When Did 'Blogger' Become A Dirty Word?

Recently there seems to have been a real surge in blogger hate. Maybe that’s too strong a word- blogger dislike perhaps? I’ve seen it on forums, on websites and recently and most frequently on social media. We’ve been called freeloaders, attention seekers, self-indulgent and cheeky. You name it and that term will have been bandied about. So much so that bloggers now feel they have to justify themselves or to call themselves by a different name- a content creator, for example. Throw at us what you will, but one thing is for sure, work shy we are not. Bloggers are writers, they are editors, they are photographers and social media marketers. Sometimes work finds you but sometimes you have to seek it out and yes that can mean pitches to brands, something that’s had a fair bit of attention on social media recently after a blogger received criticism following her enquiry to a hotel regarding the possibility of a stay there in exchange for social media promotion. A good collaboration means there’s something in it for brand and blogger. A blogger may receive an item for review for example, and in doing so they may attract new visitors to their site or may gain new followers. The brand will gain from the promotion, the exposure and the advertising.

When I started my blog it was because I was on and I’m still on a mission to help parents navigate the complexities and trials of parenthood. When I had my first baby nearly five years ago, I thought I was awful at it. I had no idea that the overwhelming feelings, of love, guilt, tiredness and cluelessness were all entirely normal. I’d look around and all I could see were mums that appeared to be nailing it. Mums that seemed to have it all together while I had Weetabix in my hair. But then I was introduced to the phenomena of ‘real parenting’ through other blogs, where parents wrote openly and honestly about their experiences and then I realised, for the first time, that not only were these feelings normal but I was doing ok. It was their words that helped me and so I endeavoured to do my part too and thus my blog was born. I’ve put the hours in, nurtured it and now my hobby has become a bigger part of my life and that’s not something I will be apologetic about. Call me what you will but I’m happy to be called a blogger and I’m pretty proud of my little corner of the internet.