Friend Friday: Negativity in Blogging

{Side note: I haven't really had a chance to read any blogs or comment at all this week - I have over 300 to catch up on! It'll take me a while to get back to normal. Thank you all so much for sticking with me through this tough time for me. One day I might be able to talk more about it but for now, your love and support are SO appreciated! You guys are awesome!}

As you may already know, Katy has started a Google group for the participants of her weekly Friend Friday questions. Since the start of the group, there has been a lot of discussion going around about negativity in the blog world and in the fashion world in general.  Katy decided to center the questions around a lot of our discussions throughout this past week.

1. Do you post pictures on your blog, or would you if the opportunity came along, of people with poor fashion//beauty sense?

Nope.  The reason that I started my blog was to become a part of the community, to get to know everyone better and to get feedback on what I can do better. I have zero interest in posting anything negative.

2. Do you read any blogs that highlight the bad? Why?

To be honest, yes, I read People of Wal-Mart and Poorly Dressed People. To be even more honest, I can't tell you why. Now that I'm thinking about it, it does absolutely nothing to encourage or uplift me (or anyone else for that matter) and I've removed them from my reader as of this morning. 

3. Should these bloggers get permission to post the pictures from the subject in the same way the street-style blogs do?

I really don't think they should post pictures at all if the intent is to make fun of them. I used to read those blogs faithfully and haven't been as much anymore because I just don't see how it benefits anyone at all. I've learned a lot through reading style blogs and writing my own; my views on those types of blogs have changed. And how on earth would you even ask someone for their permission to use their picture on a blog like that? Would you lie and tell them it's because they're admired? That's not good.

4. As human beings we are fascinated with disasters - of all sorts - why do you think that is? How to the blogs/websites that highlight the negative thrive? 

I truly have no idea where the fascination comes from.  Because when it comes to serious disasters, I'm not fascinated with them. I'm scared of them and tend to turn the TV off, like with September 11th.  I can't handle watching things about it. I think that those websites thrive because most people ARE fascinated by them.  Not to mention the fact that by following things like "fashion disasters", people are made to feel better about themselves because they're not "that bad." 

I don't have a lot of self-esteem to begin with (let's not even get started with that) but I want to feel good about myself because of myself, not because someone else is made to feel worse.

5. For many, fashion is subjective. Do you think, there can be anything that is objectively bad in the fashion world?

I do think there are things that are objectively unflattering (wearing the wrong size, wearing clothes that reveal bits and pieces that should be kept left to the imagination, etc.), but I can't make the decision that something is outright BAD. Obviously the person wearing it finds it acceptable, and to each his (or her) own. 

To see what the other Friend Friday bloggers have to say, check out the links listed on Katy's blog!