Why I Love Being Hated

Okay, I’m going to be honest here… I LOVE getting hate comments. I get them from anti-gunners, anti-hunters, vegans, fellow hunters, fellow gunnies and just the random Bob or Barbara scrolling through their phone that doesn’t like my face.

No, it’s not because I am some “crazy toxic woman who craves drama” - although most of them are pretty entertaining and kind of funny. It’s because there are so many benefits to the hate comments.

For one, the obvious. It’s engagement. Even just one comment means my post gets pushed out to more people - more opportunities to educate and reach likeminded friends.

It also means that I’m breaking out of the echo chamber. If I post something about how silly our gun laws are and I get people flooding my comments telling me that I’m a “brainless moron” or telling me that “guns are bad” or if I post a picture of a harvest from my hunt and get spammed with death threats and accusations of being the most evil person alive - I know I’m reaching people who don’t already love guns and hunting. That means I’m exposing the general public to our wonderful way of life.

There are also typically comments that are filled with inaccuracies. THIS is an opportunity to educate further. Even if the original commenter doesn’t care, won’t acknowledge it or is “just trolling”- others reading the comment section will have an opportunity to learn.

I also think it’s nice for others to see that receiving hate is no big deal, laugh it off and keep on posting. I often hear people saying they don’t want to post because they don’t want hate from anti-gunners or judgement from non-hunters. We have nothing to be ashamed of - post away and normalize our way of life.

I always get people telling me “not to engage, it’s just a troll”, or “don’t let them get to you”. Don’t worry, they don’t get to me - and I won’t waste my own time - so if I’m responding, there’s a good reason.