RANT: Annoying Comments

I love comments on my blog or on my facebook and instagram. They make me laugh and smile and just generally make me really happy that my words have interested someone else. That said I have had to add comment moderation on for a while now and I was so excited when I had an influx of comments this morning until I read them....

All they are is a superficial advertisement. It's people who think they can use my blog to advertise their business or their blog. It hurts. One of my more popular posts is the Accountant vs Magician pattern. I can't tell you how many comments I have had on that post that don't read the post and just see Accountant and make some sort of vague reference to how accountants are awesome and leave a link to their firm. They don't bother to read the post and see what it is about. They don't bother to even notice that it's a cross stitch pattern or to even comment on the artwork. All the want is to use me as free advertising.

This is the comments section for that post. You can see that I have let some slide but I'm actually going to go in and delete these ones because they offer nothing.

I might be a bit more willing to accept it if it wasn't so blatant. The other ones that annoy me that I get the most on instagram is the fitness companies. They send me emails/PMs that go I like what you do I think you would be a good fit. Well guess what ... they all just want me to spend my money on buying the clothes and advertising them. I do look out of curiosity but honestly none of the clothes interest me. They all look the same as everyone else's but they charge $70 US for a pair of pants. So not even taking in shipping or exchange rates it's ridiculous because there are aussie brands I can get for better prices. Even after their 'discount'. You can see by the pic below they make it seem like they are offering you this amazing deal when really it's just a way to sell you clothes. You only get a discount on their items. No money, nothing else. That's not a sponsership! But I get that they're trying to compete with the 30,000 other fitness brands out there at the moment so I don't blame this company just the industry that pushes this!

This doesn't even include the random guys that I get messaging me going 'hey cutie' ... I'm happily partnered up and although I don't show many photos of him because I don't have a huge amount (he really doesn't like his photo taken) You can see evidence of him and the kids all around my social media. I just out of respect for them don't post much with them in as it's there choice if they want to be shared. (random tangent sorry!) But I have had the messages going hey what's your name ... what do you like to do? ... on my craft instagram! With my NAME on my profile! With my list of hobbies ON MY PROFILE!!!! I don't hide things and I have made some beautiful friends through this blog and instagram but COME ON! HOW DUMB DO YOU HAVE TO BE NOT TO AT LEAST READ MY PROFILE AND FIND OUT ABOUT ME BEFORE TRYING TO HIT ME UP????!!!!

Here is one of the messages that I received last year... No hello, no hey I saw your profile and thought it would be nice to meet you... just Happy Valentines Day. Have we forgotten basic manners?

I don't know how to stop this and I don't know how to deal with it but it's just sad that so many people feel that they can treat me and what I do so casually. The guys on instagram and facebook piss me off. They don't want to know me, they just want attention and they're hoping they'll get it from me. I get it at the moment in the my French Groups. I am very vocal and happy to talk and discuss grammar but I get PMs all the time going I want to learn French/English can you teach me for free?! Although my favourite used the phrase 'I need to learn how to French' ...

I don't know why it is but these sorts of comments just make me feel dirty. They make me feel icky. All these sorts of comments don't care about me. They don't care what I want or do. They don't care how I feel and despite appearances they really don't want to. With a little bit of time spent they could know enough about me to start a conversation. Comment on a post about the post and start up a conversation. That's how you talk to people. And while I'm willing to admit there is an English barrier sometimes surely even in their own language you don't treat women like this?

Anyway I hope you fabulous people who have actually read to the bottom of this ranting post are well! I hope you are staying safe and stitching or crafting or just enjoying yourself. I do love to hear from you when you are able. I love to have conversations and know more about what is happening in your journey. I value your input. And I want to hear from you more often.

Happy Stitching,

Caitlin