Answer 1: Ugly Comments

Question:

You mentioned Adam - Kayleighs dad - in a previous post. Around Christmas, Kayleighs family received threats and ugly comments from some very cruel people. Because you are also a somewhat public family I wondered if this has happened to you?

Answer by Brent

Yes, frequently. You just have to accept this as part of what happens if you have any size readership at all. People are people, and there are always those who are very "brave" with a keyboard, especially that dude named "anonymous".

We've had lots of ugly comments, and I've been called just about everything ugly you can be called especially "unChristian" since that is my most public claim. I've been "not Christian" for showing the screaming cat video, for answering a question from the Bible that disagreed with a religious group's tradition and basically for having any sort of politically incorrect opinion. I'm judgmental, self righteous, extreme, hate-filled, mean spirited... [fill in the blank with your choice of common name calling].

If I try to sell a book or make any money from my blogging or writing, I'm a "money changer" who is "turning God's temple into a market". Then if I write an answer about being called names, I'm a whiner.

As for criticism, I LIKE sincere and respectful criticism. I always honestly consider what is said, and am thankful when I recognize something valid from it that needs to be changed. After years of writing publicly, I ignore the baseless, uninformed or childish criticism but truly appreciate the mature, reasonable criticism presented with loving concern.

My theory is this: I may be fat and dress bad, but I can lose weight and get new clothes. You can't change how you look you poo-pooey, smelly, cootie-covered dingle snotty head. And while I would never resort to calling someone else names, it's just a reality you have to live with as public blogger or writer... stinky face.