How To Handle Negative Comments on Food Blogging Posts

Hi Manda,

I wanted to let you know I've referenced your article in a post I'm about to publish. If this isn't appropriate please let me know. Thanks!

I too am not a food blogger and I am an avid cook, so completely relate to your post. I want to applaud your sincerity and highlight how important taking responsibility for not only your comments, but also your overall actions, as you've done.

As a leadership specialist one of the things I would teach clients is to "politely suggest", rather than "sandwich with grace". To use your example, I might leave a comment to your Grandma saying "I tried the recipe and didn't get the beautiful fudge you make. The texture and consistency were grainy. Have you had the happen before? What do you suggest?"

This allows the person to respond to the problem rather than the criticism itself. As women we "sandwich" feedback and it is confusing and most people walk away feeling the same emotion you did when you delivered the news. Sincerity and clarity go a long way!

If I see an error on a blog post (and that's really rare), I'll always contact the blogger by email to point it out. If I try a recipe and I don't like it, I just won't comment. If it's a keeper, I'm eager to let them know about that.

It's all about being sensible AND sensitive, I think.

"If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere"

Lake Mary Musings ( http://www.lakemarymusings.com )

I think commenting on blogs is similar to eating in a restaurant.

Many people will really be harsh when something is off with their food, but how many actually take the time to give praise when it's good?

I'd love to add to this article that if you DO make something off a food blog and its' good -take the time to leave the author a comment saying you love it. It's how us food bloggers know that what we're doing is actually being enjoyed :)

Great article Manda!

Cooking with Love,

~Katie

Interesting. I haven't gotten that sort of reaction to a blog post errr ever and I have been blogging since the dawn of time. (Ok, not that long, but in online community for 15 years, blogging for 6? 7? years.

Message board post yes, blog post, no.

Wait, some people were not real impressed with my post about my mommy and me trips with my kids but no name calling I don't think...just a misconception that we are fabulously wealthy and those trips were a piece a cake.

Now, everyone pounds to my blog to make mean comments--uh oh.

Retro-Food.com

I've never left a negative comment, and never even considered it. Though I've certainly seen many posts in the world that I've thought negatively of, I don't because I know that any critique of something someone is clearly proud of will hurt the blogger's feelings. (Yeah, it's that simple for me.)

I'm fortunate that of the thousands of comments I've received on my blog over the last couple years, I can count the number of negative comments on one hand. Most people are so unbelievably kind that they far outweigh any bad experience. Yet I remember each negative comment so much more clearly. Even with thick skin--in the publishing world, once you collect a folder of rejection letters, not much stings-- negative comments will always hit personally.

Though I don't leave comments, unsolicited advice (as the mom of a 3 year old, I get this every day and have no interest in it) or criticism, I'm not necessarily adverse to others with differing personalities that do motivate them to offer critique, advice, commentary, whatever, as long as it's at least intended to be productive and open dialogue (even if it isn't and doesn't). Nasty, rude comments, especially by those "Anonymous" just make no sense to me. They are angry people who must have terrible problems in their own lives.

The two times I've had negative comments I did not delete them. I replied, thoughtfully, carefully and diplomatically in order to offer my side and to demonstrate my sanity (even if this is a misrepresentation) and the commenter's insanity. Well, OK, I admit, actually in one I was a little snide, but I at least tried to appear sane and diplomatic.

If you have been blogging about recipes it really isn't a question of not having received a bad remark about a recipe, but it is simply a question it will happen. If you are out there long enough, you will get a few bad comments. Unless you call me names, I will take a second look at a recipe.

I will check and see if my ingredients seemed non-descriptive, I check and see if my wording was odd. Since I test my recipes before posting, I generally weed out things that don't work. If someone doesn't like a recipe because they don't like the way it tasted, that's ok. There is no arguing with someone's tastebuds.

My takeaway on bad comments is to determine if the recipe was my error, or to see if someone didn't like the combination of ingredients that I put together.

But you call me names, your comment won't make the light of day. From my experience the comment when they use lots of choice words and name calling is that they don't even bother to give a correct email address.

So take a moment and see if your recipe was unclear, or may have caused a new cook some trouble if not, I personally think you are ok, and it's time to move onto the next recipe.

At least I think you do. I know why *I* do. On the Food Network, etc they are professionals that make things in professional kitchens and let's be honest, we've all been burned by them in the past. Sure, things look easy when they do them but who is going to make them in their home kitchen and actually make it work. So the comments on those posts give me an idea if it's really doable.

But I don't feel that way about food bloggers. They are real people and often aren't professional chefs or bakers and if they can do it, it feels attainable to me. Their kitchens aren't going to be so very different than mine in essentials. I trust that if they can do it I can do it.

