ie give credence to it, or let it die and then promote a good PR story later. Was asked how to deal with bad PR for a job interview. I got the job.
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“Reply directly? ie give credence to it, or let it die and then promote a good PR story later.”
Well said.
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It may surprise you, but I bite my fingers a lot on blogging for exactly that reason. Don’t get sucked in… It’s tempting, but in the end, there is satisfaction in seeing something die in the water. 🙂
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If you haven’t noticed, I was involved in the Kathy post for a very short while. But I knew that nothing I brought to the table was going to make a damn bit of difference with her. There are certain types of believers, just like Kathy, who’ve got something going on besides gullibility. I mean — this girl is into that Bill Keller and supports his extremism in the worst way. That’s scary. You simply can’t reason with those people.
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I didn’t, but there again I flitted in and out. I couldn’t work out why so many people spent so much time on her. Ego trip par excellence. Or, as, you would say to me, also writing for the benefit of the lurkers? Either way, not something I would have done.
Can you really reason with anyone who believes because they believe? But there again, you know my logic. That doesn’t make sense, ergo no exist.
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I envy people like you. I wasted a lot of my life over BS. But at least I’m making up for it now. 😀
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Don’t envy anyone, least of all me. I am far, far too blunt…
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I have always learnt to choose my battles wisely, it has worked so far.
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Absolutely. A good martial arts theory too.
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I can sometimes just for fun..
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Careful!
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It’s a terrible temptation to step on a trolls toes now and then just to let the arrogant bar-stewards know not everyone is in awe of their self perceived genius.
Hugs xxx
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Ignoring them usually annoys them more though 🙂
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I have three magic words I tell myself, both in and out of the blog world, before I leap. Let. It. Go.
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I tell myself it’s easier professionally because one is more detached, but actually, the professional often becomes personal too. But in terms of the truly personal, as you say whether blogging or otherwise, turning your back instead of shooting off, puts it into perspective. The next day, does it really matter? If it still does, reply with a cool head. Usually though, it no longer matters. I am sure there is some famous quotation that you will know better than me about not replying in the heat of anger, better to wait and cool off (you get the idea).
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Yep. Poking the ant bed is a bad habit
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Haha! Got a load of ant bites last year when I was on Snowy duty. No idea whether he took them to bed or I did. I’m guessing it was me. He’s too squeaky clean.
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Sounds like fun. I could always have a few beers afterwards and then piss on the fire to douse the flames. (Tip-top even!) 😀
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Well that’s one way of putting it!
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😀 I like to be poetic.
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Well, if that’s how you describe it, I’ll take your word for ‘poetic’
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😀
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You could simply repost this. Quite appropriate
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Ah, but who decides on the definition?
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WELL! I TAKE ISSUE WITH . . .
. . . on second thought, nevermind.
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