Should you respond publicly to criticism?

My answer is generally no, except perhaps within the forum where the criticism is produced.

So if someone on one of the blogs I run calls me names in the commentary section then I tend to respond, although always in a modest way.

But what I would not do is respond to a problem outside of the medium in which the problem arises.

I thought of this because I saw one guy recently make public the fact that someone had been complaining about his emails on Facebook.

Personally, I’d just respond on Facebook, or leave the whole thing alone.  What is the benefit, I wonder, of drawing attention to the problem?

In his response this writer tried to use a form of sarcasm, which for me didn’t really help.  Sarcasm is a difficult form of humour to get right, and I tend to leave it alone.  Irony – yes I do use that a lot, but mostly in a self-deprecating form – not against someone else.

We all know there are a lot of strange people on Facebook as on all parts of the internet, and they post many strange things.  But lowering oneself to respond can backfire.  By and large I wouldn’t – unless as I say it is within a blog in which people are free to make their comments.

Tony Attwood

PS: On the other hand I never mind being critical of other people’s advertising.  If you want to see some, take a look at www.badad.co.uk

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