Why can’t we all just get along?
I don’t understand all this rivalry in the writing world. I see it on an almost daily basis, people arguing, or badmouthing each other. It’s beyond me…and by that I don’t mean beneath me I just mean eh? What? Who? I genuinely don’t get it! If you’re what I would consider a ‘crap writer’ then I simply won’t read your work, it doesn’t mean I can’t talk to you or enjoy your presence (virtual as it may be); if I think you’re a great writer then I will aspire to be like you not bitter and jealous; and if you happen to hate somebody else in the writing community I’m afraid I just don’t care. I don’t want to immediately jump onto your bandwagon just because you’re feeling a bit miffed.
It’s this last one that does my head in the most “so and so moaned about this so I hate them now” and then five seconds later every one of their friends says “grr, I hate them as well, even though I have no idea what the argument is about”. It’s all a bit too bridge burny for me. Why can’t I talk to someone just because an online ‘friend’ doesn’t share their opinion? Isn’t that what being a grown up is all about? Being able to socialise and respect people even if their values don’t match yours?
I have friends that like Glee and Twilight, friends that hate Stephen King, friends that can’t stand my taste in music, but who gives a rat’s arse? It doesn’t matter that they aren’t a carbon copy of me, in fact thank god they aren’t…I really couldn’t put up with another me.
Before anyone starts to worry or rally their friends around to randomly hate me this isn’t aimed at anyone in particular, it’s just something that I’ve been thinking about for a while. Too many arguments and squabbles on Facebook and Twitter.
I’m bored of being stuck in the middle.
Ok, rant over.
Ta ta.
You are unique…;-)
Personally I think one of the good things about the internet is being able to connect with people who’re not like us and who we might not otherwise come into contact with. I don’t need virtual friends to agree with everything I say and do – I just need them to be interesting.
Exactly! I don’t like the way we’re expected to take sides, it all feels so ‘playground’ to me.
This right here is awesome thinking. Spot on, Steven.
I have to laugh at all the partisan thinking I see from these so-called writers. Maybe when they open their eyes and think for themselves they will have something to say that is worth reading. That’s why writing is (or should be) a solitary pursuit.