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Thursday, January 15, 2015

Blogger... We are only human...

 Smithankyou     1/15/2015 10:55:00 AM     social media     11 comments   
I started blogging many years ago. When it 1st started it was just a simple diary or record of daily chronicle. I never liked it when people call me a "blogger". The term "blogger" was a pretty dirty word to me back then. I am sure we have heard this saying of "bloggers are beggars" way too often and I am sure that's not bad name "we" have. Over the years and things have gotten a little way out of hand and I guess I have to accept the fact that I'm a blogger considering the fact that I've already won an award with it. LOL.

Our main stream media did not help much too. "We" are known for more negative than postive to many. "We" will do anything and everything to get viewerships. From online blog wars, leaking of naked photos, getting a sponsored boob job or to getting a sponsorship of $40,000 for your birthday party.

There are also many articles online about how bloggers can be a diva. Articles teaching PR professional on how to handle bloggers or even sending them a "proper" email. We have also seen a lot of tweets from bloggers that complains about "bad PR practices" which I am also guilty of. We get offended by a lot of things, by the fact that you call us by the wrong name, you mass send an email to hundreds or bloggers without using BCC etc.

So are bloggers really hard to handle and a pain in the ass? And what's our deal?

Bloggers are only human. We are not celebrity, we are not role model, we are not professionally trained to be a blogger and neither are we your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman. As much as we wish to be helpful to every brand and PR company, we ain't there to be a victim of bad PR practices. We have a full time job and blogging is just a hobby. Sorry that we don't have all the time to do everything you want or reply all your emails. Why you gonna be so rude? Don't you know I'm human too?

Why This Blogpost 

Why this blog post? I do not want to be naming and shaming but I just wish to take this opportunity to share a little with anyone who is approaching bloggers. I understand that not every company or project has the capability and budget to get a proper PR company to get in touch with bloggers and thus many has decided to do it themselves.

Here's the recent incident that inspired this article. If you are lazy to read the screen shot, just jump to my conclusion after this.



Correct me if I am wrong. Correct me if I am being too much of an ass here which obviously I don't think I am.

Things that I am kinda uncomfortable here

1. Yo BRO. I do not even know you. BRO?

2. My Email can be found almost everywhere online with a simple search. I think it is pretty cool to know me on instagram but messaging me on this platform for a discussion ain't exactly something I feel good with.

3. I think it's really cool and flattering to get a request to be part of something but I guess to not waste anybody's time, a brief overview of the program will make more sense to me. Not just for my convenience of interest but also if I have the capability to fulfil any request. A good sales pitch is always important but I think before the sales pitch goes, you need something to attract another party to attend.

4. If you think your idea is very cool and do not wish to share much, you should really not be finding anyone to do collaboration. I might be jumping into conclusion about him not wanting to share but it is how it seems i guess.

Did I do anything wrong? 

So what do you guys think? Did I do anything wrong? Should I have just met him? Should I have talk to him nicer?

I guess, end of the day people are casting too much expectation onto us bloggers. The truth is we are only human, not superhero and will never be, because saving the world ain't our duty.

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11 comments:

Xeo Lye said...

He is the one asking for a favor and not the other way around. Your points are valid. I feel irritated by people whom I do not know call me bro also. Trying to pitch a project over Instagram despite u telling the student to email you shows how low awareness of proper business communication skill this student has.

Or maybe he is trying to con to into meeting him to sell you some products!

11:45 AM
Smithankyou said...

HAHA! MLM!!!

12:05 PM
Howard said...

You're definitely not in the wrong. Kind of sketchy he wouldn't write an e-mail.

1:42 PM
Xeo Lye said...

Hmm, now that you mention MLM, i reread his reply, there is the word "travel" "collaboration", one company came to my mind immediately. Ha

4:35 PM
Anonymous said...

maybe he interested in u wanna meet u in person.. keke

6:58 PM
Anonymous said...

Nicely written! Making good conversations is indeed impt but it is also an on going process. He is a student afterall, if your schedule allows, guide him. We all need mentors.

11:19 PM
Elaine73 said...

I see ur point EXACTLY.
I've lost count of the times friends/or friend's of friends would suddenly ask me out for a "coffee" to discuss a collaboration that they deem too "confidential" to tell me more over email. (Why??? U wan me advertise for drugs ah??) i dun see why I should meet the person if he/she doesnt even wan to divulge more about the said collaboration. Very weird la some people. :/

12:03 AM
Smithankyou said...

thanks anonymous at 6.58pm. i do love to work with student and hope to be a mentor too but i guess he aint giving me a chance. And not everyone is receptive to getting advise from an almost stranger off instagram especially when im not helping or meeting him. It might just rub off the wrong way as if im playing the "old man/senior" card. I hope he gets to read this article and know how i feel about this incident.

10:26 AM
Smithankyou said...

oh i mean 11.19pm. not 6.58pm. mention wrong person. lol.

10:27 AM
Elaine73 said...

Why smith no answer me :(

4:34 PM
Smithankyou said...

MUAHAHAHAH!! Irritating sia! Cause ur point is exactly the same as mine mah. So i got nothing to "top-up" besides the fact that probably also because people wanna meet chio bu for coffee so always jio u out lor. for me, what motive? Also not very chio.

4:40 PM

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Personal space of @Smithankyou - Social Media Trainer at NTUC. For union related matters: smith_leong@ntuc.org.sg. Anything else: gmail@smithankyou.com

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