Cathy, that's just nuts, isn't it? I'd think even in a writing group they're going to leave a stench acting like that!

Devon, that is true. However, clients don't have the same level of tolerance all the time. I know I've had to step away from the keyboard a few times (and a few times I didn't, and I regret that). What astounds me is how many people openly lament their chosen profession. How the hell do you attract business by doing that? Sheesh!

Paula, I bet you'd look good in a hoop skirt. 😉 It's tough. I've been drawn into debates before and I felt like in the end, I just wasted a lot of time and left a bad impression. But like Devon says, we're human. The problem comes to a head when a client decides not to hire you based on comments.

I've never been terribly reactionary, but occasionally I'll be tempted to overstep the bounds of propriety, but I try to reign the emotions in before hitting "send."

(I knows this entire comment reads as if I'm a Southern belle discussing the importance cordiality. Read it as you will, but rest assured I am not typing with a Southern accent. Okay, maybe a slight one.)

And sometimes, what feels like a funny, off-the-cuff remark when we write it doesn't read that way on the screen, because it's missing intonation, gesture, facial expression. There's a lot of room for misinterpretation.

We're human, we all slip up, but we should be valued on having a good, positive body of work out there, not just remembered for one or two comments.

I mean nasty, rude, and definitely lacking any social graces.

I understand when you're in your niche (such as a writing group) where you might slip up-although I definitely don't recommend it. It's a false sense of security that it's not your client base. You never know where a potential client might hang out.

But, what blew me away was what some wrote in a Group where clients/potential clients definitely hung out. Did they honestly think that attitude would be viewed as a good thing?