When I started to blog the first time, quite a while back i was talked into it by friends. I enjoyed it tremendously. It was a creative group and it became a creative outlet that sparked my own creativity. We were supportive, courteous funny and introduced eachother to eachother as well as things that we might find interesting.
Above all, we respected eachother and our individual artistic expressions including privacy. People were polite courteous and gracious. As happens with anything life happens and some like myself stopped. We kept in touch through other means. Throughout the years there was only one incident were a fellow blogger disagreed with me, it happened to be about science and got personal. I emailed him diplomatically telling him that it was inappropriate. To my surprise he apologized and invited me to do a guestblog on that particular science topic. Ultimately, we realized that we were both right. Friendships were created.
Some of my friends are on other platforms that aren't compatible with this one.
Re-explaining:
Then a series of serious events happened followed by being a fulltime 24/7 caregiver for my father during covid which destroyed every aspect of my life. I am tough, was always the go to person. But this? Sadistic people who neglected and stole from him and by default me? Three companies that he paid for to assist him, who neglected him? I found him sitting in a chair, barely coherent with "sign here" post it notes stuck to his shirt. A 10 page form on the table in front of him. I ran grabbed a few bottles of apple juice and water and brought him back.
Nonstop for months that turned into years due to covid. I did the job of five people at once. The caregiver support group turned out to be some incompetent people who didnt help me navigate the system, but offered trite "must be very difficult" type of counseling.
I stopped writing or painting for myself for the first time in my life. Health issues went unaddressed. This post is not about my father, but that I'm still recovering from it, because I did not get time for bereavment. Grief had to be suppressed so I could function, but i was in shock and traumatized. The first step was my mental and physical health.
Blogging was a part of that. Back to the arts, sharing science and interesting finds, except what initially happened is that I wasn't used to it anymore; grief bubbled up, people did need to understand eventhough I owe no one an explanation. So, I also needed a supportive community. Many came through for me. Thank you.
Privacy:
However, returned to blogging, people's behavior had changed, the toxicity of the internet had rubbed off on some of them. No matter how many times I explained that this is not a personal autobiographical blog; it's even in my profile, I kept having to reexplain it. I don't do day in the life and spouse does not want personal pics or anything beyond hobbies out there.
Our private space is our own. There are laws that protect my privacy and I disclose what I choose. I expect people to respect that.
Thoughts and sharing information about art, commenting, encouraging creativity debate and amicable discussion that follow basic netiquette and the creation of a comfortable supportive space, is what this blog is about, especially now.
The Drama:
I do not TOLERATE abuse or personal attacks. I give people a chance to clarify and apologize if need be. Sometimes I let things go and move on, other times I call people out on their behavior. This is one of those times.
I had a couple of science ideas in draft, ancestry and genome were among them and the "Muggle" post was leading up to the "Ancestry" post. Posted it and as I sometimes do wanted to share the info that was already public.
There's a blogger some of my readers know whom I enjoyed because of his photography. Mr. Photography took offense, started to argue science and left a cryptic verbal comment. Then he threw a hissy fit, removed me from his blogroll. I gave him time to calm down and extended grace.
I was also disappointed that only one person said anything.
He called me condescending and thought that I had written the post for or about him, when I was referring to the journalist of a major paper, which he's not. I was suprised at his self-absorption and the complete disregard about trampling on my emotions. Talk about kicking a dog when theyre down.
I waited for a few days and he basically pulled a juvenile "let me dump my sh..t on you and leave".
I expected more from someone who is supposed to follow the Journalistic Code of Ethics and Standards.
I will continue to fill my life with the things I enjoy and anyone who wishes to come along is more than welcome here.
Most of the exchange is in the Ancestry post.
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