The only place I could find a mention was on Wikipedia here – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_%26_Paul (search for back down).

Don’t know why but this post put me in mind of him.

R!

Well written post

I’ve been guilty of being aggressive and engaging in flame wars (several years ago I was an angrier person and a lot more negative than what I am now). But over the last couple of years I’ve done more to become more positive and less aggressive, and consequently I’ve stayed out of flame wars etc most of the time.

It’s important that people realise that others are entitled to their opinion. They are also entitled to voice their opinion online without being ripped to pieces for it. It’s also important that folks realise that opinions shouldn’t be taken personally. It’s the facts that should be taken more seriously. Two excellent books on the subject of ego, opinions and negativity, and how they can be dealt with: A Voice of Knowledge (Miguel Ruiz) and The Power of Now (Eckhart Tolle).

So, remember the disagreement we had on Twitter where you blocked me? :p

Looking forward to seeing your new design.

Venomous comments can start a lively discussion and bring traffic, and I guess many of us enjoy razor-like wit at a distance, but you’ve got to wonder how potential clients respond to it. I figure they imagine what it would be like to work with a hot-headed designer and go elsewhere.

I like to think I can be quite restrained but I am guilty of being baited into arguments online on occasion. I don’t particularly like doing it but it all depands on how strongly I feel about the post in question.

I’ve been a member/moderator on a few web design forums for years now and have settled into the role of Simon Cowell when it comes to critiquing members’ sites. This is a stance that most members appreciate. I’m direct and I don’t sugar-coat things and I think that is beneficial. You do get the odd member, however who thinks I’m personally insulting them and proceeds to start a flame-war with me.. or at least attempts to. To them I simply say “That’s my advice, take it or leave it.” and post no further comments.

Negativity lies, largely in the eye of the beholder, though. Look at the recent spat between Sam Brown and Ryan Carson. Sam spotted a UX and accessibility flaw with the new 37 signals site and blogged it, along with a solution in a light-hearted, funny way. Ryan Carson, upon seeing this proceeded to go on the war-path on thinkvitamin.com calling the comments “smug” and “elitist” – an over-reaction to say the least.

Goes to show, you can’t please everyone.

Just kidding! …It was a good article. And a good reminder for someone like me: fast-fingered, a sense of humor dripping with sarcasm and a venomous tongue. I believe I could start a flame war on the hour, every hour, if needed. Now if only I could come up with a design to use it for good and bring some extra cheddar in the family door?

Hmmmmmmmmm….

Note on usability on your comments. I can not see the order of the comments. Since now they all have the same date. So which is first (or last)? So for usability i would suggest a number or the time.

cheers,
joe

My tip is whether your writing an email to a problem client, posting on a forum and the most dangerous of all tweeting on Twitter, is to write what you want to send, then before sending it ‘out there’ take a breather! – go make a coffee, walk the dog, feed the fish, than come back and review what you have written with a cool head.
That way you can save yourself a whole lot of trouble!

On a funnier side this is an amusing take of how quickly ‘Flame Wars’ start from Collage Humour: http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1907543

JUst kidding, nice article, agree with everything you said, I think we have all made mistakes with negative articles/comments but as long as we can learn from them and move on it’s all good.

Nice article John.

Great article! Very true. Your example really hit home as well.