I just spent an hour writing a blog post. Just over 400 words detailing the irritation caused by two imperfect customers. It was entertaining, because I wrote at least 800 words and crafted it carefully, but it contained several elements that I’m not keen on in blogging. In my early days I used to write blogs I wasn’t always happy with, but now I try to avoid it.
It is not really fair to detail the shortcomings of others in a public forum, even if you do keep them anonymous. They probably don’t even realise how obnoxious they are.
Additionally, editors often say that poetry isn’t therapy. Blogging is relaxing for me, but it too, isn’t therapy and is no place to write about all my frustrations.
Finally, in writing memoirs, writers are cautioned about using them to get our own back on people from the past. It’s also true when writing about things like this. Revenge has no place in a blog.
I may vent my frustration when it comes to technology and poor service, but there is a line I try not to cross. I’m not sure where that line is, but when I cross it I seem to know. Do you have any lines like this? Or are you all nice people with no anger issues?
Only a half day tomorrow – the others are away at their bi-monthly banknote meeting. It really is a nuisance getting up and making sandwiches just for a half day. Additionally, finishing at 1.00 doesn’t give you much time to do anything in the afternoon. At least the owner hasn’t suggested that I should take it off as a half-day holiday as he once did. I used to open the shop on my own but we don’t do that anymore. If I were a cynic, I would say that it’s because he doesn’t want to come back at the end of the afternoon and help me close up.
But I’m not a cynic, so I won’t.
Tomorrow’s talk is on the banknotes issued by the provincial banks of Leicester and Rutland. It’s quite an interesting subject. They were issued in 17th, 18th and 19th centuries by private banking companies (the last provincial banknotes being issued by Fox, Fowler & Co of Wellington, Somerset, who lost the right to issue their own notes under the terms of the Bank Charter Act of `1844, when they were taken over by Lloyds Bank in 1921). To be honest, it’s always been a subject that has fascinated me since I learned about it in History at school, but never quite enough to persuade me to collect them.
So much to collect, so little time . . .
Your blog is definitely not the place for aiming at particular people. Vent as much general steam as you like, and we will always be sympathetic.
Maybe I should calm down, as Julia keeps telling me. But on the other hand, maybe the world should start raising its standards. 🙂 I can only dread the forthcoming change of address etc I will have to cope with.
Moving is no fun. My last move was to this farm with Rick (east coast to west coast, roughly 3000 miles) and I hope to never move again. You will be moving to a smaller, easier to manage place though, and it will be worth the aggravation.
Mum and Dad moved in their early 80s and they both told me it was too much for them. It’s better to do it now, while we are young enough to enjoy it.
When it comes to people, I am very careful what I write about. I am not an investigative journalist, and there seems to be no reason why I should write a warts and all piece about anyone.
I agree with both you and Mike – you hold the line well with your boss
🙂 It would be interesting to view the day through blog posts written by the three of us.
Interesting questions you raise. I was taught, long ago, that difficult letters need to be left overnight. Get it all down – the frustration, the bile, the barbed witticisms – and look at it again in the morning before you send it and make a fool of yourself. These days, I find the blind bigotry and hatred on social media really worrying. People blasting off because of who people are, and delving depths in irrational personal (and sometimes frightening) personal remarks, rather than simply disagreeing with them, is offensive – and a slippery slope. But the sugary, bland, ‘be kind’ brigade are irritating. Don’t be beastly to Putin etc. Sometimes a pillock needs to be called out. Sometimes the pillock is a customer; sometimes it’s an organisation providing poor service. Life’s a bitch.
Good point. I used to do that with letters. Modern communication is so immediate it’s easy to say something you regret. That’s why I now stick to WP and steer clear of social media and discussion boards. I agree about the bigotry and some of the other stuff that gets written. (And often written by people who don’t realise it can be traced). We had a disgruntled parent at the rugby club who wrote to a neighbouring ten claiming to be a police child protection officer with a serious complaint to investigate. It took the real police less than a morning to investigate, trace and interview him.