A blogging anniversary is typically a happy event: an opportunity to celebrate all the things you’ve shared with the world in the previous year, the connections you’ve made with your far-flung readers, and the new skills and knowledge you’ve gained. For food scholar Emily Contois, the sixth blogiversary was a bittersweet one.
As she recounts in a recent post, blogging has been instrumental to her work as an emerging academic.
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Blogging builds an audience of readers, collaborators, friends and fans, mentors and mentees. Blogging also builds bridges. Blogging helps my writing, especially if and when I feel stuck. It has opened doors I didn’t even know to knock. And it’s been fun, year after year.
Earlier this summer, an article Emily published in a media studies journal has been met with intensive trolling and harassment on her various online accounts — which made her reevaluate her visible web presence.
This year, however, I have some different things to reflect on.
What does it mean to be a public scholar, to blog, and to share my work, perspective, and life, after being trolled quite unpleasantly, for weeks?
While the trolling Emily Contois experienced took place elsewhere on the web, if you ever encounter unwanted comments on your blog, consider these options.
Emily has expanded on the experience of being the victim of trolling at Nursing Clio, another blog she contributes to. On her own blog, she goes on to explain why she came out of this experience more determined than ever not to let others silence her.
Seeing this happen to me has made some fellow scholars and friends even more hesitant to start blogging. To that I say, no. Now is the time more than ever to be public scholars and to be scholars in public.
Sure, part of me is utterly heartbroken that I’m starting my academic career at a time when my professional field is widely misunderstood, attacked, and maligned. But for me that’s all the more reason to stand up for what and who I believe in, to weather the storm(s)—(with help and support!), to not stay silent, and to be a public scholar with all the grace, resilience, and empathy I can muster.
Have you ever faced similar — or other — challenges while blogging and sharing your thoughts online? How did you respond, and has your online presence changed as a result? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.
Blogging builds bridges. This is a good point that I really liked and agree. Sharing our thoughts with others is really amazing thing, it feels like connecting with the world through our writings.
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Yeah.. That’s right👍
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Yes! I really like that thought.
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I’ve never had to deal with anything like that but she is very brave to keep going and sharing her stories to inform others
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She sure is…
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Keep going on & thanks for sharing👍
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Congratulations with the work you’re still doing💯
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Some people out there can be really mean, but sometimes you just have to stay strong and focus on all the decent people in the world.
Neat posts,
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Yeah there more lovely people out there than those mean piece of work
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I’m relatively new to blogging, but I have experienced trolling on my comments on other social venues. I didn’t let it bother me. I’ve learned to pick and choose my battles but I won’t let anyone scare me off. Most trolls don’t really read or educate themselves. They give antagonistic comments to get attention. I’m here to learn as well as to educate, inform, and share thoughts. I’m glad she has continued.
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Yeah.. Me too.. Never give up right?
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It’s not just about never giving up, it’s also about not allowing other people to shut us up.
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Yeah!!😃😃😃
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Well said! To learn from others and gain from human experience is a gift! IF some people can’t see that they are the ones missing out AND not getting a gift!
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Keep it going.. Bloggin takes time and effort but its worth it in the end
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yes
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Wow, What a story. Just shows the amount of determination she has. Thanks for sharing.
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Many years ago (1999) I published an article in an online magazine about the use of homoerotic cliche in fan-fiction. My audience was split between those praising me for being brave enough to say something that needed to be said and those wanting to murder me because I was such a horrible person to point out that most women don’t have three inch long nipples or thick juices flowing like rivers down their thighs. I laughed it off and kept on going. It’s the only way to deal with it IMO. If you retaliate directly the trolls have won.
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Lol
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Blogging is good therapy for me and surprising enough people often enjoy reading what I share .
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That’s great
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I do feel that when trolling comes around, it is a time one gain more audience. Especially when you do know that what you wrote needed speaking and it is in line with your values and what you stand for or against.
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More power to her!!! She is an inspiration.
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She’s amazing.. So are you!!
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This definitely needs to be talked about more…not everyone is going to like you and that’s okay!! (Definitely still something I struggle with)
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really nice.. thanks for sharing .. keep going
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Keep striving 💪
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Everybody who has been a victim of trolling, say “I”. Trolling is the WORST
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great work 🙂
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That’s why I started my blog- I would love “mentors and mentees”. I’m sharing real numbers in my journey out of debt, so the blog is anonymous from my friends and family. I have changed my name and the name of my daughter. I imagine I would get a lot of haters, because I base my financial mess on finishing college. I often want to use the blog to demonstrate how to be successful without college. I express a lot of regret over finishing college- and that makes a lot of people uncomfortable. I’m sure if I got “trolls” who were posting honest questions, I would make a separate post answering them. If it was just a straight up insult, it would be deleted.
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Trolls suck. Just ignore them. Deee-leeet!
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Congrats, keep it up.
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💖
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This is absolutely amazing
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Lovely, thanks for sharing
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Trolling has become a general phenomena and i don’t take it seriously. Someone creates a troll and others make it viral by sharing. An easy way to defame someone on Social media.
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Inspiration speech.
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wow! this post really inspiring. I will keep on blogging
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Hats off to you lady. so much distractions but still on path. Keep going good luck 👍👍
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Keep blogging. Detractors are hidden admirers.
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Lifesaver
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i really love your posts and how you handle critics
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Sharing is one of the best ways to make yourself relieved. It’s good on her part she does so and I think everybody do the same!
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Thanks for sharing
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It’s a blessing to be on WordPress, a platform garnering such creative and intelligent people! ❤
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wonderful; Blogging is great for me and other readers..
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That was awesome 😉
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Kudos to her. Trolling is a fashionable things for those who have no better things to do. There are ways to decently disagree.
Keep going!
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Thanks for sharing!
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I love blogging but I can’t face negativity so I don’t allow comments period.That helps a lot and I blog like a journal meaning its a diary of a wimpy kid art style. This way I write to myself and think about what I am going through art wise and it makes a world of difference. Sometimes I wonder if I have the write community here?
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She is very fascinating from my point of view and I commend her highly
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Very interesting
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This shows how determined she is, and we should also learn from her and never ever give up, no matter what the situation is. Thanks a lot for sharing this content. This really motivated me and lot of people like me.
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Emily contois is one brave lady who doesn’t let anything weigh her down
Nice story
Stay strong
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very interesting article
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I am still new to blogging but absolutely believe in standing up for what you believe in. Bridging those gaps and connecting is so important. Thank you for this!
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