It's weird how it doesn't matter that 100s of people tell me they love my blog, when one person calls me a narcissist and a snob, I can't get it out of my mind. Even when those two particular insults are so far away from truth that if you know me at all or ever read my blogs, I think you'd know that. I can't image how i'd feel if someone called me something that I was actually insecure about.
So I wrote a blog post on LGF that sort of went Pinterest-viral called, Things to Never Say to a Runner. Now the article itself was categorized under humor and intended to be tongue-in-cheek, as a runner's inside joke. The article wasn't really directed at non-runners because let's face it, non-runners probably aren't reading a running blog in the first place.
I am thoughtful of the things I write and how people will perceive them. It occurred to me when I was writing it that it might come off a little snarky, so I went out of my way to soften it by starting the article with a story about how I don't know the first thing about golf and I asked my golfer friend a really stupid question. Self-depreciating humor to reemphasize that I understand that you don't know what you don't know.
I also wrote in the article that I realized when when people say stupid or silly things to runners their intention is really just to show an interest and I certainly don't expect all my non-runner friends to brush up on all things running just so they can talk to me, but I guess this commenter skimmed over all that.
She told me not to take myself so seriously (it was categorized under humor!) and that I sounded like a narcissist and a snob. She also went on a rant about how she perceived that I said running on a treadmill means that you are not a real runner, something that I would never say and certainly don't believe, especially since I run on a treadmill too. In fact, my often-cited favorite running quote is:
“If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.” - John Bingham
There were two similar comments within five minutes of each other on a blog post from four months ago, so I assume the commenters knew each other. I left one comment up because it at least tried to be civil about the difference of opinion but I deleted the snob comment because while I am open to constructive feedback, I don't have to stand for people insulting me on my own blog.
This has been swirling around in my head for about a week and writing about things that bother me help me get them out of my head so I can move on from them emotionally. Thanks for listening.
My blog is largely focused on helping runners find the courage and strength to start and continue a healthy running journey, something that is neither narcissistic or snobby. Right? Quick. Someone tell me i'm nice.
Note to self: Grow Thicker Skin.
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Keep Running,
Lea
Does your running partner have four legs?
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YOU'RE NICE. Definitely sounds like a troll because if she had read your post she would not have been able to make those comments. Or maybe she did read it and decided to make those comments anyway because she made a decision and stuck to it.
ReplyDeleteBlogging definitely consists of some navel gazing; we're all guilty of it, so it doesn't make much sense to accuse each other of it. I know that your goal in blogging is to encourage others to be active, especially people like me who were never athletes growing up and didn't think running or whatever form of exercise they are considering was a possibility.
So, go on with your bad self.
Oh...and maybe teach me how to get thicker skin too?
thank you! If I figure it out, I'll you know. Thanks for being someone I can always count on for support.
Deleteany chance you'll be at Blogfest in Vegas this year?
Sounds good! I really don't think I'll be there :/
DeleteI've never understood the need for someone to say something negative to another person online. If you don't like what you read, just move on. Don't like the post? Skip it. Don't like the blog? Feel free not to come back.
ReplyDeleteDon't spend another second thinking about those comments. No sense in giving energy to the negative. Rise above and stay there!
Thank you!!
DeleteYou ARE nice! :) I've been reading your blog for years, and I've always loved it.
ReplyDeletePS I agree 100% with Shay's comment. I don't understand why people leave negative comments. I'll admit there have been posts that I've been tempted to contradict the info or give an opposing opinion, and I can't even do that! I just remember that only saying, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." And I leave the comment unsaid. :)
Thank you! I agree! I roll my eyes and keep scrolling all.the.time when I see things I don't like! Ha ha.
DeleteYou're NICE!! Hugs ♡
ReplyDeleteThank you! You're nice too!!!
Deleteahhh I SO SO SO GET THIS and fear my skin my now be TOO THICK?
ReplyDeleteTheres never a happy medium.
Teach me the trick of growing thick skin :) my feelings still get hurt! :)
DeleteI always like agreeing with idiotic comments, even if it isn't true. It leaves the troll with no where to go, and for those you who really do know you, they know exactly who is what. What goes around comes around peeps!
ReplyDeleteYes! Thank you!
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