over the last year I have noticed a lot of newbies signing up, and boy are they ever rude, I am sick of seeing people place rude comments on my and others projects, in the last three months I have sent emails to cat about people leaving rude or rasist remarks on projects or board posts.

and really I am just sick of it. If you got nothing nice to say, then zip your mouth

and lets just say that I have been attacked over my personal views on relegion, depression and my current stuggles with finding out what desase I have.

I don't even notice the haters on here. I just try and spread the love as much as I can. If you don't react to their ignorant remarks, they'll usually go away. They're called trolls and flamers and they're all over the web. CO+K is much nicer than some other sites I've been to. Anyone who would attack you over religion, mental illness, or a physical disease is a fucking idiot, so don't do something drastic over a few bad cunts! (Sorry for the language).

michelle g, you have some of the most awesome projects on here, deleting your account would only mean that they won, and that would mean one less nice person and a thousand more jerks on this website. to be honest, i found this to be the friendliest website i have ever been on, and if anyone would ever give me a problem it wouldn't really matter cause there is so many of you guys that have a thousand million of nice things to say, so a couple of jerks aren't going to ruin anything. and if they have the nerve to attack you on your personal views than that just means that they are insensitive ignorant pieces of crap that don't even deserve to cross paths with you because i can tell that you are nothing but a super nice and friendly person who doesn't deserve such treatment. so please ignore their stupid ranting, it's not worth feeling down for.

i am so sorry this is happening to you! it is just awful and i am outraged for you! i can not tolerate rudeness but to be attacked for the other reasons you listed is just unthinkable, i'm really speechless that there are those bad eggs here on co+k. michelle you totally rock. i love your projects and you are always so kind to everyone, i really hope you don't leave. i don't know a solution to the problem as you already have been emailing cat about what is going on. it is so hard not to take stuff personally and i know it hurts but these douche bags aren't worth the time of day. positive happy and healing thoughts coming your way my dear!

I have to be honest, I haven't come across this sort of thing either. I think you should name and shame these people, show them up for the cowards they are. It's all too easy to hide behind a monitor and keyboard but I bet they wouldn't dare do this shit in real life. Personally I never say anything that I wouldn't be prepared to say to someones face.
You really contribute a LOT to this site, not just craft projects and you mustn't let the bullies win.
Stand up to the bullies! We are all behind you=)

Michelle I dont think you should leave because of other stupid people and I really hope you change your mind about leaving us!
When I found this site you where my first friend after Crafterella and you where the first person who was nice to me on this site.So to be honest you made me love this site and you have inspired me with your great projects.And you came up with the happygram idea!That was brilliant!
Your creative and you belong to this site and you shouldnt leave because of some idiot who has no life and has an urge to write idiotic comments online.
If it happent again just email Cat and come rant about it to us if its really bothering you.
And as Alex says this would mean they won and one of my favorite people from CO+K leaves.
And you know they will get bored of this site after a week and leave,without posting any projects,but if you leave where will you post your lovely projects?
Dont let them get to you,where here for you!

Absolutely agree with everyone here! If you left, they would win! There is no reason for them to be mean to you for any reason! You totally ROCK on your crafts; i'm so jealous of so many of them as it is!! If these people feel the need to pick on you because of projects etc then they have no talent and no ambition of their own!! Dont even get me started on the non craft stuff cuz I may have to kick some azz on that!!!!!!!! that's just not right!!
You started up the Happy-Grams that have made so many of us happy to rec. that letter or card or lil gift in the mail! That is totally awesome!! I love writting Happy-Grams they are so much fun! Did i ever think I would be writting to people in England, Canada or ever Serbia for that matter??? NO WAY!!! But it is GREAT! I love doing it!
Your swaps are super awesome and fun!!! There is no way that you should leave, there would be so many people here that would miss you like crazy! Besides, who am i going to bounce ideas off of for photography??????? huh huh WHO????
So NO, DO NOT LEAVE, we are totally here for you and love you for what you are and what you do!! Let the haters hate, just delete their comments and keep writting to Cat!
I hope all these letters to you help to change your mind!!!!

