I refuse to link to the New York Times train wreck of an article that is causing us Mommy Bloggers to unleash our wrath and fury.
I’m not going to go into a long, blown out rant because, quite honestly, I don’t have the time or patience. I did JUST start a new PAYING blogging/social networking job, after all. One that will leave me sitting on the couch, tweeting and blogging while my children are playing with lighters and building explosives while sitting in dirty clothes and starving to death. And quite frankly, way too many excellent posts have been written regarding this, many of them saying what I would say…only probably WAY better.
I will tell take a second to tell you what I think…
The author who decided to write the ridiculously stupid blogpost..er…article wanted attention. And now, because we Mommy Bloggers get worked up over crap like this, she got what she wanted. Links to her post, hits on her Twitter account, etc. She did this to take her own personal brand “up a notch” by belittling us Mommy Bloggers and our passion for blogging right there, smack dab in the middle of the New York Times.
Press ignore.
Because, by attacking back through tweets, posts (like this one) and comments…we are feeding her frenzy.
I think it’s interesting that many “brands” recognize our worth yet traditional media seems to doubt and resent. Which gives way to those articles that portray Mommy Bloggers in an extremely negative light, written by jealous reporters who whine that we are only doing this for the swag and neglecting our families.
Whatever. They need to get over it. And we need to move on. Because I don’t know about you but I CAN post, tweet, facebook, 4square, whrrl, work for my dad, work for my new awesome social media job, take care of a family AND stress about what people I don’t know or care about think about Mommy Blogging and our conferences.
Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have to go put out the fires in my living room, hide evidence of pipe bombs, clean up the dog crap, and scrape the microwave from the exploded T.V dinners while Tweeting from my iPhone.
UPDATE Just to clarify something…I’m disgusted that someone would pose as a friend/colleague of the MommyBlogger community and then turn into a backstabbing bitch. But I know my reasons for blogging as well as many of yours and she is the one that didn’t blog with full disclosure or integrity. That’s all.
I was so hoping you would take this on..I needed to laugh today =)
.-= Melissa Multitasking Mama´s last blog ..National Napping Day =-.
Agreed. 100%. People know by saying certain things they can ruffle some feathers. and get attention. She accomplished that.
“They need to get over it. And we need to move on. Because I don’t know about you but I CAN post, tweet, facebook, 4square, whrrl, work for my dad, work for my new awesome social media job, take care of a family AND stress about what people I don’t know or care about think about Mommy Blogging and our conferences.”
Yeah, you pretty much summed it up for me right there!
.-= Molly´s last blog ..Auction! =-.
I didn’t even bother to click the link to the article when I saw the title in my feed reader.
Because honestly? Who gives a rats ass? And more honestly? The only people reading the lashing out, well written blog posts about this article are the people who already know whatever that blogger is saying about the article.
Echo. Chamber.
Ignore the trolls and they’ll go away. They will find some other group to harass to the point that group is all up in arms and chattering about amongst themselves over the crap that was spewed about them.
It. Doesn’t. Matter.
.-= Jill´s last blog ..Blue Monday =-.
You got a job? Do tell!
And the article. Ugh. A train wreck for sure.
.-= OHmommy´s last blog ..Four generations of stiletto loving women =-.
Congrats on the new job!! You’re going to be working from home? I have a post scheduled for tomorrow about trying to figure that whole thing out. So do you recommend keeping them busy with sparklers at first and then moving on to a bon fire in the living room…or just going for broke day 1? 🙂
I’m just exhausted by the whole NYT thing. I’m hurt, I feel really bad for the people who were quoted and had such a great opportunity turn sour, and I’m just tired. There is a silver lining though: We mom bloggers are prouder and stronger than ever. So there.
.-= Deb´s last blog ..A letter under your pillow =-.
Saw a few posts about this-haven’t bothered to go read the article-why bother? First of all-not all of us are about branding and if we are? So what? How is that different than working? All the moms I’ve “met” through blogging seem to be honest people who love their families & have found a hobby or an outlet. Good for them-wish I had blogging when mine was small! So what’s next? Those moms who”scrapbook” are going to be branded? Seriously?! I’m with you – this was all about her.
I’m not a mom, but I can absolutely see why that headline, and article in general, would ruffle a few feathers. You and every other blogger who juggles raising a family and all the other millions things in life should be proud of why you blog. You know you don’t do it simply for the potential to get free products and have thousands of unique visitors on your blog. You blog because it’s a passion. AND, just like any multi-tasker, you can handle updating social networks and showering your kids and significant other with love every day.
