Anyone been got at because of their blog? Would welcome some hand-holding!

[Luce808]

I blogged before Christmas about some thoughts I was having about my children being taught to read using synthetic phonics. I didn't think I was particularly critical, as for my children it's been a very successful method. However I asked a few questions and invited people to share their opinions - may did, and were positive.

However, as phonics is such an emotive subject two people got into a bit of a heated discussion to the point that I had to remove their comments as they were becoming quite personal and not entirely pleasant. My blog, my rules. Now I've found another forum where someone is basically sneering at what I've written and holding it up for ridicule - not very nice to see in black and white.

Is it just me, or does the fact that people can't see the person they're addressing make them somehow think they have a right to be unpleasant? Or do I just need to develop a thick skin when I blog (it's only my opinions, I'm not pretending to be any type of expert!)

I think you do need to have a thicker skin. The point of a blog is to have a platform. Now some people will ALWAYS disagree with you. That's the point of having an opinion really - to find people who share it but also understand that some people will think you're wrong. If you can't take the opposition then you need to stop blogging.

I appreciate that Northernlebkuchen, and I don't mind people disagreeing with me - in fact, I welcome the discussion. It's just the sneering behind my back that I think is a bit of a low blow, especially as I blog as myself and not as any kind of expert. The person who sneered is an 'expert', on an 'experts' forum, so it's a bit like someone with a degree ridiculing someone who left school at 16 whose spelling is poor. Bit pathetic really, but it still feels weird the first time!

Unfortunately the talking behind peoples backs but in plain sight (iyswim) is just a fact of life on the internet. I've seen it on here quite a few times - people on 'niche' threads basically bitching about other posters from other threads - like they think they're posting in you can't see me land?
It's pathetic. I really wouldn't let it bother you though.

I won't, just feels weird and have to resist the instinct to not go 'well na to you'. I think if I was in the remotest bit famous I'd be one of those celebs who never reads reviews!

I remember reading Antony Sher's diaries. He didn't read reviews at that point - don't know if he does now. It was very liberating for him.

Were you happy with your blog on this subject? If yes, then that's really all you need to think about it.

A blog post is public- I'm not sure you can complain if you pose questions, and invoke discussion, but don't like the way it goes.
Them talking about it on another forum is the same as people chatting in the pub after a lecture/concert/film screening etc- you can't expect people who are experts not to poke holes in your theory.

That's a good way of looking at it. I am happy with it!

It's not so much the way the discussion went CaptainNancy, it's more the snide-ness of 'You've got to look at this!' and the sneering. I wouldn't have minded if they'd commented directly on the blog in a negative way as then I'd have had redress at least. Anyway, it's driven more traffic to my blog so I get the last laugh!

I think there's a difference between reasonable debate (even if it goes against you at times) and being slagged off by strangers on the internet.

Luce, you don't seem too bothered by their disagreeing with you on the post, which is good. I like a bit of a ruck every now and again on mine mainly because I'm always right but I wouldn't like it if I came across people bitching about me on a forum somewhere and just being snide and sneering.

However, I'd probably just ignore them and not engage in any way - assuming that if they wanted to discuss it in a reasonable way then they'd have left a comment so that I could chat about it rather than run off to their chums for a bit of a bitch.

I have to admit that I didn't realise that phonics were such a hot topic and could lead to so much iniquity!

Phonics is big money Mme, huge in fact, and the market is always looking for new ideas, new fears of inadequacy to play on.

I'm sorry to hear that you've been got at. But like you say, it's more traffic/exposure for you. The internet does bring out the playground bully in an awful lot of people, and good people will see them for exactly what they are.

Oh, I thought it was just a way of learning how to read. Didn't realise it was such a big deal to some people. After all, they all get there in the end so what's the big deal? ;)

Toughasoldboots has good advice.

Thank you all. I've thought about it a lot this evening, played through possible responses in my head, from the angry ones to the calm and considered ones and all places in between! Now I feel quite zen about it, partly because of what you all say, and partly because it's quite sad really that a handful of people should feel threatened by one lone blogger expressing some fairly innocuous opinions!

Mme Guillotine thanks for making me laugh. Naturally I'm always right too . Toughasoldboots good advice indeed, and all the rest of you thanks for the sympathy! My next blog post will be about something sweet like kittens or puppies.

You have upset them- they are fighting back and the worst you can do is ignore them.

Oh I dunno, I hear those cat lovers can get pretty feisty if they're not blogged about in the right way. ;)

I will ignore, and sharpen my claws for the cat fight! Ha!

And I just read my site stats for the year which shows that people from 29 countries have visited since I started blogging in June, which has cheered me up no end.

Hmmmm, that's not nice. One thing to argue on your comments section, but sneering on another forum is just petty!

I mainly blog about sandpits, so nothing as controversial as phonics ;)