Why I Don’t Give a Fu*k About People Who Criticize Me Online – And You Shouldn’t Either

Leave this one magic comment to expose the real intentions of a critic.

Photo by Patrick Jansen on Unsplash

If you post anything on social media, you’ll meet a critic.

I’ve been doing it for 7 years. 99% of the feedback I get is positive and tells me to keep going. Then there are the harsh critics that troll you.

Let me explain why you shouldn’t give a f*ck about them.

Critics cry for attention

The biggest problem with the internet is it causes us – consciously or subconsciously – to crave attention. Social media apps like Quora pay everyday people to gain attention.

So what happens?

Critics and wannabes place a name of someone who has achieved something in life – like Tony Robbins – in the headline of a post to get massive attention. They convert this attention to US dollars. Most of the audience is unaware. The audience think the content is designed to be helpful or to speak up about an important issue.

They get fooled.

Critics spit on the names of influential people in the hope they can secretly become that influential. Thankfully I’m a nobody so this problem doesn’t cause me too many issues. But it’s worth looking out for.

I encourage you to leave a comment on these posts that says “how much money do you earn by dissing that person?”

I’m doing the best I freaking can

I’ve been in lockdown here in Australia for most of the last 18 months. I can exercise for 2 hours per day. I can’t go beyond 5KMs from my home. Only essential businesses can operate. Many of my friends have lost their jobs or had their businesses wiped out.

The economic devastation from the pandemic is still to come.

Meanwhile the health crisis continues. Both my fiancé’s remaining grandparents died while the international borders have been shut. She never got to say goodbye. My wedding has been canceled. It’s about to be canceled again for the date we rebooked and the date after that.

In the last few weeks I have developed tinnitus which is a high-pitched noise in my ear that feels like the definition of insanity. It’s like suddenly learning you have a disability. You go into panic mode. You question your life. You’re emotional. You find yourself randomly crying when you can’t properly listen to your favorite music anymore.

In the context of all of that I’m doing the best I can. Don’t feel sorry for me. Many people around the world share similar challenges.

It’s likely with this backdrop that I’ll make a mistake or say/write something I don’t mean. Can you blame me? Can I blame you? No.

Empathy is the answer.

Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.
―Brad Meltzer

People who know me, know the truth

I had one dude on LinkedIn cause me a lot of trouble a few years back. He got a group of angry white males in their 40s and 50s to make stuff up.

If I said I went on holiday, they’d say “no you didn’t.” If I said I got a promotion and updated my LinkedIn profile, they’d say “I spoke to your boss and he said you’re a terrible employee.”

Eventually LinkedIn banned all of them and erased their career history and online resume. I didn’t even contact LinkedIn about it.

Throughout the whole ordeal, normal people stood up for the truth. Anyone who has sent me a message knows I’m not some evil guy trying to start wars. I like to help people, simple.

Your everyday interactions with people eventually reveal the truth. The lies a critic spreads to gain attention are exposed. You don’t need to lift a finger.

Just concentrate on being good and fair to everybody you meet.

Most critics are doing nothing themselves

That’s the sad truth. The critics slam anybody trying to make progress or push the conversation forward. They’re obsessed with the words agree versus disagree.

I don’t care.

I only want to make you think. I definitely do not want you to agree with me on every little detail. Sometimes I will be right. Sometimes I will be wrong. Sometimes you will be left undecided. This is good.

Deep thought is how we join the dots of everything we consume in our lives. Deep thought is what generates revelations.

It’s better to take action than be lazy and criticize someone who is.

Pay no attention to what the critics say. A statue has never been erected in honor of a critic
― Jean Sibelius

Final Thought

Be yourself. Ignore the critics and the trolls who seek to rob you of joy so that they may get attention for themselves. The attention you give a critic is how they make money. Force them to make money the honest way.

Most of all, try to imagine what a critic must be going through. It can’t be fun. They’re probably in a lot of pain. I too used to be a professional critic. It’s a nightmare life I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

The world needs more doers and less critics.

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