The internet is a really big place, wise words…i know. Mommy bloggers have a small niche in this universe and we are all held together by the bonds of motherhood, and what it means to be a woman. We can at times be very catty towards each other, believing that our opinion is more important than someone elses. That does not give anyone the privilege to be down right nasty to each other.
Something that does however bother me is that everyone is so nice and only posts nice things to the point where it is sickeningly sweet. I invite constructive criticism in my life because I may or may not be doing something right, or someone may have a better idea about my current projects and life. I believe in keeping an open dialogue and discussing without being rude why someone is upset and working things out. When I start new projects I ask people for their opinions, they may not always be in the same family as my thoughts but they are the persons individual opinion, I hear what they have to say and in most cases it really helps what I am working on. Critiques in Art College were painfully nerve wracking because I am in a sense being judged for something I created, same with writing.
I look for the nicer ways to give constructive criticism, but this is the internet and depending on the other readers frame of mind that day it could easily be misconstrued. If you read a comment that you do not agree with, take a step back and think about why it is upsetting you so much. If you need to comment something nasty then write the comment get it out of your system and delete that sucker! Come up with a constructive comment about why this post or comment bothers you. I would not recommend leaving sly sarcastic remarks, insults usually do not go over well and just start a cascade effect, wasting everyone’s time.
We should be able to have discussions about different ideas, opinions, methods of parenting without getting in a fight. Why do you ask? Because that’s how great things in life are made, that’s how people form connections and bonds with one another. The world did not get to where it is today because we all felt the need to agree with each other over everything for fear they might upset someone. I refuse to leave comments on peoples posts that just blows sparkly unicorn farts up their ass. When in doubt? Agree to disagree. There are billions of people on this earth and everyone has their own opinion, accept that opinion as their own because jamming your opinion down their throat is akin to trying to sneak a massive piece of fish by a sleeping bear. All you do is piss off the bear and get wounded yourself.
The internet in all it’s infinite wisdom is a public forum. The words I write now will most likely be here forever to some degree. I am posting in a sense to be judged by the population for my opinion, my thoughts and my ideas. This in and of itself just asks for people to disagree with you. Writers who post about heavy emotional traumas, who post about politics, and controversial topics are once again baiting the bear with the piece of fish. And that bear? he is hungry. I welcome their writing though because it is refreshing, this comes down to the basic human right that we all deserve to have and that’s respect. R-E-S-P-E-C-T!
When you post about your life on the internet you open yourself up to public scrutiny. People will not always agree. Those opinionated hungry bears who haven’t had any fish get riled up when they are lied to. Granted most people’s blogs I read are honest struggles about their lives and some bring me to tears, some make me jump out of my seat fist pumping in the air because of the goals they have accomplished. Putting that information out there is scary to me. Admitting weaknesses, professing that I am less than perfect. I’m not going to blow sparkle unicorn dust smoke up peoples ass just because I want to be liked by that person, it does not really work. That however is a whole different post.
To sum it up respect yourself, respect your peers and respect your mom.
19/03/2011 at 12:37 am Permalink
Amen! What a fabulous post! I often feel we have lost the ability to Agree to Disagree with Respect. Why, I don’t know. But what I see so often on Mommy Blogs these days is cat fights. Ugly, nasty stuff. Name calling and insult slinging. One person trying to shove her opinion down another’s throat. Why is that necessary? You are trying to do the best you can. I am trying to do the best I can. We may be doing things differently, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get along.
Thanks so much for joining The Mom Pledge community! If you are on Twitter, let me know. I’d like to tweet a link to this post, and I’ll use your name if I have it.
Also? Your blog name rocks!
19/03/2011 at 1:02 am Permalink
Um, amen. And amen again.
This is exactly what’s wrong with the blogging world. We’re either blowing unicorn farts up people’s asses or attacking. What’s wrong with asking a question respectfully and opening a dialogue? Challenging each other to view the world in new and different ways?
Gosh. I want to high five you so bad right now!
12/04/2011 at 3:08 pm Permalink
You, my friend, are not like other mom bloggers.