Should We Be Idolising Bloggers?

I have to admit that I don’t really know how to start this post. I never imagined I’d be in this position. If I’m honest, I’m still in shock about the whole thing. I wasn’t going to write about how I was verbally attacked online, but I think it highlights the pitfalls of idolising bloggers, the main theme of this post.

So what happened to prompt this post? I’d watched a fantastic YouTube video about some of the ridiculous things people say so wheelchair users. One of these was religious in nature. I left a 3 paragraph comment (told you it was a brilliant video!). Of this, 2 lines referenced the religious comment the YouTuber described. I thought nothing more of it after hitting the comment button.

3 or 4 weeks later, I received a rather aggressive reply from someone who had previously read my blog, but wasn’t unhappy with my religious beliefs (all 2 lines of them!). I feel so silly saying this. It makes it sound like I have extremist views! Don’t worry, I really don’t. I spoke to a friend about this when it happened and her response was “surely that’s a fundamental Christian belief?” The commenter verbally attacked me because I’m a Christian. The reply was vicious and nasty. I’d just like to add that it was not from the YouTuber who had created the video. 

Clearly, the person who verbally attacked me had put me on a pedestal and was angry when they felt my religious beliefs were not deserving of this status. But this begs the question, should we be idolising bloggers?

I’ve never been someone who puts others on a pedestal. I respect people and admire them, but I don’t build them up to be something they aren’t. We’re all human and all have flaws. I can understand to an extent someone idolising bloggers who are famous, like those in my photos, but not micro influencers like myself. After all, surely one of the reasons people like micro influencers is that they are real people, living real lives and talking about real things. We’re the (non-romantic) ‘girl next door’ of the blogging world. Familiar, honest and dependable, but not someone you’d likely put on a pedestal. 

When you put someone like this on a pedestal, they will almost certainly fall off. Particularly if they are a PoTsie zebra (someone with PoTS & EDS). I can fall off the sofa, so I’ve no chance of staying on a pedestal! In all seriousness though, the appeal of micro influencers is that we speak our minds. We will never fit with all of our audience’s ideals, and that *should* be ok. Do you always agree with your parents and siblings? Your friends and colleagues? Of cause not! Do you still respect them? The answer is most likely, yes. So why would it be different with bloggers?

As I’ve said, I’m still shocked that someone I’ve never spoken to felt so invested in my blog that they would verbally attack me online because they disagree with my religious beliefs. The person in question is disabled by chronic illnesses. I understand the need for them to have someone to inspire them. I certainly have people I look up to within the chronic illness community. This helps me to live my life to the fullest. But there’s a big difference between being inspired by and idolising bloggers.

To me, there seem to be no winner in this situation. The reader was angry that I wasn’t what they built me up in their mind to be (what a surprise!). And I was very upset that I was verbally attacked for my religious beliefs. Some of the things that were said were just awful. So what benefit is there to idolising bloggers? Why do people do it? 

I’ve been disappointed in something I’ve seen a bigger blogger saying on Twitter. I liked this blogger, I thought they were a nice person and respected them for making blogging a career. They got involved in some drama and put their point across very badly. This blogger came across as aggressive, unable to form a cohesive argument and unable to be respectful in the debate. What did I do? I unfollowed them. Everywhere. I didn’t have a go at them, what would that achieve? I wasn’t emotionally invested in them. They lost my respect, but they didn’t fall off a pedestal. Because they were never on one. After unfollowing, I carried on with my life. There was no anger, why would there be? It was disappointing that they weren’t who the person I thought they were, but nothing more.

I do agree with the reader about one thing they said in their attack: “You’re not my role model!”

They’re completely right. I am not a role model for people who think it’s ok to attack someone because of their beliefs, religious or otherwise. I am not a role model for people who use ableist language, something the reader did in their attack, despite identifying as disabled. What’s more, I stand firmly against this type of behaviour.

What are your views on idolising bloggers? 

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