What to do if someone posts something bad about you?

Asked by: Lucio Spinka  |  Last update: January 15, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (36 votes)

The main thing to keep in mind when dealing with negative comments on social media is to stay calm, be professional, and take the high road. Here are a few tips: Don't take it personally. It's easy to get defensive when someone says something negative about you or your work.

What should you do if someone says something bad about you?

Change for the better, apologize and show them that you've changed your bad ways! If it's someone that you love and care about that's saying bad things about you behind your back, then go to them and ask them if it's true. Don't ask in a hostile and aggressive or mean way! Just kindly ask them if it's true!

What to do if someone thinks bad about you?

If someone is consistently negative towards you, it's important to set boundaries. This may mean limiting your contact with them or letting them know that their behavior is unacceptable. You can say something like, "I don't appreciate you speaking to me in that way," or "I'm not going to engage in this conversation."

How do I shut down a negative person?

Here are the seven responses I use with people who always seem to have something negative to say.
  1. “I'm Sorry to Hear That. ...
  2. “Wow, That Sucks. ...
  3. “Ooh. ...
  4. “If Only [Name] Had the Experience/Wisdom/Work Ethic That You Did!” ...
  5. “Please, Correct Me if I'm Wrong, But It Sounds Like You're Upset Because...” ...
  6. “Oh Gosh.

What is it called when someone says bad things about you?

To denigrate is to say bad things — true or false — about a person or thing. Your reputation as a math whiz might be hurt if your jealous classmate manages to denigrate you, even though the accusations are unfounded.

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21 related questions found

How do I react someone backbites me or talks something bad about me?

How do i react when someone backbites me or talks something bad about me
  1. 1 Say Something Good. When someone says something bad about someone else, we should say something good about this same person immediately.
  2. 2 Be Direct. ...
  3. 3 Change the Subject. ...
  4. 4 Remove ourself from the Situation.

Is it illegal to say something bad about someone?

Slander is a legal term used to describe defamation, or harming the reputation of a person or a business by telling one or more others something both untrue and damaging about them. Slander can be the basis for a lawsuit but must be proven by the subject in civil court.

What to do when someone says something hurtful about you?

Sometimes, the best response for a situation might not be verbal. Instead, you can try to make them see how their words made you feel. For example, you could try shaking your head, stepping or turning away, leaving the room, or even showing your hurt on your face.

How to respond when someone degrades you?

Make sure you are calm. Look him in the eyes and use a controlled, confident, clear voice. For example, if a peer insults you, take a few deep breaths and then calmly say, “Stop putting me down.” With a co-worker, you might try saying, “I don't like or appreciate how you are talking to me and about me.

Why do people say things to hurt you?

Sometimes people say hurtful things in response to their feelings of hurt. Research suggests that a lack of stable self-esteem is one of the most common motivators of verbal aggression. People may say things they know will hurt you, so they can boost their self-esteem by tearing you down.

How to get over nasty comments?

Research suggests ways to move past such comments without experiencing anger or jettisoning a relationship, such as adopting practices of self-compassion and avoiding self-blame. One can also sit with the comment for a period of time, and evaluate later whether it remains troubling or whether the pain or anger lingers.

Is posting negative comments about someone illegal?

The California legislature passed a law in 2008 which makes it illegal to post harmful information on the internet. Penal Code 653.2 states it is a crime to post about other people on the internet in a way that will cause them harm.

Can you go to jail for saying something bad?

Sometimes our emotions get the best of us. During an argument or after being wronged, we might say something in the moment we later regret. Our statements might include a desire to cause someone physical harm. When they reach that level, they are considered a threat, a crime in California.

Can you sue someone for saying bad things about you?

Yes, you can sue for slander if someone has made false statements about you that have caused harm to your reputation. Slander refers to a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation, as opposed to libel which is written or published.

How do you react when someone says bad things about you?

Don't take it personally. You can deal with people talking about you behind your back by remembering that their words are a reflection of them, not you. You can't choose what others say about you, but you can choose how you react to it. Write off gossiping as something the other person needed to do for themselves.

How to deal with people talking behind your back?

How Can I Respond When Someone Tries to Gossip About Me?
  1. “Thank you for sharing that. ...
  2. “I missed that. ...
  3. “Oh, are you trying to make me feel bad about myself? ...
  4. “Since we're being honest and sharing, and you're being critical, you're actually showing me what you don't really like about yourself.”

What is it called when someone talks about you indirectly?

A passive-aggressive manipulator doesn't voice negative feelings toward you. Instead, they find subtle, indirect ways to express their anger and undermine you.

Can you sue someone for being racist?

How can you sue someone for racial discrimination successfully? Doing so involves proving that race-based discrimination occurred. This can be difficult in many instances. This is especially true because racial discrimination is not always formally announced or stated clearly.

Is hate speech a hate crime?

This freedom of expression however, can cause some confusion as to where free speech ends and a hate crime begins. Although the line may appear to be blurred, ultimately… offensive or hateful speech is still just speech and is protected.

What can I do if someone is slandering me?

Call a Lawyer. If you believe you have been a victim of slander, then you can file a defamation suit and get damages. But slander claims are complicated and very detailed. An experienced defamation attorney can help you with your legal issue and determine whether you can bring a defamation suit.

What to do if someone posts something about you?

If you find yourself the target of such false statement on social media, there are steps you can take to address the situation. Your initial course of action should be to report the offending post to the platform and author of the post.

Can you press charges for someone slandering you on Facebook?

Yes, you can sue someone for slander on social media, but proving the case can be very challenging at times as you will need a lot of evidence and backup from your lawyers. Naturally, it is much easier for politicians or celebrities with powerful legal teams to win a case than for private figures.

What to do when people say mean things about you?

Reject the hurtful words and say to yourself or the other person, “No, I don't accept what you're saying.” Let the other person know that what they're trying to do to you isn't working, and that you have clear boundaries.

How to shut down a rude person quotes?

"I appreciate your perspective"

Responding to rudeness with an acknowledgment of the other person's perspective can subtly shift the tone of the conversation. By expressing appreciation for their viewpoint, you show respect for their thoughts without necessarily agreeing.