Keyboard warriors and internet trolls are not just teenagers or bitter old ladies with nothing better to do with their time.
They are out there and they are amongst our motherhood.
In fact instead of bringing us closer, social media seems determine to categorise and isolate us.
I will say though I have had nothing but an outpouring of love and unity on this blog and on my facebook page and I want to thank each and every one of you for that.
It’s so easy to judge.
It’s so easy, with the stroke of a few keys, to hurt someone else.
It’s so easy to let your differing opinion cloud your judgement on what is, and what is not appropriate to say to someone.
It’s easy to think that some of these bigger sites court the controversy, and to be honest some do, but I have beautiful, honest friends online with massive followings who are mothers like you and me; who sit alone, behind these keyboards, putting their knowledge out there (mostly) for free, in their efforts to change the world.
I know for a fact that cruel words hurt them.
It’s not water off a ducks back, it is an attack and they take it personally.
I wonder what is behind the need of these other mothers to write these nasty comments and if they go away and think about it later. Do they feel shame or vilification that they have tried to take another Mother down a peg?
A very very popular Mother’s site wrote an article recently tearing apart “smug” mothers who don’t dole out pain medicine to kids. Not only did it try to isolate and shame mothers who did this but it was clearly written that this mother believed her way of dispensing medicine was the only way.
At the very heart of this article however I believe there is a very unsure Mother, who wants to believe her path is the right path, because she wants to do the best for her children. By tearing apart others she is breaking the very motherhood unity that the site was (originally) intended to create.
It is so easy to get lost on this path of motherhood.
I believe we are all one in wanting to do what is best for our children. Full stop.
We have differing methods of parenting because we are all individuals and unique, as are our children and circumstances.
If we don’t like what a site, facebook page, blog is promoting we should unlike it and move on.
That’s not to say I don’t love a good discussion and a differing of opinions – just keep it kind, keep it informed and keep it non-personal.
xxx
What a great post – I’m not a mamma, but I have noticed a similar thing over the last couple of months, and in fact, I wrote a very similar post to yours. Everyone over at MDM has been absolutely lovely to me, but I really feel for others who put themselves out there online and receive negativity and hurtful comments. Sometimes people think that just because they can’t see someone face to face, that it makes it ok to be mean, but there is always someone at the other end of the keyboard and I’m sure it always has an impact.
Besides, isn’t it so much better for our mindset and our health to be nice!
Totally agree. Peace begins with you – be kind to help yourself!!
Excellent post! I was just talking to a friend of mine about this a few days ago. We all have our own thoughts, beliefs, and ideas on parenting. We all do what we think is best for our children. And, like I mentioned in my last blog post, kids are not all the same. There is not a single one way to raise children. I think we can learn from each other if there is open dialogue. Mothers should come together and unite for the good of our children and the future. We should set a good example for our children. Thank you for being positive.
And thank you for your gorgeous words xx
Beautifully said Nic xx
Thank you, great post. I’m beginning to finally grasp that other people’s venomous attacks and self-righteousness say a lot more about their own insecurities than those they’re directed at, however as humans we bite and so it goes on and on. Unfortunately those kinds of ‘click-bait’ articles show up in my Facebook feed so often and it disappoints me that they forge a divide among the very women they were created for; mothers.
Well said gorgeous.