The more public a work/ministry becomes, the more careful one has to be with two categories of people:
a) Flatterers: I have often differentiated flattery from praise by stating that flattery is consistent and generic, whereas praise is timely and specific. Something similar to what the poet Anne Bradstreet noted when she wrote, “Sweet words are like honey, a little may refresh, but too much gluts the stomach.” Or some variation of the multiplication of words principle (Prov. 10:19). A leader must learn to despise flatterers by dismissing their comments and giving them little attention.
He needs to see that their intentions may not always be to find some favorability with your role, but it is often to gain something from the association. Flatterers rarely serve, but they are generally charismatic. They watch from afar and come close only when suitable and advantageous for them.
b) Anonymous Naysayers: These will pose on social media as genuine interlocutors, but ultimately, they are only here to cause distractions and function as detractors. They will find a hundred reasons to parse a jot or tittle. They will take issue with virtually everything said, hoping you will interact with their words and give them a spotlight. But they are not seeking genuine interaction. They are pursuing a monological moment where they can speak from angst, hoping you will absorb their frustration and react to their grief.
I recommend avoiding these: blocking them quickly and limiting your online interactions only to those with a disposition toward knowledge.
I have several friends in high-profile positions and often pray that God would give them a spirit of courage, which requires avoiding unnecessary entanglements and pursuing steady work ethic.
