This one's for you, YOUMAKEMESICK.
December 5, 2007I try not to engage the trolls, but the latest rash of negativity is getting me down. Historically, when I am bummed out by my blog, I avoid it for a few days, but as you may know, that is no longer an option for me. I am committed, people.
Apparently I have angered some people with my "donate" button. (And I agree with the comments that "donate" is a misleading term, and implies that I need a kidney. I mean, I would love an extra kidney, just as a backup, but need is overstating the matter. I would prefer calling it "tips" or some such, but the button belongs to PayPal. Maybe I could design my own? This is outside my sphere of knowledge. I am but a humble wordsmith.) (Wow, could that have been a longer aside? I don't think so.) I know that they're angry because they’ve used words like "bitch" and "whore," and people don't generally call you these things when they're pleased with you.
At first I was amused by the sad people who have nothing better to do than hurl invective at the Internet. But the comments accumulated, and now I'm cranky. Given that donations (tips, contributions, whatever) are strictly optional, that I am demanding exactly nothing but rather providing an opportunity for those who want to contribute to do so, I think the anger directed at the idea of donating is an excuse. An excuse to spit at "stupid mommybloggers" who dare to think that their "useless blogs" (actual quotes, dear readers!) are worth anything. If you have that much contempt for me and my ilk, why are you here? Move along, sir or madam; there's plenty of porn or celebrity gossip out there you could enjoy instead. You know: real content that deserves money.
It can't just be about the idea of donating. To paraphrase my friend Kyran, I doubt that you routinely kick over open guitar cases on the sidewalk, or fling piano-top brandy snifters against the wall.
Although maybe you do. The next time I see someone on the street, punching his hand through a top hat while a mime silently weeps, I'll say hi.
Reader Comments (137)
Your blog is awesome and I read it every day!
Leave the button. Some people want to contribute and show you that all this effort you put forth isn't unnoticed and is appreciated.
I'm sorry for any backlash. You don't deserve it. And it sucks that the real whores out there are making it hard for you.
And, I have to say that "stupid mommybloggers" kinda underscores the ignorance. Even my 4 year old can come up with a better insult than "stupid". :)
I say definitely leave the donate button.
Don't people have anything better to do during the holiday season (or anytime, really) than crap all over somebody else for no reason? Sheesh.
Actually, I didn't see the button until you mentioned it in a post. I'm oblivious.
Some people are so sad and in so much pain, they have to share it with others and bring them down in hopes to feel better. They don't.
So, don't listen to them, you are the best, numeral uno, the tops.
I hope that helps override the negative just a bit.
If I had enough money to eat a decent meal instead of my usual dinner of offbrand ritz crackers and slightly-expired-but-probably-okay ranch dressing, I would for sure donate to your awesome site. I love it, and rude people are lame.
-A Humble (and Hungry) College Student
Who invited the morons out to play?
Try to be all Dorothy Parker about it "I don't care what anybody says about me as long as it isn't true."
You are awesome, and these people are horrifying, petty and, yes, jealous.
HATE.
there's really not enough eyerolling in the world to adequately summarize my feelings about those comments. that line of trolling is so old it's getting a bit moldy around the edges.
for the record, let me say to the haters: people have been getting paid for writing since the invention of the printing press. it is, in fact, quite a common occurrence historically. some writers have even had these things called sponsors: private individuals who donate money to encourage the author and make it possible for them to continue writing while doing things like, oh, EATING. this has been going on for centuries. look into it, assmunch. just because *you* can't get paid for *your* writing doesn't mean that others -- people who actually CAN write, and write well -- shouldn't.
Love,Sweetney, fellow writer-whore
there's really not enough eyerolling in the world to adequately summarize my feelings about those comments. that line of trolling is so old it's getting a bit moldy around the edges.
for the record, let me say to the haters: people have been getting paid for writing since the invention of the printing press. it is, in fact, quite a common occurrence historically. some writers have even had these things called sponsors: private individuals who donate money to encourage the author and make it possible for them to continue writing while doing things like, oh, EATING. this has been going on for centuries. look into it, assmunch. just because *you* can't get paid for *your* writing doesn't mean that others -- people who actually CAN write, and write well -- shouldn't.
Love,Sweetney, fellow writer-whore