My job can be emotionally taxing at times. I’m held to a higher standard than other bloggers because I am paid to do it, because I work for corporate media and because the site is affiliated with shareholders and CEOs and the like. While everyone else is doing it for fun–and playing dirty politics and calling me names all the while–I have to act like a fucking professional and not go off on people. Which is hard. Because I have a feeling some of the people who antagonize me do so knowing that it can’t be a fair fight. I can’t ban them from commenting or delete comments without a very good reason. You see, it isn’t my blog, although I am the sole editor and writer. It is News 2’s blog. And while I have full editorial control of the website, I am obligated to take the punches without the ability to punch back. I feel obligated to let discussions run on unedited, even when they are filled with statements about how much I suck. I also have to allow people to comment that my company would be better served if someone else was writing the site. How many other people have to enable people to criticize their careers like that?
I am trying to balance stating my opinions regardless of the backlash with trying not to get fired. It is a daily battle. They picked a person who is prone to cussing, highly stubborn and unaplogetic about her beliefs, no matter how radical they may seem to some. While these attributes make for interesting writing, it is difficult to fit that into this media mold. Because it is a media blog, a blog run by a tv station. But I am asked to be subjective. I am more than happy to oblige, but when people disagree with what I’ve written, rather than debate what I’ve said they cry bias. "She’s biased!," they scream, "She can’t say that, she works for the MSM!" As part of the "MSM" I am often just as maligned.
Can I just stop right here and tell you how much I hate the term "MSM"? I mean, what the fuck, people? I’ve even seen folks write The Main Stream Media. What the hell is that dumb shit? Don’t be criticizing the monolithic MSM if you don’t even know how to spell what it stands for. I mean, Christ.
Okay, where were we? So, anyway, it’s tough playing the game when everyone else is on a different field. They do their blogs for fun, and they answer to no one. Not so for me. And I feel like lately that has been exploited by people. I go out of my way to be fair all the while voicing my opinion, so it is a real sock to the jaw when people say I’m not.
This job is an adventure, I must say. But it is emotionally exhausting. I still love it and consider myself very lucky, but I can’t wait for the vacation I will take after I finish today’s shift. I won’t go back until January. I’m going to spend some time with real people with actual faces who are nice to me. It will be a refreshing change.
13 comments ↓
Yep, that kind of situation can definitely suck.
I recall my previous life as a software engineer where I took time out of my day to participate in a mail list run by our company. I would pop in and help folks out free of charge (otherwise they’d have to pay big bucks for tech support) and I’d even act as a user advocate within the company. I mean, I worked there, but I was a user as well.
Didn’t seem to matter to some of the folks on the mail list. There were lots of great people on the list but a few were such fucking ASSHOLES that I ended up saying screw it and stopped following the list. There goes the free support, the advocacy, etc. I wasn’t being paid a dime for any of it so what the hell ever.
It’s unfortunate that a few can screw things up for the many, but I’m convinced that some people are bent on being assholes no matter what.
Speaking with some of the folks that used to follow the mail list I’ve learned that just about everybody disliked the same few jerks. Nobody likes shitty people. Odds are high most of the rest of the folks who follow your blog are irritated by the same people who irritate you. I don’t know if knowing that helps, but I figured I’d mention it anyway.
Brittney,
Why do you hate the MSM?
Oh, this joke never gets old.
That really sucks. You don’t suck–those people do for making antagonizing comments when there’s nothing you can do about it. I don’t read your work blog, but I’ve been reading this one for five months. It’s got to be hard for you to switch off your own personality to be able to keep your job–but I would love to get paid to blog!
Yeah, what erat said - when it comes to things like blogs and email listserves it seems like it’s usually a pretty small minority of vocal people who can make it seem like the whole world hates you.
Anyway, don’t fret the haters - you’re doing a great job with NIT, and I think it’s become a pretty valuable (and I think pretty unique?) resource for bringing local bloggers together, and bringing local issues to light.
Have a great vacation and Happy New Year!
Plus, can I just add that it never fails to amuse me that the very same crowd that insists that everyone else be able to pull themselves up by their bootstraps is apparently too frail to hear or read anything that doesn’t affirm their worldview?
I mean of course the media is biased. News is, by definition, stuff that seems weird or out of the ordinary or not right or really great. To some folks, that’s going to be when stock market tanks. To others, that’s going to be when poor people who don’t have healthcare die.
There’s just no way that what’s news can ever be an agreed-upon neutral thing.
Their outrage and failure to understand that amuses me to no end.
HOW ABOUT YOU SUCK MY FAIRLY BALANCED DICK
HOW ABOUT THAT
YEAH
MSM IN THE HOUSE IN THE ‘06
YEAH YEAH
ROLLIN’ ON ANIMATED GIFS
WOOO
Gosh, don’t know how I can follow that ^ one. Anyway, I was going to say something like screw them and don’t worry about it. I think one of the main goals there is to bring local bloggers together (nothing about them agreeing with each other) and you have done and are doing that magnificently.
Brittney,
I’m so glad you are at NIT. Had it not be for you and NIT, I wouldn’t be doing alot of blogging, I wouldn’t have met some wonderful people, and I wouldn’t know a lot of what’s going on in Nashville. Because of you and NIT I enjoy writing and reading. Thanks for all you do and don’t let those bad comments get to ya.
Hey, if people don’t like the commentary, they can just go read ‘Rocky Top Brigade’. If they want good conservative commentary go read ‘Instapundit’.
Why people want everyone to walk lockstep with their world view still boggles my mind.
Brittney’s comments on NIT reflect a clear point of view, but I’ve never seen her highlight one type of thinking over another.
Happy Festivus to the whole lot of ya!
Hang out with me! I’m on vacation all week, too!
Bill Hobbs is a dipshit. I wish MSM would fuck him up his holier-than-thou asshole.
Is it really THAT hard to keep from cussing in a blog? What, you can’t control your fingers and you hit “post” before you know it? Act like a professional, dammit!
Brittney, I’m not sure I could stomach blogging without the ability to banish the rude and hateful.
Count me among the ‘grateful to have you at NIT’ crowd. Thanks for all you do, and what TV said!
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