I'm sorry! It's been a very quick week. Or at least it feels it. It has flown by. And I honestly do not know what I've done, lol. I know I have been run down. And sick. And I was so tired. A couple of nights of decent sleep have revived me though.
But the tiredness, the sickness, the general "not feeling to good with the world" has had me thinking. About life in general. Where I'm heading. What I'm doing. What I want. Etc. Etc.
One of the things that I found myself contemplating was this blog. I was disturbed to see the re-establishment of the aussie smack blog. I know I should not have gone and read it. I'm annoyed at myself. But I did. And it forced me to question a few things. Some of the comments are just plain mean. And generalising.
* Published scrappers keep blogs just to stoke their egos, apparently. "Do I?" I wondered?
* People don't like "seeing the same old faces over and over again in the magazines". "Are people tired of my work?" I asked.
* Someone complained about the scrappers who appear multiple times in the CK Aussie Reader Gallery. I am about to. In fact the other day I had six LOs accepted for the Gallery. "Will people complain?" I questioned.
I also read about a website where creeps are taking childrens' photos off the internet and using them to create bogus "profiles" used, apparently, by peodophiles. "Am I putting Jamie at risk by having his photos and information up on the internet?" I asked myself.
Yes, I've been thinking too much maybe. That's what I do. I'm a thinker. A worrier.
I've been worrying. And not blogging.
And before you go and misinterpret me, no, I don't think that any of the comments on the smack blog were directed at me. I don't have that sort of profile. I'm just one of many scrappers who are published regularly but who don't appear on most people's radar. I'm not a drama queen. I'm not an attention seeker. I'm relatively unknown. What reputation I have is based on my work. And that's how I like it, to be honest.
But nevertheless, I have been re-evaluating.
What purpose does this blog serve? Is it still relevant? It used to inform friends and family about Jamie, just after he was born, when I was in that sleep deprived early adjustment period and couldn't get out or to a telephone. I'm not in that situtation now. If I care to, I can easily pick up the 'phone and give a friend an update.
What has developed, though, is a dialogue by which I connect with you. A two-way dialogue. Without this blog I would miss each and every one of you who visit and comment. I look forward to your comments. I keep up with what you and your families are up to by this cyber-medium. I would miss that.
I could password protect my blog. But, you see, I get more people visiting here than commenting. I get over a thousand visits every month. I have no idea who the majority of the people passing through are. I'm sure that most of you wouldn't email me to get a password. And, you know what? I don't want you to have to. I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you pop past every now and then. I don't want to put up barriers.
Every now and then someone new pops their head up to say hello and I'm so happy to see you! Yes, I'm not ready to give up my cyber-buddies just because I've gotten offended at a few people's hatefulness.
So, I came to the decision that if people are passing through who are going to feel negative about what I write, then so be it. The benefits outweigh the negatives.
However, what you will see over the next few months though, is less detail about Jamie. After all, he is no longer a baby. He will be 2 in less than a month. Eeek, yes, two!! When did that happen? So I will give him a bit more privacy.
Also, you'll notice that photos will now be watermarked to prevent their misuse. Please don't misinterpret. I do not consider myself a "photographer" by any stretch of the imagination, lol. But I don't want the risk of perverts picking up my photos and plonking them down somewhere in cyberspace where they shouldn't be.
Well, there. I've gotten it off my chest. If you're still with me, well done :)
Until next time.
Have a great weekend. Apparently we have 35 degrees forecast for Sunday down here. Woohoo! I hope the airconditioner in the new house works, lol.
Kathie
8 comments:
Hi Kathie!
And you can bet the nasty poeple saying all those awful things are not talented enough to get their work published but instead waste their time being mean to other people! I Love your blog and love how you are generous enough to share how you actually put some pages together so we can have a "mini" class for free!!! Thankyou and keep up the great work
Hi Kathie
So pleased you decided to keep on blogging. Understandable how you are feeling and why you hesitated to keep on blogging, however I think you have made the right decision. I too, love both your work and your generosity in sharing how-tos. Keep on scrapping in the knowledge that you inspire a lot of people with your work.
Hi Kathie - please don't give up! Your writing is so eloquent and says what we all feel about life in general and the early childhood days. I look forward to reading your blog and have *known* you since the early days of ASC, and have followed your work and Jamie's childhood since! Don't worry about those time wasters - you are inspirational!!! :)
Wendy/aka Scrawrap
Hi Kathie,
I was directed to the blog and read it too....and I figure that everyone is entitled to their own opinion but it doesn't mean it is everybody's opinion :-)
There are so many things that have been said on that blog under the veil of anonymity, that many of us could take on board if we wanted to - or if we let people like that have an influence on us. Don't let the knockers get you down Kathie; they will always be around. You need to just concentrate on doing what makes you happy and remaining amongst the people that make you happy and appreciate your work.
A big congratulations on all your CK acceptances too!!! That is wonderful that the magazine loves your work and wants your style to represent them - that is a huge feather in your cap!
I could go on and on Kathie, but I should stop here lol....just wanted to let you know that there will always be someone out there who likes a particular style and what we do won't always appeal to everyone. And that's okay :-) It's just that most people just concentrate on what they DO like, rather than publicly bagging what they DON'T.
Stay happy and don't worry too much!
Megan xx
feel the anger start to come when you mentioned 'that' blog... it makes me mad that people feel they need to complain. Sure, we live in a free country and everyone is entitled to their own opiniom, but most of its just nasty and not productinve in any way or form, so why say it I say!! That blog is just WRONG. Good for me I don't know the address.
You do make a very valid point about our kids and families on the net - that's the one thing I worry about. I like your idea of watermarking the pics - maybe I should learn how to do that too....
Nat xx
I wonder at times about what people are passing by my blog and I love your idea of watermarking the pictures to prevent them being used for any reason other than what they were intended for.
add me to the list of people pleased to hear that you will continue to share with us. I visit regularly, this is the first time I've left a comment though, sorry never thought that the fact people pass though and don't comment might leave you uneasy. Your scrap work is just beautiful, look forward to seeing more. :)
Carolyn P. (jocarst)
Kathie, I really like what you have written, and many of your thoughts have been my thoughts too. It kind of makes you wonder if it's all worthwhile.
But, for the very, very, VERY nasty few who create all this negativity, there are 1000x good people!
I'm glad you're going to continue on sharing your gorgeous work :)
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