in thinking honesty is better than fantasy?!? BLOGS.

[OhTheConfusion]

I was looking at a friends blog today and had I not known for sure that she was the blogger I would have thought I was looking at a complete strangers. The life she speaks of online is nothing like her real life.

A few examples:

Blog: She lives in a 'bespoke' edwardian country pad
Reality: She rents a run down damp semi detached house in the country

Blog: DH has been busy chopping logs, can't wait for a lovely log fire tonight he is so romantic!
Reality: They have ran out of oil due to spending too much on dope!

You get the point.

I would prefer a real insight into someone's life rather than a made up story. I just think its a bit silly to go on there and say something like that when the reality is SO much different.

I think also though that you can make what your life is really like sound more interesting by, I don't know, looking at the positives. Like the fire logs thing "Missed a bill payment! DH outside chopping wood in the cold for us as I speak. Oh well, here's to a romantic evening in front of the fire".

Sounds like she is trying to make herself sound rich and interesting though to be honest.

Who gives a shit if it makes her a bit happier? It's not harming anyone is it?

Yes definitely. But also it can be too honest and become TMI.

Ha, how odd.
I have a blog, it's a real as real can be, the photos are shit!
When I did my first few posts, I got my friend to read it to make sure it sounded like me, as in the way I'd speak, and she assured me it does.
I'd love to have a better home/life, but I don't so I share what I do have.

I agree, I would rather read about someones real life than a story... I can pick up a chick lit for that.

I suppose it all depends on why you want to write a blog in the first place. If you'd prefer it to represent an unrealistic picture of your life then yes, it'll be a work of fiction. I'm not sure that this is wrong, as such, given that blogs are a bit of a moveable feast so far as absolute, unembellished truth is concerned.

But then I've always found blogging a surprisingly difficult outlet for writing - and I say this as someone who writes professionally from time to time. Every time I start a blog that isn't merely a portfolio sort of place, it starts OK but rapidly starts sounding rather contrived.

I can see how that would happen Pandemoniaa I just feel that she is writing a piece of fiction and portraying it as factual. Surely it is better to be yourself?

I would be far too boring to blog... OhTheConfusion got up. She then fought her DH for the first shower (as whoever gets the 2nd also gets the pleasure of chaning the baby's nappy). She lost the fight and changed said nappy (the battle will continue tomorrow ). She dressed and organised kids whilst her DH fed them. She had a shower and flung on clothes before scooping her wet hair in a top knot and running for the train (where she will be the crazy lady trying to apply her make up!). Upon arriving she will grab a coffee, check emails and open essential backdrops on the computer (MN and FB) then commence her working day... Im bored and I know how the day will end!

What is with the rampant misuse of the word "bespoke" recently?

Is she perhaps just putting an over positive spin on the reality?

So she might have run out of oil because they have spent all their money on dope, but if the outcome of this is that her husband has been chopping wood for a log fire, then she might well be looking forward to that? And seeing it as romantic might be her way of dealing with the situation.

The house she rents might be run down and damp, but she does live there, is it Edwardian? Is it in the country?

'Bespoke' and 'pad' might create an image which doesn't quite fit the reality, but maybe she's just employing a bit of artistic licence.

Is she running the blog for profit?

If so, she will be offering a picture of a certain lifestyle that people want to buy into.

Maybe she views life with a positive outlook.

It is far better to have a glass half full attitude, than half empty.

I remember when Friends Reunited was all the rage, reading a good friend's little brother's entry & snorting at the tissue of half lies and exaggerations.

Eg: Worked as journalist & photographer on local paper - managed to imply he was war correspondant in Iraq & Bosnia.

I can't remember the rest, but it has made me pretty cynical about these things ever since. If someone's life sounds too amazing to be true, it probably is.

How is Cherry Menlove doing?

Well she probably is looking forward to the log fire and her DH may get 'romantic' in front of it.

As another poster said, if her house is in the country and Edwardian, then she is just putting a positive spin on it.

Better than the 'we live on £2.50 a week', threads on MN, 'why carn't everyone'. I wonder whether some posters get any enjoyment out of their life or the people that they mix with.

Morning everyone, I will try to answer all the questions... although I did have to google Cherry Menlove!

Sassypants, I have no idea! (and this is coming from someone who makes genuine bespoke items for a living).

Folkgirl, it is in the country but it is not edwardian by any stretch of the imagination. A positive spin on reality is a nice way to word it but im afraid in this case it is more of a clear untruth.

Iscream, if that were the case I would see the point but she is honestly never done whinging in RL and the worlds happiest earth mother, homemaker etc. In reality you can meet up with her happy and leave feeling exhausted after listening to her. Think along the lines of arguments with her H, unruly children, constantly skint to extent of 'oh god what will I do there is no food in the house other than flour, condiments etc' that have resulted in people (me included ) giving her money or handing in a food parcel. Yet a few days later reading about the fantastic fabric sale she found and just 'had to make herself a new dress!'

Wordfactory, not for profit. Perhaps to assist in selling the items she makes on fb etc.

Ithaka, I agree.

I think she uses her blog to 'escape her life' but in doing so she is telling lies to people thinking they too can 'have the lifestyle' etc. :(

i'd rather that than the dreadful blog entries of someone I know......she has become the ultimate consumer and regularly contradicts herself with regard to green/natural living and then blitzing her house with all manner of nasty chemicals because she is 'test driving' so much crap to make money from her blog. It started off as a lovely insight to her family life and now almost every post is acccompanied with a disclaimer that 'this post is sponsored by whatever company has sent me crap to praise this week'......

Meh, I think as long as she's not telling lies that will upset people she can write about life in her castle staffed by mermaids.

I expect people reading her blog do it for the same reasons people watch Escape to the Country, just a bit of light-weight escapism.