Contributing Editor Karen Ballum also blogs at Sassymonkey ( http://sassymonkey.ca ) and Sassymonkey Reads ( http://sassymonkeyreads.ca ).

I rarely get them from my readers and if I do it is usually because I goofed something when typing up a recipe.

OR if the recipe is truly revolting--but you know what? That is part of the fun of a retro food blog. Some recipes JUST are REVOLTING.

Other recipes might just be something that makes someone gag for one reason or another. I think that applies to all food blogs.

I can say soup, stew, or beef stroganoff and make my partner gag.

My family will openly criticize all nature of recipes.

I think of my readers as family, so expect that sort of criticism there as well.

Retro-Food.com

I have seen a lot of recipes with personal taste comments left, like my favorite super-chocolate torte that many people said was too dense, not at all cake like and far too rich. But that's the nature of a torte!

I look at others' comments when they are helpful and constructive like "I found a bit/less more flour helpful for my climate" or "I personally prefer to substitute this ingredient and it still bakes well." Things like "This tastes terrible," are insensitive and a bit unique to food blogs, nobody shows up at a craft blog and says "that's ugly."

I would outright delete any commentary that is just thoughtless but continue to respond respectfully (I like your rules) to constructive criticism.

www.SaraInAkko.blogspot.com ( http://www.SaraInAkko.blogspot.com )

Life in the Middle East, with craft and spice

Dont worry, its just because a lot of people have things going on elsewhere in their lives that are bringing them down. Its a lot easier to express hurt to someone you have never, and probably will never meet. Keep your chin up and let the negativity roll right off of you!

I don't get very many comments on my food blog, and of those I do get only a couple have been negative. I just chalk it up to the fact that some people have no tact, and it's not worth my energy to get worked up about. Sometimes I respond and sometimes I don't, it depends on the recipe and the comment, but I'm always diplomatic (even if I don't want to be).

I'm writing a cookbook, and I can remember the first recipe-tester form I got back that had negative comments. At first I was crushed, but then I realized not everyone is going to like my recipes. Then (later) I realized that was OK :)

Tiffiny blogs at The Bake-Off Flunkie ( http://bakeoff-flunkie.blogspot.com ).

I think it depends on where you are commenting... I know for example Martha Stewart has recipes I have tried many times and somehow the way she wrote it or it was written for her editor to put online it never came out right and was horrible, no getting around it. Seeing that many OTHER people had the same issue was a relief for me! Also sometimes people might add that they added or took away something that fixed an issue with it or made it better/easier.
I did once post a fabulous recipe for a Tiramisu cake that did not involve raw eggs and got a sour comment from a bitter non-American complaining about how finicky American's are over raw eggs and how they are fine to eat. It, of course, had nothing to do with the actual greatness of the recipe rather than a particular opinion he had over Americans in general.
But also, on the same hand- in blogging something open to the general public we must accept that critisism is going to be a part at some time or another, even unwanted and learn how to graciously either deal with it or not open ourselves up to it with sensitive recipes. Blatently rude people usually flame themselves with their stupidity.

-Jyn Meyer

WOW! I never even knew there were people out there who did things like this. I have a small foodie blog I share with 2 friends and thankfully we have never had this happen *knock on wood*.
I am very thankful for reading this so now if it ever does happen I will know not to take it so personally.

I have to admit that I never read the comments on food posts -- I just make the recipe -- and I don't leave them. BUT I always read the comments that people leave on Epicurious or Food Network with a recipe trying to decide whether or not to make it. Isn't that strange?

I think this is great advice for all blogs -- not just food blogs.

Melissa writes Stirrup Queens ( http://stirrup-queens.com ) and Lost and Found ( http://lostandfoundandconnectionsabound.blogspot.c... ). Her novel about blogging is Life from Scratch ( http://www.life-from-scratch.com/ ).

I am not a food blogger, but I honestly think that your post could/should apply for any kind of blog.
Just because we are online doesn't mean we need to forget our manners!

Family Friendly Frugality ( http://www.familyfriendlyfrugality.com/ )-Want to learn about frugal living? 

A Southern Mom Loses Weight ( http://www.asouthernmom.com )-I will lose 100 lbs in 2011. Watch me.

Savannah@HammockTracks ( http://www.hammocktracks.com )

...that anytime someone can leave a message and really not say it in person, they are likely to be less diplomatic. Some people enjoy venting their unhappiness in this somewhat private environment, and they say things that they wouldn't dare utter to your face. I read the reviews for all recipes before I make them. Simply because you can sometimes learn more about the recipe from this different perspective.