I too agree with everyone one here. And like Laurel said, put their names out there. I've seen it happen here before where someone left a nasty comment on a project, granted they never posted one, and a few of us let them have it. Never heard from them again. It is easy for people to hide behind their keyboard to attack someone else, but when you got friends to back you up, they will leave you alone. I love your projects and I'm jealous you have so many posted here. In secret, I was planning to out do you for next year (hehehe), not a secret anymore now, but it's just that it's the inspiration and courage you give me and others to post. So again, agree with Laurel, you do contribute to this site and more than you know. I know where you are on other sites, so if you leave I will hound you until you come back, so I suggest you stick around.
Don't worry about the haters, make them known on the boards, and they will be sorry they said anything. Not really wanting to turn this site into a battleground of sorts, but if this is the same person or a small few compared to the thousands of us, I think we can put a stop to them continuing to be nasty to you and whoever else that is having the problem. Emailing Cat and her just deleting the post isn't gonna keep them from posting again, unless they get so many warnings, uh like ONE, then they should have their account deleted or something, because I don't think they are sending out warnings of consequence for their actions. I'm just saying. So don't let them win, fight back.

hey just remember stupid ppl are everywere ppl judge where they dont have any business they mouth off and all that there is no reason 2 leave just bc other ppl are douche bags itll come back around on them believe me i know they are just a bunch of whiners that need 2 make others feel bad 2 make them feel better about themselves so really they r so not worth it just keep doin what ur doin if they dont like it they can just screw off but just remember u r obviously better than them anyway simply bc they dont have the respect 2 just keep there mouths shut if they dont like somethin

Michelle, we love you! You are so inspirational to us all, as a crafter and a human being. You are one of the most tender-hearted and uplifting spirits in this community of loving crafters! To give you an example, you sparked a sense of competitiveness in this die-hard procrastinator, when I saw that you're the number 1 crafter of 2009! I started thinking, like Creativemind, "Maybe if I post a couple projects a day, all year, I can beat that!" Obviously, I have procrastinated that possibility away, but I'm opening my mind to new crafting concepts, due to your inspiring work ethic. You really are one of the sweetest members of this site, and this place is my safe haven from haters and drama! I have yet to see any negativity, but I'm new, yet. I am so sorry that you have been singled out, and mistreated like this. You might try what I started doing sometime throughout my school days...create a shell of "don't give a shit", and wear it like armor whenever ugly rude jerk people try to hurt you to make themselves feel good. The mean comments will just bounce right off! After a while, you don't even notice it, you just skim over the comment, realize it's not nice, and delete! ~presto~ *poof* When it does bother you, talk to us, like this, have a piece of chocolate, a bubble bath, a foot massage, or whatever helps you wash away negativity and emotional pain. *HUGS & KISSES, FAITH, TRUST, & LOTS OF PIXIE DUST!!*

I'm like kiddo, I've never noticed the haters and I agree with just ignoring them. Report the people, but if nothing can be done then try to ignore them, however hard it may be. People like that usually do it to stir things up and get a reaction out of others.

However I'm real sorry that they are about this all and I would be sad to lose a very valued member of CO+K.

I haven't seen these comments either. Unfortunately like Kiddo said there are trolls all over the web just out to wind people up to get a reaction. I will keep my eyes open though but I think what Laurels saying about naming and shaming is a good idea.

I had a look through loads of your recent project and I did see a few 'hmmm' comments on your little bracelets made from pony beads. I say 'hmm' as I thought it was hard to tell how to take the comments, whether they were being a little on the blunt side to be rude or whether it was a cultural/language thing or just how they talk.

Hi Michelle

Don't let narrow minded individuals get to you. I agree with Laurel. Name and shame. I have seen some comments that fail on the way thoughts have been expressed (these may be unintentional)and some that are just plain spiteful.

Don't worry. You have alot of support from friends who value your creativity and opinions.

For the record if anyone out there wants someone to pick on. Leave Michelle alone. I'm a manic depressive, goth, practicising Pagan who likes witchcraft and alternative medicine. Pick on me, bring it on, I dare ya!!!!! (I'll turn you into a toad!)Lol

Peace & blessings Michelle & everyone supporting x

Michelle,

You are awesome and all your wonderful crafts bring inspiration to others, I know they have to me. I only join COAK in December, but have notice that you are a big part of these boards and post interesting and topics to get people to start communicating, which I thank you for. Don't let negative people get you down. Like others have said, there are always negative people (trolls) and they are everwhere, but from the response from this post I see that there are many people who enjoy what you bring to COAK and don't want you to leave.

Here is a quote online that kinda reminds me of this situation:


Use your talent (everybody has one) in anyway you can. Don't keep it for yourself like a miser - spend it like a millionaire! - Lucy MacDonald


This is just what you are doing when you are sharing your crafts with everyone here, you are like a millionaire and that is what makes you awesome!

