To react or not to react - that is the question

As usual I was reading a blog - and I felt inspired by this "hater" post I read. It made me feel a little better, and she has a fantastic sense of humor.

Recently I have been under attack. Now, for many of you including myself I have no idea what I did to this person. But it has been made very apparent they do not like me.

I wish I could say that I provoked them, that I was unkind, or even that I attacked. But I did not. In fact - I have never met them, never had a conversation, I did not even know they existed until the moment they responded to a comment I made on Facebook.

**ooooo ahhhhhh Facebook** It is true. This all occurred on Facebook. Amazing what one fantastic socializing tool can do.

I have learned from the past few days of puzzling, creating witty responses, and agonizing over what I could have possibly done to this person to deserve such responses - that in the end I just had to smile and hope that if I ever meet them - we can smile and be friends.

I have come to the realization once again - that I am an emotional reactive person. In college I learned ways to put some distance between me and my reactions - but every now and then I slip up. Initially on the attack - I had so many awful things to reply - but I realized that it would profit me nothing. So in the end - I just took a step back - and put some time and distance between me and the response.

What are some techniques you use to avoid over-reacting?