Another horrific mommyblog
They say that this the age of self-absorption, and there is perhaps no greater example of that than the proliferation of "mommyblogs", which are for the most part all exactly the same; women and their "beautiful" children and the trials and tribulations of being white, upper-middle class and having a lot of time to punish us with bad writing.
Good writing is about life, and while there are those who can illuminate for us the moments of beauty that come from the relationship of child and mother, it is a very rare thing. Good writing transcends our identities, in large part. Mommyblogs are all about the identity of the author.
This is really a large part of the essence of what blogs are about. There are those that are facing outward, at the world, usually speaking about politics or events, and those facing inward.
I must admit a bias against the inward facing blogs, and perhaps that is unfair, but for the most part they sound selfish and unashamed of that selfishness. It is one thing to be a self-centered person. It is another to have absolutely no shame about it.
Here is an example of one: wendiwen
I normally don't like to take on other bloggers, but when it comes to mommyblogs, I can't hold back. Read this sentence: "4. I know now that baking soda and baking powder are not the same! A lesson learned the hard way."
I don't know how anyone gets through life with at least trying to bake something ONCE...
here's some other links about this particularly annoying trend:
clubmom
"Amy Corbett Storch is a freelance writer whose thoughts on motherhood and other disasters can be found at amalah.com. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband and her son, who just so happens to be the most delicious baby on the planet"
ouch...
this article describes an article that raised a stink. I only scanned through it so I can't summarize it for you, but apparently a lot of mommybloggers found it insulting.
I can tell you that a blog from a female perspective is probably not much different in my mind. Good writing is niether female, nor male, nor mom, or dad. It just is. The focus on the identity we are fascinated by in the 20th century has gotten a lot of bad writing published and left a lot of good writing out in the cold. We all recall hearing the song "It's hard out there for a pimp" at the Academy awards and many of us winced more than a little at how the rights of women and the rights of blacks could have such a collision. But that moment was important. When we pay attention to who we are, we forget that perhaps the greatest gift of a writer is to ask who THEY are. I don't pretend to have it, but I know it when I see it.
Good writing is about life, and while there are those who can illuminate for us the moments of beauty that come from the relationship of child and mother, it is a very rare thing. Good writing transcends our identities, in large part. Mommyblogs are all about the identity of the author.
This is really a large part of the essence of what blogs are about. There are those that are facing outward, at the world, usually speaking about politics or events, and those facing inward.
I must admit a bias against the inward facing blogs, and perhaps that is unfair, but for the most part they sound selfish and unashamed of that selfishness. It is one thing to be a self-centered person. It is another to have absolutely no shame about it.
Here is an example of one: wendiwen
I normally don't like to take on other bloggers, but when it comes to mommyblogs, I can't hold back. Read this sentence: "4. I know now that baking soda and baking powder are not the same! A lesson learned the hard way."
I don't know how anyone gets through life with at least trying to bake something ONCE...
here's some other links about this particularly annoying trend:
clubmom
"Amy Corbett Storch is a freelance writer whose thoughts on motherhood and other disasters can be found at amalah.com. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband and her son, who just so happens to be the most delicious baby on the planet"
ouch...
this article describes an article that raised a stink. I only scanned through it so I can't summarize it for you, but apparently a lot of mommybloggers found it insulting.
I can tell you that a blog from a female perspective is probably not much different in my mind. Good writing is niether female, nor male, nor mom, or dad. It just is. The focus on the identity we are fascinated by in the 20th century has gotten a lot of bad writing published and left a lot of good writing out in the cold. We all recall hearing the song "It's hard out there for a pimp" at the Academy awards and many of us winced more than a little at how the rights of women and the rights of blacks could have such a collision. But that moment was important. When we pay attention to who we are, we forget that perhaps the greatest gift of a writer is to ask who THEY are. I don't pretend to have it, but I know it when I see it.
posted by Robert Smith at 9:31 AM
8 Comments:
You certainly have a right to your own opinion, however since you are a male, you have no idea what it's like to be a mom, maybe one who is at home with the kids all day. You don't know what it's like to need someone to "talk to" instead of children all day. They need an outlet to vent their feelings, frustrations and joy. If you think they're stupid...don't read them.
How fabulous for you to be such an incredible writer(NOT)and still find the time to read blogs you hate. Como se dice "loser" en espanol? Clearly, you have too much time on your hands. For many people a blog is a journal; and guess what? Journals tend to be about the person who is writing it. So, if you are in need of great literature, go to your local bookstore and buy a classic. Stop wasting your time reading other people's journals which you hate. When people write in their journal online, they are not claiming to be the best authors. Mainly, they are to keep family and friends in the loop. I don't think any women bloggers want you "in their loop."
I am so sick of self-absorbed people writing blogs. I can't believe it; I read the most annoying, poorly written blog the other day. It was written by some white, overpaid, upper-middle class, wanna' be snob. He wrote about the difficulty in having to spend $2000 on his third mattress as he and his wife were uncomfortable sleeping on it. Poor things. I wonder if they will survive. Talk about self-absorbed; this is the best. The name of this blog was bedcomplaints. I highly recommend it if you are wanting to fall asleep, don't have a life or are bored out of your mind. Oh, by the way, you can find it written by this blogger by looking at his complete profile. What a bloody hypocrite!
You don't know what it's like to need someone to "talk to" instead of children all day. They need an outlet to vent their feelings, frustrations and joy. If you think they're stupid...don't read them.
============
Actually, I taught school for ten years and I know exactly what it is like to need someone to talk to. And it is exactly this kind of bigotry that makes mommybloggers targets: nobody understands kids unless you are a parent. Thus any unreasonable, asanine behavior is legitimate in your eyes, and the rest of the world can go to hell.
For many people a blog is a journal; and guess what? Journals tend to be about the person who is writing it.
======================
No, a journal by YOU is about that person. The rest of us actually give a shit about someone other than ourselves and our tiny circle of friends. That's why when you read a good one, it is about their interaction with that world, not their spiteful, hateful ruminations about the way they think the world should be. I just got done watching a move about children born into brothels in Calcutta, and your defending the right of people to write inane blogs, coupled with a stunning tour de force of an argument, which is "come se dice loser".
I am so sick of self-absorbed people writing blogs. I can't believe it; I read the most annoying, poorly written blog the other day. It was written by some white, overpaid, upper-middle class, wanna' be snob. He wrote about the difficulty in having to spend $2000 on his third mattress as he and his wife were uncomfortable sleeping on it.
====================
Really? I know someone like that, except that he spent his life savings on law school and lives in a tiny apartment barely scraping by to make ends meet, while his wife, who is injured from her job but afraid to file a worker' comp. claim can now be fired under California's new law, is in constant pain from her back and shoulder. Sounds a little different from your story. Millions of Americans being injured daily because of corporate abuse? Well, if it isn't a woman, who care? Even if half of them are women, who cares, because the other half of the men DESERVE it!
Ha! Too funny. I'm just happy you wrote about us Moms, I am THAT self absorbed.
Actually, apart from my name, I mostly write about politics and events. If I didn't I would go mad -- I need the intellectual stimulation. As far as the domestic shop talk -- I'll pass. BBOORRIINNGG!
And I thank you for that!!!
Post a Comment
<< Home