Sorry Michelle I just looked through my last comment and thought it sounded like I was checking up on you - I wasn't I just got on a bit of mission to find who it was that made you feel so crap. I hope you don't close your account. I also have a little idea how you feel, I made a bit of a mistake on a swap I was doing and got this message that was like a telling off! I felt so crap and like I was about 10 - it shouldn't matter but sometimes if it catches you on an off day its really horrible. Big hugs coming your way x

I'm sorry this is happening michelle!! I don't really notice the haters on here either - I just focus on the wonderful, open, fabulous people!! I really hope you don't close your account, because lots of us love you and you're such an amazing and inspiring crafty goddess!! It would be such ashame to lose you!!! v.v

aww michellle
remember how many projects you posted on here?
how excited you might have been thinking "wow someone might make this too?"
well go back to that feeling michelle,
stay on CO+KEEP it and we love you :)

Yeah Lovette is right, you won that award for posting the most projects in a year (I think??)
If you leave a large chunk of CO+K will disappear and I don't mean solely your projects, Jeanette is right, you start many interesting topics that keep us all communicating.

It will be very sad without you on CO+K

='(

should i apologise for saying the fella in your painting looked like a monkey? coz i was only messin... he did though ;)

Ahhh, Jonesy! Love your heart. I think it's obvious that a lot of people got your back, Michelle! And I'm with Sheila, if they want to attack someone, they can come after me, too. I can't change them into toads, but I sure could annoy the hell out of them :P

Tee hee Kiddo

I can't change them into toads either, but could make them feel totally inadequate as human beings for their bad behaviour. I'm pretty good with potions tho'.....ummmmmmm Lol

I dig you, Sheila! You're alright!

Awww Michelle.. everybody loves you! You can't leave! I've only had one negative comment and it was in the 'ranting' section, but awesomely I had my girls on CO+K back me up. (woot-woot)
You can't let ignorant ppl bother you like that, just brush 'em off like the loose flakey piece of spec that they are.

Aww Michelle, so sorry to hear you're having issue. I've been away so I just spotted this post. Send me a message and tell me all about it and we can get it sorted out x

No michelle don't leave give me there names i'll show them who can leave me ass comments your too awesome

Michelle, don't pay any heed to these ignorant trolls.....we all love you, you're kind, creative, helpful and welcoming to all the newbies, and the top contributor to the site.
It can be hurtful when people criticise your work, it's happened to me twice. I had a personal message saying one of my items was amateurish and badly put together, and another saying my items are more suited to an S&M fetish site ( when I posted the razor t shirt). I wrote back and let them know my feelings on the matter....but I don't care about it, water off a duck's back to me, (I'll start worryin when one of my creations turns up on regretsy.com) but they shouldn't be allowed to post offensive comments.
We love you, Michelle XXX

Michelle: If you leave I'll leave right behind you!!!=S!!

I have some theories and I think many of us can agree with this: YOU ARE FAMOUSE HERE! You have to deal with fame girl, that's the price =S... I never say it was easy, but if someone can win that challenge it's YOU. Those are envy people, and remember...the only reason why someone would envy you is because they would love to be in your place, THEY ARE JELOUS!! You are:

*the good person they cannot be
*the fabulous crafter they cannot achieve to be
*the nice and loved girl that they are not
*the brave girl that's not affraid of sharing herself with us, the brave girl they can only dream to be.
*the creative girl full of friends that they can only envy!!

Girl you have been the top crafter for 2 years straight at least, and obviously shity people is jelous, but let them be, everything you do comes back to you... TWICE, if they want to be mean people, let them be, they are only showing you how miserable they are =D because you can be whatever you want to be and they don't.

WAVE AND SMILE GIRL! WAVE AND SMILE!! They don't deserve a minute of your time.

It's obvious that everyone has their own opinion on how to handle your issue Michelle, just like the people having their opinion on your posted crafts. But there is a fine line between opinions and constructive criticism, so if the posts are neither, then it's really up to you how to handle it, of course I still don't think leaving the site is a good choice for obvious reasons, my opinion. I can take constructive criticism because it is something you can learn from, though that's not what this site is about. People are gonna be nasty all in walks of life, be it on the internet, in your community or wherever, it's just something you can't escape, but it doesn't mean it's something you should get used to especially when it messes with your self esteem. People should have the common descent courtesy to think about what they say when it comes to others feelings. Unfortunately, people just like being mean and get their kicks and giggles when they have succeeded at doing so. I have thought about my last post on this thread and I think a little differently of it, that's just one of my ways I would respond to something like this depending on my mood at the time. On the other hand, why stoop to their level. You can see here that you have a lot of people who love you and your crafts compared to the few idiots that do not. You choose the best way for YOU on how you deal with it, but if it's something that happens way too often then "I" don't think it's something you should tolerate. Best wishes to you and just don't forget that you are a lovely person on the inside, we know and see that through your crafts. Keep posting them!! ^_^