Sci-Fi, fantasy and speculative Indie Authors Review discussion

Now I am wide open for ideas, advice and wisdom. To get to it everyone. Keeping net trolls off your books website or off your author platform? This something I will not tolerate or put up with. After my first book is on the marker and my website up and running. I do not have have the time for nanny net watching. I am guessing some of you have a website for your book(s), hell you might have forums too. How do you handle negative folk?
Personally this is one of the main reasons I discussed with my partner, no fakebook and no loser twitter page for the book, just the website and good reads author platform.

i have no forum for the site and hired a content manager for the fb. but mainly posting from tsu now. revenue has gone up from marketing there.
i dont have reliable inets or decent phones so monitoring trolls i aint got time for that. thats the only advice i have...

As I understand it there is no good substitute for moderating your the comments on your own site or having someone reliable do it for you. I think you can only block people once they've proved to be a nuisance as it has to be specific. I could be wrong though. Anyone else know of any software that automatically filters?

As an internet troll all I can say is ignore them the best you can and they will go away. If you fan the flames it is just going to get worse and attract more trolls.

Hide or remove the posts if you can. I'm of the opposite mind, I would just let them run wild. No such thing as bad publicity.

im the dont give a flying and fix a drink type. most folks are dumb as bricks out there. put them behind a "social network" of any kind and the dickishness reaches power level 9000. you will be fighting an uphill battle. that and bots posting comment ads.

My website allows comments in response to my blogs, but I have to approve them before they post. So far I've received only one comment, and it was harmless.

The easiest way is simply to not invite controversy, but we all know that isn't always going to work nor is it always feasable. On my blog, I get notifications of every comment. You can set parameters for comments through most blogging engines. For example, you can close comments on a single post if you feel it might be a trigger or you can set comments to be approved by you before posting.
For social media, just don't engage and if someone is being abusive, block and report.

You could only turn comments on when you can moderate, if you want to moderate, upto a certain time per post. Or you don't have to have comments at all. Sometimes it isn't appropriate, like when you're just supplying information.

K.P. wrote: "i have no forum for the site and hired a content manager for the fb. but mainly posting from tsu now. revenue has gone up from marketing there.
i dont have reliable inets or decent phones so monit..."

That's why I am not getting a fakebook page or a loser twitter page. Not wasting money on a person to monitor it. Since I will be independent writer, cover, designer, web page designer-soon learning how to do video filming. For my book of course, I am like you will not have the time for stuff like that..Thanks for the wisdom.

J.A. wrote: "As I understand it there is no good substitute for moderating your the comments on your own site or having someone reliable do it for you. I think you can only block people once they've proved to b..."

That will take time/ time actually reading comments. Hypothetically if you spot someone being a troll in a comment, perhaps deleting the comment and that person immediately will suffice?

Be thankful you have anyone visiting your pages! I agree with Charles, unless the person trolling is swaying other customers, let them do their blah blah. More than likely, somebody like that is going to be opposed by somebody else eventually, the two will lock horns, and then you have controversy over your book, which may be better than rave reviews.

Charles wrote: "As an internet troll all I can say is ignore them the best you can and they will go away. If you fan the flames it is just going to get worse and attract more trolls.

Hide or remove the posts if ..."

Part true my friend and also wrong. I look at myself as an example. If a troll of any kind is on a authors web page, ten out ten I will not go back on it and warn people stay clear of that page.
No offense I prefer no trolls period. I don't want that near my books website. Bad publicity troll wise will attract more trolls. After this is the world wide web and majority of people hate being on it-read a lot research on the attitude towards the net itself is negative, can't say I am not surprised.

That's why I thought long and hard on the website for my book. No forum, no blog the only blogging I will do it will be on the author platform. Keep the website safe for people who want to know more about the book.

Anne wrote: "You could only turn comments on when you can moderate, if you want to moderate, upto a certain time per post. Or you don't have to have comments at all. Sometimes it isn't appropriate, like when yo..."

Rolling the dice?
True but that's something I am staying away from. I don't want open that door, I will wasting time on that instead of writing, researching and outlining.

