Dealing with Negativity When Sharing Ideas

Sharing ideas publicly is powerful. It invites dialogue, reflection, and sometimes even change. But it also opens the door to critique—and not all of it is constructive.

Whenever someone expresses an opinion in a space where others can witness it—be it a classroom, a conference, a blog, or social media—there will be reactions. Some people will agree, some will disagree, and that’s perfectly fine. In fact, it’s healthy. But what’s not fine is when critique becomes personal. When it stops being about the idea and starts being about the person behind it.

For me, this often happens when I talk about academic kindness.
It’s a concept I care deeply about. You can call it what you want, but for me, it means:
“Treat others the way you want to be treated.”
It’s about respect, about meeting colleagues—whether peers, students, or employees—on equal footing. It’s about creating a culture where people feel safe, valued, and heard.

I get genuinely excited when I receive positive feedback. When someone tells me how they interpret academic kindness, how they try to live it, or how it’s helped them rethink their own academic environment. These conversations energize me. They remind me why I speak up in the first place.

But not all feedback is kind.
Sometimes, especially online or under the cover of anonymity, people say things that are not just critical—they’re ugly. They’re personal. They’re meant to hurt. And even though I’ve come to expect it, it still hits hard.

I don’t know how others experience this, but for me, negativity tended to outweigh positivity. I could read ten encouraging comments and still feel crushed by one cruel one. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the support—I do, deeply—but the sting of a harsh comment lingers longer.

I’m open to discussion. I welcome disagreement. But I draw the line at disrespect.
Critique is not the same as cruelty.

By choosing to speak and write about academic kindness—how I live it, how I understand it—I’ve accepted that some people will be triggered by it. I’ve seen it happen. And I’ve learned that some reactions say more about the person commenting than about the idea itself.

So what do I do?

I try to focus on the positive.
Not everyone will be on this journey. And those who respond with rudeness or hostility may never change their minds. I listen, but I move on.

When I encounter negativity, I’ve found it helpful to pause.
I let the comment sit. I digest it. And then I ask myself:
Is there something true in this?
If yes, I learn from it. If not, I let it go.

This process helps me stay sane. It helps me continue sharing, even when it’s hard. Because I believe in the value of kindness. I believe in respectful dialogue. And I believe that even in the face of negativity, it’s worth speaking up.

💡 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

I’d love to hear how others deal with negativity when sharing ideas.
Do you have strategies? Do you feel the same imbalance between positive and negative feedback?

Let’s talk about it—with kindness.