Nuff said. 🙂
.-= Nikki Stephan´s last blog ..Three Reasons Why You Should Support Team Detroit’s South by Southwest Road Trip =-.
The whole thing is ridiculous…but a good marketing ploy. I wonder how much traffic was up on the NYT site today? I hope that woman never wants entree into another blogging conference, because she’s sure as hell burnt her bridges to the ground…
.-= amber´s last blog ..A Visit With A Little Green Monster. =-.
I wasn’t that bothered by the article when I first read it. I know from experience that headlines are typically not written by the writer, so my minor annoyance with the headline didn’t sway my opinion of the article. I don’t know if the people she interviewed are crying “foul.” I guess I’d best find out before being outraged on their part.
.-= patois´s last blog ..An Old Person =-.
Congrats on the job and thank you so much for saving me the trouble of writing my own post. May I suggest also reading PunditMom’s post about the NYT article, http://www.punditmom.com/2010/03/an-open-letter-to-the-new-york-times-about-mom-bloggers-women-writers-the-universe
as she also did a good job with the topic.
You make some good points. I’m sure she’s loving all of this attention.
I think the whole backstabbing thing was the worst of all of it. Who really cares what she thinks about mommy bloggers? But to turn around and then slam them after making them think she was “one of them” is below low.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Coming out of the in between =-.
Have not read it. Will not read it. And have canceled my online subscription. Because I won’t feed her traffic. And I am more and more disenchanted with the traditional media anyway.
.-= lceel´s last blog ..More Meanders – Kinda =-.
i <3 you. 🙂
Yahoo for your new job, Melissa! Also, this article – I read only half of it – is well, blech. Why does this keep happening? Jealousy, mis-informed reporters, whatever – we shouldn’t worry about it. I say WHO CARES!!!! We know our worth!
.-= Loukia´s last blog ..This is the end, my friend… =-.
Amen, sister. The best part? What you said in your update: HER lack of integrity. And then they diss mommy bloggers. Pffft.
.-= Elisa @ Globetrotting in Heels´s last blog ..Preparing for summer… though baby, it’s cold outside =-.
It was a tough decision to link to the article from my site and comment on other blogs about the “controversy,” simply because this author does not deserve the attention. I did link because I was making a point about making an argument and the use of evidence to support your claim, so I figured it would be extremely hypocritical to do what she did (while I’m criticizing what she did) and not link to the source.
After a while the discussion does become more like beating a dead horse; the woman has had her fifteen minutes of fame. But, geez, there’s so much to talk about in terms of what she did, the content of the article, integrity, stereotypes of mothers, and so much more. Heck, today I wrote my post on a completely different topic, yet I still used three words from that ladies’ article that made my point.
And, of course, these reviews–mine, yours, all of them–are preaching to the choir. Has the NY Times printed any letters to the editor on this? I haven’t heard of one yet–and I say “hear” because I’m not giving the NY Times site any traffic.
This author boosted her “brand,” but not in a good way. She got attention, but was it the attention she wanted? Okay, so Hollywood agents might argue that “bad press is good press,” but, in this case, she alienated a huge community…which is not really a smart thing to do. The author should have paid more attention at the conference; instead of finding snarky things to say, she could have learned about the importance of integrity on a blog–AND keeping one’s nose clean.
.-= Michele´s last blog ..Mothers Have Perspective, Not Perfectionism; Media Beware =-.
Hey you, congrats on your new gig! Do tell…
Well as usual, you’ve got it bang on. I haven’t read the article, but then of course now my interest is tweaked … I think traditional is hurting big time, so this type of thing doesn’t really surprise me.
I better go put out some fires myself 😉
.-= Karen MEG´s last blog ..Weekly Winners – Paradise =-.
Have we missed each other THAT much on Twitter and email that you got a super fly job!? Grats my love.
Eh, some women feel the need to stab in the back. Because clearly their husbands anted their balls back and couldn’t do it boldly enough to say “Hey I am going to write a shit-tastic article about how mommy bloggers like to network, learn, and make a buck.”
.-= Karie´s last blog ..Empty Nest =-.
Mom bloggers have been an easy target for traditional media to disparage. Many journalists resent bloggers and use them a whipping boys (or moms).
.-= Fred´s last blog ..Talk is Cheap, Communication is Golden =-.
pretty sneaky, sis. But great take on the NYT article. And big ups for your new paying gig. You go!
.-= Kami´s last blog ..So Much More Than a Mommy Blogger =-.