This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Somay
Today started like any typical dev morning – frontend bugs greeting me at 6 AM like unwelcome house guests. You know that feeling when you’re staring at broken code, coffee getting cold, wondering if you’re just fooling yourself about this whole building thing?
Yeah, that was me this morning.
The Debugging Blues
Frontend bugs are different beasts. They’re not just technical problems – they’re mood killers. One moment your interface looks perfect, the next it’s a Picasso painting of misaligned divs and broken responsive design.
I found myself in that familiar developer spiral:
- What am I even building?
- Does any of this matter?
- Am I just wasting time on something nobody wants?
Classic imposter syndrome mixed with debugging fatigue. Every developer knows this cocktail.
Plot Twist: Enter the Hater
Then my phone buzzed. DM from an account I’d never seen before.
What followed was the most elaborate hate message I’ve ever received. This person had clearly spent time crafting insults:
- “Your friends will hate you for what you’re doing”
- Accusations about inappropriate comments (which was hilarious since I barely have time to comment on anything)
- Various character assassinations
- The works, basically
The Unexpected Motivation
Here’s what hit me: someone cared enough about what I’m building to create a fake account and write paragraphs of hate.
Let that sink in.
In a world where most people are ignored, someone was bothered enough by my existence to invest energy in tearing me down. That’s not hate – that’s validation in disguise.
The Psychology of Haters
When you’re building something that matters, you create ripples. Most people ignore ripples. But some people – the insecure ones, the ones who gave up on their own dreams – those ripples trigger something deep.
Your progress becomes a mirror reflecting their inaction. Your courage highlights their fear. Your building exposes their excuses.
So they lash out.
Gratitude for the Negativity
To my first official hater: thank you.
You transformed a questionable morning into pure clarity. You reminded me that criticism isn’t just inevitable – it’s necessary. You showed me that I’m moving fast enough to create friction.
And honestly? You gave me the best story to tell.
The Real Lesson
Building in public means accepting that not everyone will cheer you on. Some will actively root against you. And that’s perfectly fine.
Because for every hater, there are builders, supporters, and fellow travelers who get it. The noise from one negative voice doesn’t drown out the community of people actually trying to create something.
Moving Forward
So here’s to more haters. Each one is a milestone, a sign that what you’re building is significant enough to threaten someone’s comfort zone.
Keep building, keep shipping, keep creating ripples.
The right people will find you through the noise.
Building something? Join our Discord – A campfire for founders, funders, and misfits where ideas get tested, challenged, and sharpened. Drop in to rant, pitch, or find your next co-conspirator: https://discord.gg/BjykX6YuRb
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Somay