own photograph
"You blog bores me. Where's the talent? Where's your old style of writing quirky posts? They were the only reason I came on your blog. Now, you're just mindlessly conforming by joining the troops in posting photograph after photograph and whipping a sentence or two to go with it! Bring back your originality!"
I wanted to address the anonymous commenter who left a comment on the blog last week because it's been playing on my mind since and I wanted to justify myself. Though I was initially a little hurt to have somebody telling me 'your blog bores me' and 'where's the talent?' I find the rest of the comment to be critical in a positive way.
The fact is, I don't have as much time to spend on my blog as I used to. It began when I was in secondary school when I had a lot more time to dedicate towards it. These days, I spend more time working while I'm saving to travel and as I've got older I also have a busier social life. That's not to say that I don't get any less pleasure out of blogging, and I always pride myself on writing posts that I'm satisfied with. The subject matter has to be something that interests me or that something that I'm genuinely compelled to share. This means that I'll never post something based purely on it's popularity. I wouldn't post about Balmain because I no can no longer identify with the hype, but if I want to post a few photographs with minimal text because they have in someway inspired me, and I think they will inspire others, then I will.
This is why I don't think it is fair to accuse me of 'mindlessly conforming the troops in posting photograph after photograph and whipping a sentence or two to go with it'. I don't mind if you genuinely find my blog boring, because I know it's not possible that every single person will like it, but there is still a thought process behind my posts and I will never post for the sake of it. When I do write a line or two, it may even be because I'm having an off day; it's perfectly natural for bloggers to lose confidence about their writing abilities, just as it is with professionals.
Please know that this post isn't a way of slamming the commenter, or fishing for reassurance. I think a genuinely interesting point has been made about there being a sharp uprise in the amount of blogs posting photograph after photograph and not a lot in the way of content. However, fashion blogging is constantly evolving and changing and there is often demand for this-I think it explains the popularity of tumblr accounts. Though the comment initially hurt my feelings, it has reminded me of how much I appreciate you having viewed Discotheque Confusion as being original and how important it is for me to hold on to that! Heres to 2010 and to hopefully more 'worthy' posts!
26 comments:
I have read your blog since almost the begining, if anything I would say your blog has grown and become one of or the favourite blog of mine.
I dont think you have to worry about conforming because even the shortest posts of yours I have found to have inspiring content and I relish each and every one.
You could say you are my Jen Brill.
Rose
What a mature and thoughtful reply! Bloggers face constant criticism and I can imagine that it takes a lot of guts to expose yourself in the way that you do Stevie, so you definitely have my respect.
I actually prefer visual stimulation ;) in your case, I like it both ways, because I've always enjoyed your writing. As for many other blogs, I'm often more inspired by a single picture, one beautifully written sentence or a quote that will stay with me for a long time, than some lengthy pseudo-intellectual rambling...
xx
When I first saw this post I thought it was going to be a typical winge about "haters," or you were going to announce the removal of the comments section. Well done handling it with such an open, insightful mind!
Great post. I always worry about this myself - I tend to do a mix but always worry if I haven't done any substantial writing in a while, then when I do I wonder if I'm rambling too much!
I have and award for you on my blog anyway :) keep up the good work.
Much love,
FF x
"It's everybody, I mean. Everything everybody does is so--I don't know--not wrong, or even mean, or even stupid, necessarily. But just so tiny and meaningless--and sad-making. And the worst part is, if you go bohemian or something crazy like that, you're conforming just as much as everybody else, only in a different way."
- J.D. Salinger, Franny and Zooey
That person's comment bores me! Mindlessly making comments that conform to conformists who believe they are non-conformists is conforming.
I stumbled across your blog a few months ago from I can't remember where and I can remember spending a good few hours reading from the start. I loved to see how your blogging style evolved.
Blogs like yours have inspired me not only to start my own blog [I'm thinking about it, nearly there!] but also just generally, in life.
Aside from everything else, Discotheque Confusion is fun! and I look forward to reading the new blogs, if people don't like it, then, hello... don't read it.
It's brave to display your thoughts and feelings for everyone to see. Keep up the good work...
It is impossible to keep the blog the same way it was when it's begun. People change and cause of it things get different angles etc.
I know the pleasure that there is when I know I just posted a good one, it never goes away.
juliet xxx
It's not your job to entertain anyone, darling. Keep doing what you're doing and never apologize.