Ken wrote: "My website allows comments in response to my blogs, but I have to approve them before they post. So far I've received only one comment, and it was harmless."

details, tell me more about your website. Such as website provider, how you set it up and one question for you.

Did you warn people that you will not 'tolerate' bad behavior? Just want to see if you laid it down solid like that.

Charles wrote: "As an internet troll all I can say is ignore them the best you can and they will go away. If you fan the flames it is just going to get worse and attract more trolls.

Hide or remove the posts if ..."

FYI: You're far from a troll my friend. You're a brain picker like me.

Christina wrote: "The easiest way is simply to not invite controversy, but we all know that isn't always going to work nor is it always feasable. On my blog, I get notifications of every comment. You can set paramet..."

From social media experience, speaking. That blocking and reporting does not work. People are so 'sick' they'll make a completely different page, get back on your page and continue acting like feral democrat. Also that blocking and reporting, there all smack on the wrist, blocked for a couple of months and boom right back in population.

My work is controversial. I would not be a writer if I did not want to inform as well give the reader something different than cookie cutter horror. Now you see why I am taking all the advice you guys throw my way.
I would rather discuss controversial stuff in my work face to face or on the author platform on good reads. I am pretty damn sure all of you will post some serious questions and so forth. And that's what I like to see and read.

Imowen wrote: "details, tell me more about your website. Such as website provider, how you set it up and one question for you.
Did you warn people that you will not 'tolerate' bad behavior? Just want to see if you laid it down solid like that..."

My website is through weebly.com, and you can go there and see how mine is laid out. http://kendoggett.weebly.com/
It gives you a lot of options, including a blog that you can set up any way you want. I don't post any warnings because they're unnecessary. When people post they can see that the comment will have to be approved before it posts. Unless you go for certain options, the website is free, and a good place to start if it's your first.

Well...if your work is controversial, then you have to expect some controversy. I mean if it doesn't generate some discomfort and criticism, or even outrage, then is it really so controversial?

Second, you're really only likely to be plagued by massive trolling if:
1) You blog/tweet/post on other social networks comments that are highly opinionated about politics, religion, or other hot point topics;
2) You feed the trolls, which just gives them what they want (attention). Or...
2) Your work get famous enough to draw the attention of trolls.

So if your work is controversial, and you resist the temptation to use your social media/blogs as a soap box for your opinions on button pushing topics, and your work is not really well known or popular...you may still attract a troll or two, but if you ignore them they will go away.

If you DO blog or post about button pushing topics, then what do you expect? People who think they're protected by anonymity will get ugly about it. That's what happens. If you don't like or can't handle that kind of thing, then it's best to avoid those kinds of posts.

Once your work gets some kind of notariety, though, I'm afraid the trolling won't really stop even if you ban/ignore them. At that point you have to either learn to accept it's going to happen, drop off social media altogether, shut down comment sections...Or hire someone to moderate your sites.

There's no way to actually stop the problem. You can only mitigate your own reaction to it, and/or take precautions to not provoke it.

I will reiterate that the best way to keep trolls away is to not invite them in the first place. Acting as if everyone with a difference of opinion is a troll is going to raise hackles and get fingers flying.

Trolls do what they do and say what they say because they literally have nothing better to do. I assume it's because they have to wait a long time for a goat to cross over their bridge. (See what I did there?)

To paraphrase something I saw in a delightful YouTube video, you can write a blog post that literally says "the sky is blue" and someone somewhere will pop up and say "you #$%&ing bitch." (I don't normally censor myself, but since I'm a newbie in this group, I don't want to alienate colleagues with my use of F-bombs.)

A friend of mine told me about an author he likes that uses negative reviews and trolling to his advantage. They have their own page on his website. He doesn't respond to the trolling or the bad reviews, but allows them to have their own sounding board. http://www.rifters.com/real/blurbs.htm

Screencap and report it to your local law enforcement if it's scary or threatening; ignore it if it's just mean-spirited or annoying. Nothing you can say is going to change these people's minds about you or your work, so you might as well deny them the dignity of a response.

I'm on Wordpress, typically don't post anything controversial (I think the closest I came was my post about how I see social order), and am active with something going up almost every day.

