The blog/social media world is not always a nice place. It can be very difficult to find an entertainment site that isn't rumor mill driven or negative at some point. Let's not even get into how hateful and unnecessarily dramatic people can be on social media. To gossip, spread lies, and even bully has almost become the culture of most of the entertainment blog world and social media timelines.
It appears that at least one celeb is ready to talk about it from her perspective. Ciara took time yesterday to write an open letter to bloggers, and readers alike. One might wonder what would cause some of these sites or people to be so hateful. I've learned from experience that most of these sites are just posting whatever they believe will win them a hit or two, even if that puts their good karma at risk.
For bloggers whose only income is their site, they're driving hits to eat and pay bills. The unfortunate truth is it's really hard for a positive, fact driven, entertainment blog to pick up steam without having some juice on it. As mentioned- it's almost a necessity to have the juicy "tea" in order to have hits. While I totally understand Ciara, and I agree with her almost 100%.. it is up to the reader to decide what site fits them, and what they're willing to support.
I observe my timeline often to find people RT'ing articles from sites they don't like or false stories out of sheer impulse, not knowing that this helps the blogger/blog either way. Readers have to be responsible for what they share, and support just as bloggers need to be responsible for what they're willing to say. I have my reasons for blogging about or not blogging about certain things and people, and am never interested in being questioned about what I post on MY site.
With that said, I think there is always room for diversity. There are some very popular sites that I personally haven't visited in years, I don't follow them on any social media sites, and am frustrated when they're retweeted in my timeline. On the flip, I can give you other sites that I personally visit daily. The blog world just like the magazine world has it's share of tabloid media. Unfortunately the general public seems to be addicted to the dramatic and demeaning media, just as they are with News channels on tv. Negativity brings viewers and hits, viewers and hits bring money.
There are a couple of sites that tip toe in between rumors and the truth. Many people probably wonder why I'm not always rushing to post a story..well again.. because this isn't my main source of income, I'm in no rush to put up lies for hits. Then, I or one of our contributors have to rush back to edit a story we had no business posting anyway. It's the nature of the business to be first. I've found that being factual and positive is enough for me. To post lies or tear down another human being is not in my make up, or the make up of every entertainment blogger on the web today.
You have to decide what works for you in life. You decide what you're willing to listen to, watch, and yes even entertain online. I respect Ciara for addressing this because it's so true. While I don't believe she will stop these sites from perpetuating negativity, or the general public from wasting their precious time with negative comments, I'm really glad she said something. For the blogger it's about money, and for the reader it's entertainment. At the end of it all it comes down to maturity and morality. Unfortunately Cici no matter how many letters we write we can't force that upon anybody. Read her open letter below:
I used to sometimes like visiting some of the blog sites to see what new things are happening in the world! Things like cool photos, current events, etc. But nowadays it seems like there's a competition with sites on "Who Can Tear Someone Down the Most." The stories are going from cool and creative to pure drama. Even the comment sections are beginning to get out of control and people are using the platforms to exercise a false sense of power.
People sure do have a lot of courage when they are anonymous. It's like a "Who Can Say the Nastiest Comment Game." I click onto some of the comments from something as fun as an Instagram post that you're sharing with your fans, and a person finds a way to turn a positive post into a negative. I think to myself, "I could pick this person apart so bad but what for? Why act ugly like them?" It honestly takes the fun out of it when people seem so miserable.
Or at least that's how I view someone wasting their energy to tear someone down, just plain miserable. They could be using that to do something much more productive. If only they could channel their energy towards positivity, it could make a difference in their own life as well as influence others. It's kind of scary for the kids coming up, because even if a parent doesn't allow their kids to have blog site access at home, they may still have access at school or other places. It's now almost impossible to protect your kids from the vile things people say on blog sites today, and it's even worse when kids hear hurtful things about themselves, their parents or other family members. In some cases kids have even resorted to suicide due to "cyber-bullying."
My questions to people creating slander about people are:
What stops you from thinking twice about trying to defame someone? What are you trying to gain?
Words are powerful. You could say the wrong thing about someone, famous or not, on the wrong day and that could cost them their life because they're at a weak point. Believe it it or not, you could also be encouraging them to give up on their life or whatever the situation is, when they shouldn't. Or what about a story that causes unnecessary drama stemming from completely false information? It's just flat out wrong and sad. I say to myself, I thank God for making me strong, because I've always been able to use the negativity as motivation, and it makes me stronger.
But I don't just think about myself in this, I think about others that I see getting thrashed and think it's just so wrong. It's very sad that people just want to tear people down so bad just to see them unhappy. It's unbelievable how far people are willing to go to get people to come to their site.
I say this to say....
Dear Blogger, It's never worth it in the end when you sell your soul for a quick dollar, by creating bad stories about people. At some point, it will all reverse on you and you'll end up regretting all the trash you wrote or said about people.
The universal friend "Karma" has demonstrated this over and over again. I strongly encourage you to project more positivity into
the universe. If Social Media is a world that's growing more massive by the day, why not use it to shed light?? Otherwise, you are merely contaminating our universe.
What about your family and kids?? Do you think about them?? You're definitely creating a harmful and volatile environment where they must learn to live. It's almost like you are cursing future generations with your bad energy.
Not to mention...Your "Personal Karma"??... Forget about it!
You better start doing some serious praying and rebuking, cause only The Lord knows!...:)
I sure do miss the good ol days when the focus was about the pure creativity of being an artist. Back then there was still some mystery. Social Media Is Beginning To Take Away The Specialness of What That Was, and Is.
Now, Off Blogs. Peaceful Mind. Living In My Happiness. Creativity Only.
Love, C
What do you guys think about this?
She's absolutely right. It angers me sometimes the vile comments people make about others and most celebrities. I mainly feel sorry for the commenter than the person/celebrity they are dragging, because it speaks more to their character than that of the person/celebrity they are speaking of. I don't visit a lot of blogs because the negativity brings me down. However, Kayki, your site is so refreshing. Please keep doing what you're doing.
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