I have been reading your blog for nearly a year and a half and for the past few months I haven't been enjoying it as much as I use to.
Part of this is actually different to what the comment said. I find your writing very contrived and just unnatural. It is like you want to keep up a very high standard of English throughout and your writing doesn't flow. It's a fashion blog, not an English literature essay (sorry if that sounds nasty).
Despite my reservations, I still check your blog very regularly and think it's great you don't try to people please and follow the crowd. Don't feel like you have to write sentence after sentence. Think of blogs like knight cat, very little text and it works.
I'm liking your new personal outfit posts. So maybe that is something to explore more in 2010.
I think that comment is really cunty. You're being too nice. Unless that person is paying for content...s/he should shut the fuck up. You're doing this in your free time, for free, and people are reading it for free. You can prioritize it in any way you wish.
The way you handled this is admirable. Please continue with your current "style." I, for one, prefer visual stimulation. :)
I always worry that about my blog becoming one of the blogs that just posts pictures and nothing else. But time is of the essence and no one can dedicate all their time to their blog. You handled this beautifully I think.
xx
theotherchic.blogspot.com
i think it's to each their own. everyone has their own way of expressing themselves through blogging. i find that i'm not always witty and articulate enough to write an essay so i tend to post "photograph by photograph" as you say...but I only post what I personally like and not what everyone always wants to "see" and not "what's on trend".
i really like your blog Stevie, have always done so from the beginning
i think that bloggers can write whatever they want, and the readers are the ones who choose if reading it or not. if he/she doesn't like what you offer, well, don't read it. but i think it's also a good thing to make positive critics, so my advice is: don't worry about it!
I read discotheque confusion because I think you have a good eye for fashion, and I enjoy seeing what inspires you and what you have been up to. I think most people understand you don't have time to write long posts everyday and the majority of us love all your posts anyway, your talent is by no means lost.
My blog is one of those that could be described as 'conforming by joining the troops in posting photograph after photograph', as I mostly post images that I find inspiring or extracts from novels, poems or plays. But so what. If no-one reads my blog it doesn't bother me, I created it for my own enjoyment and I'm not 'conforming' I'm doing what I want!
xxxx
Great response you've done yourself proud. this is the only blog i read every single day and your intelligent writing and originality are what brings me back. keep it up.
"I find your writing very contrived and just unnatural. It is like you want to keep up a very high standard of English throughout and your writing doesn't flow. It's a fashion blog, not an English literature essay (sorry if that sounds nasty)."
I can't believe this comment! That's what sets you apart from everyone else, it does flow and your style of writing is one of the reason's your blog is a favourite of mine.
These people are silly, silly, silly.
xx,
Olivia.
I've had a few similar comments to that myself, and I usually get pretty hurt (as I'm oversensitive by nature) and because they have occured when life has been super stressfull - like at the end of semester, or recently when my mum was in hospital over christmas. It's impossible not to take things personally, your blog is an extension of you and its a little something you put out into the world out of pure love and passion.
x
stevie, i personally love your blog, and always have. even if you post one single image, i'm inspired! and will generally save the image too! your blog is great and there's no need to worry. it is your blog and you can post whatever you want. posting merely images is only really tedious when they are images posted for the heck of it, just because it's the 'in' thing be it collection or person.
what i like about your blog most, is that your style is evident in everything you post:)
You're brilliant! You inspire me (as well as alot others it seems!) and seem like a 'normal' person. Keep doing what you're doing Stevie :)
"Don't feel like you have to write sentence after sentence. Think of blogs like knight cat, very little text and it works."
Completely disagree, a blog should be whatever the person writing it wants to make of it.
I worry about this constantly - you can't always create blogs that are going to appeal to everyone who reads it. Taking the recent popularity growth on my blog as an example - I rarely used to get comments, and when I started to it made me proud that I was writing something that made someone else take the time to respond. There's timea I won't get comments at all and after recieving them then suddenly not, it makes me think 'oh shit' but why should I think that?
No matter what you write Stevie, I never see a blog post with no comments under it. You should be proud :)
your blog is amazing.. keep up the good workk :D xx
that comment surprises me a bit because your blog has always seemed very consistent? it's a great mix and i enjoy the short posts just as much as the long ones. i'd ignore it, it holds no truth!
p.s. this is selina i write flying saucer i just use this account to comment on blogspots as it's quicker!
Super inspiring your are. you have an exquisite taste!
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