So far, I haven't hit any flamers, but I sure have hit the spambot's radars. Between 1 and 25 spam comments a day get shunted to the trashpile. I skim through them every once in a while to make sure a legitimate comment hasn't been misdirected, and out of the almost 2k posts, I think the total that I've actually approved comes to 3.

All of the comments go through moderation right now, which I do for my own sanity. It helps me ensure I respond to each one personally. Like I said, I haven't hit any flaming trolls. If it gets to a point where I'm spending longer responding to comments than I am writing posts, I may rethink my approach. Somehow, I don't think I need to worry about that this year, though.

Well, here is one idea which is potentially a marketing tool (!) and controls the pool of commenters but it does depend on people being more than casually motivated by your work, for better and for worse: make comments opt-in and subject to inclusion on a mailing list. Kind of like a members-only club. That way, you know who everyone is and you can delete offenders easily. Err... does anyone know how to do this?

Another possible option: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErtlW...

Micah wrote: "Well...if your work is controversial, then you have to expect some controversy. I mean if it doesn't generate some discomfort and criticism, or even outrage, then is it really so controversial?

Se..."
Now that's was a 8 course meal of thought. Thanks for the needed wisdom. Yeah my work will push a few buttons. However, I would not be a writer if I did not add controversial issues in my work. Don't get me wrong I have kicked this topic before I even started writing.
I see trolls like useless flies. You eat a sandwhich outside, flies fly around them and you shoo them away or go inside-to finish you lunch. From experience in dealing with net trolls when I was in school- I just typed in fact after fact after fact, that generally pissed them off to the point they stopped messing with me.
But as for writing-I take this as the minor bad I will have to deal with some poorly uneducated sperm cell that made it waster of creation-back talk.
Taking in what you replied. I will only answer people who disagree with the character and not likes, only if its addressed with some degree of intelligence. Then let's have a discussion- I am always game for that.
Thanks for the wisdom.

Anne wrote: "Well, here is one idea which is potentially a marketing tool (!) and controls the pool of commenters but it does depend on people being more than casually motivated by your work, for better and for..."

I think wordpress has what you're talking about. Thanks for the reply.

K. wrote: "I'm on Wordpress, typically don't post anything controversial (I think the closest I came was my post about how I see social order), and am active with something going up almost every day.

So fa..."
This is another topic all together-Net bullying. I guess this is the final stage when a troll hulks into net bullying. From the good wisdom you and Micah have shared. Perhaps I should do a video of zero tolerance towards net trolling. How I will not put up with it. Will tolerate trolls making others uncomfortable who agree me ect. If you can't pick your game up and comment with some intelligence then don't bother commenting go to fakebook and whaa-bulance there.

I have seen this done on you tube channels. And get this it works when the host of the channel puts there foot down. Like Micah said, you still get trolls. But I wager putting my foot down for zero tolerance. It will limit it not completely stop it.

K.B. wrote: "Trolls do what they do and say what they say because they literally have nothing better to do. I assume it's because they have to wait a long time for a goat to cross over their bridge. (See what I..."

Thanks for the reply.
If it gets life threatning, screw the cop. I know someone in the FBI that lives to torment people like that.
I will ignore them. But you gave me an idea to use the negative feed back as a tool to help with my sales. As a good person I will happily post their user names and email addresses for people to see lol..Don't get mad get even-but have a blast doing it lol.

Christina wrote: "I will reiterate that the best way to keep trolls away is to not invite them in the first place. Acting as if everyone with a difference of opinion is a troll is going to raise hackles and get fing..."

Well Christina
How about if I lay a quick ground rule of zero tolerance. For example, if you dislike me or my work just be intelligent about it, uncomfortable tell me about with some intelligence. If you troll, bully people who like my work-I will delete you ect. How about that? I think it will slow it down but not completely stop an asshat from trolling to test my gansta credit card.

Micah wrote: "Another possible option: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErtlW..."

LMAO, I'll let you be the guy that orders the kill.

Ken wrote: "Imowen wrote: "details, tell me more about your website. Such as website provider, how you set it up and one question for you.
Did you warn people that you will not 'tolerate' bad behavior? Just wa..."

Wow I wish I knew about this sooner. It's not too late. For the readers sake. I believe I will roll with Good reads for blogging, if I have something to say. But I will save the link and pitch it to my friends.

