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| Sylvia Plath |
At first I viewed my blog as a diary, a journal and a blank canvas not only to add pretty pictures of things I've seen or endless shots of things I make but to have it also as a place where I could spout, rant and get things off my chest. It was like I had an overwhelming need to just release but never with the intention of setting myself up as an author. I'm not pretending to be one nor do I have "Carry Bradshaw's" voice in my head dictating to me as I type.
BUT Because of the public nature of blogs, it is after all available to everyone to read, it also creates opportunities where you leave yourself open to some possible criticism and ridicule. I'm not offended by that, nor am I a stranger to savage mocking... I have an older brother so that's pretty much like water off a duck's back!
So why does it happen, why do people bother taking time out of their busy day to rip you to shreds?
I really don't understand people's incessant need to comment because they think it's their duty. To tell you that they don't particularly like what you've written is OK but to tell you that "your grammar is poor and that you have spelling mistakes in your posts" is an obvious attempt to belittle another person because they see you as inferior. As a norm I try not to give into the temptation of replying with a curt "F$£k Off " but in this case that e-mail should have been deployed. My mind rarely stands still, runs at a thousand miles an hour and so does my mouth. I speak fast and think fast so when I write I miss out words. Same as when I speak. That's not a sign of bad grammar but of poor concentration and a trait of a quick thinker!
BTW I've never called my self a writer so the fact that someone replies to a post and says she is (how true that is is another story) and thinks my attempt at communication is shambolic is neither constructive or nice. It's not a school yard tussle over who's the leader of the gang besides I'm not 12 years old anymore or in The Spice Girls.
Look, if there's something that was written that winds you up so much then argue the point but don't dissect the post, quote and unquote my words in inverted commas to then proceed to answer as if you were having "a conversation with your self". If the post isn't about you and if it is about anyone in particular then I welcome that person to contact me. People are aware of what they have written, it is their blog, and no other person is obliged to read it. Returning to my initial question, is it a good idea to post about things which are more then just fluffy articles about how fun it was wallpapering the alcove? I think it is. People will communicate no matter what you deem worthy or not and I'm not prepared to give up blogging because of anyone.I enjoy writing. If someone is offended by my style of writing then that's their problem. Not everyone likes the same authors or the same books...come to think of it we don't all like the same people nether!
By getting too personal with your comments you set the seed of doubt and turn people away from expressing their thoughts even if you place a little winking smiley face icon at the end of it.
I'm not stupid or uneducated but my life is very different from when I was at art school so the need to over analyze and intellectualize every little point has pretty much stayed there in the past. I'll sit down and chew the cud with you, talk about existentialism, Marx, Sylvia Plath, Surrealism and "the life of Brian" in great detail if that's what you'd like to talk about. I am open to people disagreeing...I'm not that much of a egomaniac to know that my opinion isn't the only one in the world or the most important.
The blogosphere is not the domain of one person and yes there are lots of great bloggers out there and lots of not so great bloggers (of which I include myself whole hearted in the latter) but it's not about who's the best writer, who has the best pictures of themselves in pretty vintage dresses, lives in the prettiest houses or about who takes home the prize for wittiest comment. If reading someone's blog causes that much heart ache...then stop reading! By all means leave a comment, disagree and fight your corner to the death for what you believe in but don't get personal with insults. Cross that blog off your "follow" list and get a life! There's a world out there...not just a cyber one but also one of air and trees.Then you might find something interesting to write about.
Please note that this post was writing in response to a particular incident.
Dear J.B.
At least I have you to thank for... for inspiring me to write this and especially for showing that you are in fact a knob. You might be a writer but you're still a knob! My reply to your comment about being an elitist? Three words for you doll: Pot. Kettle. Black.
