I must be getting noticed.
If the number of entrepreneurs offering me services to improve my blog are any kind of measure, I must be coming up in more searches. I’m getting more spam among my comments too – not something I remember to check very often.
I’ve had no trolls so far though. So, do I want to get noticed?
I started this blog when I was formatting the first anthology from our writing group, the Whittlesey Wordsmiths (sneaky plug… Did I mention yet, we’ve just published two Christmas collections ?) I saw it as a more effective way to share what I knew and what I was learning, little realising that most of our Wordsmiths weren’t into following blogs back then.
But when I’m online elsewhere I mostly lurk in the background, to avoid the kind of vitriol that internet anonymity brings out in bullies who aren’t brave enough to resort to bullying in real life. (Because bullying is a last resort for those who can’t get noticed otherwise.)
You know who I mean… those people who seem to believe that if they are loud enough and offensive enough, they can frighten listeners into believing them. Rather like that fire and brimstone, old time religion depicted in historical movies.
I have a theory that those who shout loudest are trying to drown a little voice in their subconscious telling them they are wrong – perhaps knowledge from a former life that didn’t carry over to this one?
But now I’m fantasising.
There is a common fantasy that if we get enough people to share our belief it will become true. It’s is called the Tinkerbell effect. (Don’t you just love Wikipedia? What I like best about Wikipedia is that it actually tells you when its information shouldn’t be trusted.)
Am I just being cowardly myself?
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Should I continue to bite my virtual tongue, rather than stir up more attention to a patently biased opinion by dignifying it with a reply?
Or should I stand up and be counted to indicate that such opinions don’t hold the sway they appear to hold online?
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(That fairy drawing up there is by Jane Pobgee, a member of the Whittlesey Wordsmiths whose illustrations grace the Christmas stories and poems in both Windy Christmas and Jingle Bells and Tinsel Tales.)
Writing Wrinkles 
You forgot to mention Jane’s illustrations in A Sexagenarian from Smithy Fen by Val Fish and Finding my Voice by Tessa Thomson.
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Thank you both for the plug.
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The first of many, I suspect.
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I’m afraid those offering to improve my Google ranking has increased exponentially on my own site. I don’t believe its the perfect prose that they admire.
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A lot of people seem to think they can make a living with such offers. I’m tempted to email back suggesting they’d fo better with a proper job.
But life’s too short…
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I like the idea of the Tinkerbell effect. Peroanlly I don’t think it is worth getting into debates online over certain hot button topics (politics, religion)
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Me neither – the other side won’t be listening. It’s reassuring to be reminded that there is a silent majority out there taking no notice, but I’m worried about the kids who lap it all up, thinking that’s the way to get your views across.
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you’re right, no one on social media is going to change their mind because of a comment they read somewhere…
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I get those offers of helping my SEO ranking almost every day. Never has one of them started with Hi Hugh or Dear Hugh. They all start with ‘Hi’ and either the name of my blog or nothing at all. Delete, delete, delete.
As for what I call ‘ranting and raving’ blog posts, so long as they’re written in a friendly, professional manner, then that’s ok. And if any trolls come visiting, ignore them; they hate being ignored.
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I’m happy to thank detractors for their feedback, but I will probably take the option to delete any who are nasty (or totally irrelevant).
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I prefer to disagree with people face to face and totally avoid posting anything controversial if it is likely to invite vitriol.
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I’m the same: one of the silent majority. It isn’t as if we’re going to change anyone’s mind, after all. They’re not listening.
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Ranters never leave the space to listen.
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I love Jane’s drawings, and the coloured Troll is epic…
I decided this late in my life, I write for myself, and learned long ago the worst thing you can do to some people is ignore them. It infuriates them. And in some cases, leaves them with huge solicitors bills as they cannot let you get away without listening to their version of events.
I’m seemingly in the minority in that I can change my mind if someone presents a worthwhile opinion or a different aspect from one I have considered.
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I like to think I have an open mind, but vitriol closes it immediately – like a clam shell defending itself, I suppose.
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Dear Tinkerbell, I think your post is so relevant to bloggers. We all want to develop a following, but at what cost. I read a book written by a master blogger that describes what goes on in the blogging underground where the big bloggers play. It’s worth a read. https://alwayswrite.blog/2017/08/17/trust-me-book-review/ The moral of the story for me is that there is a comfort level for us all that balances the time we want to invest in blogging and the benefits of reaching a certain number and type of audience. It has taken me years to find that niche for myself, but by hosting a couple of writing challenges, on interview series, and one photo challenge, I think I have worked out a schedule and a group with whom I love sharing and learning from and with. Challenges, mine and others’, help me enjoy blogging.
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The sheer breadth of your blogging portfolio amazes me Marsha. You must have followers from many walks of blogdom. Thanks for your support to writers in particular.
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I’ve been at it a while, Cathy, and I haven’t published any more books. I did the one about Woodlake, which was a product of my blog. But the two full length novels I’ve written will probably never got to the market. My hat is off to authors that can pull that together! 🙂
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I have one ‘practice novel’ but whenever I have nothing else to write or edit I find an online recipe I want to try. I’m sticking to short stories; I don’t think I have the staying power for a novel.
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I know I don’t. I get lost in all the “facts.” LOL. You make a few little changes, and poof, your errors show up chapters later.
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