K.P. wrote: "im the dont give a flying and fix a drink type. most folks are dumb as bricks out there. put them behind a "social network" of any kind and the dickishness reaches power level 9000. you will be fig..."

Have no intention on getting into a piss contest my friend. You're right due to he dummying down of net, that produces idoit trolls. This is the main reason I will not have a fakebook page or twitter page. Good reads will be the only social net working I will do. Because its for writers and readers made by writers and readers, so I believe in get in where you fit in.
Thanks for the reply.

Trolls can also drive a lot of traffic to your site/blog. If I had a blog the first thing I'd want is an army of trolls to show up and generate some attention.

You have to have thick skin before you put yourself out there anyway, because people are going to say stuff you don't want to hear. Or read, as it were.

If you put yourself in a bubble where you only hear the good things, and have a bunch of yes men around you, you'll start drinking your own kool aid, and you'll stop getting better. You'll actually start getting worse.

Happens to artists and writers all the time when they stop working and start believing their own hype.

Imowen wrote: " I believe I will roll with Good reads for blogging, if I have something to say..."

You can link your website blog to the Goodreads blog, and whatever you write on your website blog will appear on Goodreads a day or so later. Then, if you've linked it to Amazon, it'll appear there as well.

Imowen wrote: "Micah wrote: "Another possible option: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErtlW..."

LMAO, I'll let you be the guy that orders the kill."

Only if you supply the microphone.

no probs. i used to harass trolls but it got mentally draining. i hope whatever means you set out to do does well. cool you find a place to fit in tho...
cheers

Micah wrote: "Imowen wrote: "Micah wrote: "Another possible option: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErtlW..."

LMAO, I'll let you be the guy that orders the kill."

Only if you supply the microphone."

Deal!

K.P. wrote: "no probs. i used to harass trolls but it got mentally draining. i hope whatever means you set out to do does well. cool you find a place to fit in tho...
cheers"

Make a deal with you and everyone on the group. If my plan/ idea works I will post 'A how to' in the group. Thing is which file should it go under??? I am thinking marketing, since it does have a lot to do with marketing.

Ken wrote: "Imowen wrote: " I believe I will roll with Good reads for blogging, if I have something to say..."

You can link your website blog to the Goodreads blog, and whatever you write on your website blog..."

I am just going to link my blog to good reads and that's it. Don't want it on Amazon.

Imowen wrote: "Ken wrote: "Imowen wrote: " I believe I will roll with Good reads for blogging, if I have something to say..."

You can link your website blog to the Goodreads blog, and whatever you write on your ..."

I sometimes use the link to complain about Amazon---on Amazon...

Charles wrote: "Trolls can also drive a lot of traffic to your site/blog. If I had a blog the first thing I'd want is an army of trolls to show up and generate some attention.

You have to have thick skin before..."

Don't misunderstand me my friend. I am not putting myself in a bubble. I am taking other people into 'great' consideration.

People who want the facts about my work and here my voice I want to provide that. The last thing some one want to see is a bunch jive time trolls. Some people might be completely turned off by it. Which may translate to the loss of a potential buyer and fan of my work. I turned away many authors websites that had troll crap on it.

When it comes to thick skin, I am phantom meaning throw all you want at me and it will go right through me. When I come at you, I will always land a hard hit.

I've been hearing negative publicity is the boost for sales I get that. Trolls are every where, you made that perfectly clear.
I don't want yes men at all. If people or person disagrees with my work and hate the character, by all means tell me. But do it with some brains, I am game for a deep discussion and I am always open to learn something. For example I got into a heated discussion about one of my characters in my short story that's Supernatural supremacist/ Racist towards the human race. The person disagreed with me/ made some very clever comments to me ( face to face confrontation) It was the most engaging wonderful conversation I have had in weeks.
I don't mind disagreements ect. But I just don't like an ass hat pissing people off on my blogs and other projects. As I said before looking out for other people, besides myself...Hypothetically show that you care about strangers visiting your website, it will attract more people. And my bait is this disagree with me do so with some common sense and that my friend will speak volumes, a bandwidth cannot cover.
Thanks for the advice.