It’s a fact of life. You WILL deal with fanboys, sooner or later. A really interesting article WILL attract fanboys, because they can’t watch their beloved whatever disassembled or criticised in any way.
If you’re new to blogging, you’ll not see the first attacks, they’ll strike you like eagles, like Luftwaffe Stukas. An innocent post, a minor observation will summon the fanboys like an ancient devil.
I’ve seen bloggers actually apologising for being right, changing their conclusions or simply raising a boycott on “delicate” subjects.
I see it as plain censorship. I’ve a post about Clémence Poésy, the actress who played Fleur Delacoeur in the last Harry Potter, naked. I state that I never watched a HP movie, and don’t like the character because it’s a plain copy of Neil Gaiman’s Tim Hunter, from the graphic novel Books of Magic.
LOTS of Harry Potter fans reach my post and leave their hate. Some ask for bans, some make threats to my health…
What can you do?
Well, if you’re wrong, apologise and research better next time. If you’re right, stay true to your ideas. Don’t let those fracking bastards bully you. Show your arguments, use plenty of examples and don’t let the fanboys take control of your blog.
If you know your post will attract enemy fire, get ready for it. Learn to sing Men of Harlech, divert all energy to deflector shields, keep them raised and don’t stick your head out of the foxhole.
Sustain your arguments with FACTS, unless it’s a personal opinion. Those you argue if you want to, or simply answer with a STFU, DIAF or another cute acronym.
If someone trackbacks your post complaining, follow the link and post ONE polite answer. Don’t you ever dare to lower your standards and start swearing like the fanboys.
You’re better than they, because you can argue using facts, not propaganda. Stick to it as a fundie sticks to his bible.
Just remember, unlike the bible, facts can evolve, so get ready to be proved wrong once or twice. I did a post a while ago about Iran’s Presidential blog, the folks at BoingBoing started a nice lead showing it could be a fake. While I was posting the story, an update showed the blog was, in fact, true.
That’s life.