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)
Some people just like to spew.
More fun, is that my super cool uncle had a band and they had a song called "I Make You Sick" and that is what I thought of when I saw your post title. And the song is free online, and I won't even ask for donations. Heh.http://www.lynnpoint.com/mustard/
Trolls ugh. Donating money is optional people, she doesn't have a gun to your head. Sheesh.
What is so wonderfully intriguing and seductive about personal blogs, for me, is that I feel I'm reading almost like a serialization of an actual life ... in real time. Obviously if one doesn't enjoy the writer, they don't read, they're not invested ... but if you do read, you are invested, and a tip/appreciation/acknowledgment/ha ha! button makes total sense. If you don't agree, don't give. Simple, really, yes? It has more to do with the giver's finances, to a degree, than the givee, yeah?
It's not like you're demanding we pay by the smile, laugh, guffaw or titter (are you?). Write on.
Ignore, ignore, ignore, the unhappy trolls.
and reading all these wonderful, affirming & protective comments today reminds me why.
way to be, fanslippies.
Seriously. What part of OPTIONAL don't these critics get? Why do people not understand that there are hosting fees and time invested in creating entertaining websites like this one, and that some readers might actually find value in that and want to encourage the writers to carry on through tipping? Do these same critics ask waiters what their household income is and what they plan to do with their tip money before deciding whether or not they deserve it - or might they acutally realize that a tip is (ideally) an optional gesture of appreciation for a specific act of good service? I just don't get it.
I love your blog. It makes my day brighter. Do what you have to in order to keep it going.
Besides all of that, your finances are your business; and I wonder if the people who fault you based on the assumption that you "don't need" the money have the same axe to grind with the magazine publishers and the cable companies of the world. Seriously!
JulesHouse of Jules
You're a brilliant and entertaining writer. I love reading your blog, Alice. You certainly deserve any contributions you receive, whether you need them or not. You deserve them.
It sort of reminds me of this thing I read in P&W the other day, where a writer was talking about a conversation he had with a doctor, and the doctor said "Oh, you're a writer? I always wanted to be a writer! I just never found the time." And in his head, he thought, "Yes, and I always wanted to be a doctor, but never found the time for medical school." As in, just because you're literate, doesn't mean you can do my job, asshole.
You compose, my dear. If people in some other professions I can think of had to put up a little donate button to get paid for their jobs, despite having put the work in, you can bet they'd be raising hell, rather than calling each other wusses for wanting compensation.
In short, that commenter's a pussy. I spit on thee, pussy commenter!
cheerio, my dear!
And I agree with you that people don't kick the open guitar case. However, I vote that being a woman and (gasp!) a "mommy" makes you (and me!) less worthy than other "real" bloggers out there.
Phhhhhht on them.
Have you met Jennster? She will call you a whore ONLY if she likes you. I once tried to get her to call a troll a whore, and she said "NO! I only call my FRIENDS whores." So maybe it is a compliment. Doubt it, but I try to think positively.
And for every dunderheaded troll, there are 1000 of us out here who think you are a Smart Pretty Princess!
Did you see my Halloween costume? Why not, you whore! (Joking!) I went as a troll:http://redstapler23.blogspot.com/2007/10/what-i-was-for-halloween.html