Integrity while blogging; this subject has been on my mind a lot for the last few months. Writing is such a powerful way to connect with others; words can heal, hurt, bring happiness, relief, induce anger, controversy, make people think, help people not feel alone. And when the proverbial pen is in your hand, you're free to write about whatever you want.
There are lots of articles out there who recommend shock value as a way to grow your blog. If it's not controversial in some way, you're not writing dangerously enough. If it doesn't make someone hate you, you're playing it too safe.
I personally believe it's important to write your truths. To write about things that may not be the usual topic of discussion. To get people to think about things that might need changing. But I also personally believe there's a way to go about it that maintains your integrity.
Integrity: noun - adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
There was this blog I used to read, a fairly popular blog written by someone I considered "a bigger blogger." I thought she was a talented writer and had a beautiful way of describing life experiences from a unique view. And then one morning, I got an email from a BIG site that I subscribed to. I opened their daily newsletter and saw that a popular post was happening over there, one that was garnering a lot of buzz. The title alone offended me, but I clicked over anyway; one of those things you don't really want to watch but the shock value brings you in for a glimpse.
The first thing I noticed was the blogger's name...the blogger whose blog I had read for the past couple of years. The blogger I had really admired. I scrolled down, still in slight shock that her name was under such an offensive post title. Of the few immature and highly disrespectful sentences that I read, I was in total awe. I couldn't believe that the talented blogger I knew had written this extremely hurtful and ignorant article. For what? Likes and shares?
I relate it like...if given the mic on the cool kids' stage, will you sell out or will you be true to who you are and your readers? Will you throw your talent down the drain for some 5 minute fame, tabloid level exposure? Would it really be worth it?
The lesson learned for me was that I can have a different opinion, and I can write about it, but I want to always say it in such a way that I could say it to a friend face to face. I don't want people ever leaving my blog feeling insulted, mocked, belittled, or ridiculed. I think in the long run, this is more important than a "hot" post that causes divide and hurt feelings. We can stay true to who we are and our writing passions without succumbing to the lure of selling out for quick exposure.
It's easy to spew hurtful and offensive opinions. The writer with true talent and integrity shows it by writing in such a way that no one walks away feeling bad about themselves, but instead perhaps pondering a view point they hadn't previously considered. And isn't that the whole point?
Chelsea
Well said! I think that this is part of why I have decided to write more about my life on my blog. I want to be more real. I want to share more about my ups and downs and be honest about my life and what I believe. I think if you have gained a big following you definitely owe that to your readers. They don't want (or deserve) to read something that will leave them feeling worse than when they arrived. And if you are a talented writer, you should be able to be honest and truthful in a way that won't do that. Yes, you can write about hard things, but you always need to do it in a respectful way!
Jessica Dimas
Yes!!! Exactly how I feel!! I'm all for being truthful and honest but not in a way that would make anyone feel worse off after reading it!
Marta @ petiteraisin.ca
Jess,
Ok, so for starters, your an uber talented writer! I'm SO curious who the blogger was....gah you hooked me. That said, I think you're true to your word and really, from watching and reading your blog posts, I find it's evolving all the time...I like to call it growth as a writer and finding what brings you passion and life! Keep it up sista. I do agree on what ya said about writing honestly and being true to your word and keeping it more as on opinion than offensive...no one needs that.
I'll keep up with my fluff on my page though....makes me, me 😉
Jessica Dimas
Thank you SO much Marta, that means a lot because you read my blog way back when and I'm glad you think it's evolving. That's my goal!! And yeah I'm all for opinions but just not straight up bashing. I feel like it makes people lose respect for you, even if they agree with your point. It does me, anyway!! Thank you for your awesome comment xo
Ashley Mullen
Well said! This is how I feel as well. I write only our life, sponsored posts are only things that we are 100% interested in and leave it at that. I don't rant it.
Jessica Dimas
Yeah! I understand the occasional rant post over something but if it insults other people, it's probably not going to do much good for your blog in the long run!
Monica
i was thinking this was directed at me with my last post! I felt guilty posting it with my small religion bash, even though I wrote genuinely. But then you said bigger blogger with a newsletter and I took a big sigh of relief. I'm just a teensy blogger without much of a base. 😛 I love this post though. Blogging with integrity makes you feel more confident and proud when you reach the success you're looking to achieve. 🙂
Jessica Dimas
Hahahaha no! I don't even know which post of yours would've elicited a response like this! And yeah, this is something I've been thinking about for several months after that incident with that one particular blogger. If you could've read this post, you would see what I mean. It was a total bash post and she even threw around accusations and assumptions against the people she was bashing. It was horrible. And the last day I ever read anything she wrote!
Emily @ Words I Wheel By
I think this is a super important post and a good reminder for all bloggers that integrity must be at the core of what we do.
Jessica Dimas
Thank you Emily, I'm glad you agree. I definitely agree with what you say and that it should be at the core of what we do.
Tawnya
I agree with you 100% and I would totally lose respect for someone also. I think everyone has a right to their opinions/beliefs but they should always be discussed in a way that never leaves someone hurting 🙂 I just love your blog! xo
Jessica Dimas
Agreed Tawnya!! That's exactly how I feel. And thank you so much!
Keri
So wise and perfectly said! I recently have seen so many writing highly controversial posts for what seems more likes. Love how you encourage us to have integrity... It truly is my hope that others leave encouraged and not feeling shamed or hurt. Thanks for the encouragement with this post! You are such a helpful writer for bloggers!
Jessica Dimas
Thank you so much Keri! I like sharing what I learn along the way and this was truly a lesson for me to remember to ask myself before I publish anything if it's going to hurt or belittle someone else. After feeling it as a reader of a blogger I really admired, it sucked to feel that way.
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom
YES! Oh Jessica, we are so much alike.
I've always maintained I will never change who I am and my ethics to get more visibility or likes or shares or money. It's just not worth it. The people who read my blog are reading it for a reason. I would never wish to compromise that relationship.
Integrity is so important in everything we do but I think it's especially important in our writing.
Thanks for sharing.
xoxo
Jessica Dimas
Perfectly stated, that's how I feel too. And I fee like if I wouldn't say it to a friend's face in real life, I have no business writing it either. I understand the business of shock value, but it's just not worth it to me nor do I even want to make people feel bad about themselves anyway.
Tiffany
Yes! I am with you 100%! I really dislike when bloggers think they need to be controversial to get readers. Those are the blogs I usually don't go back to. I know some people like the controversy, but if that's not who you are, then why post it?
Jessica Dimas
Me too Tiffany. I can't go back to a blog that blatantly belittles or accuses others, just gives me all the wrong kinds of feels!!!! I don't like seeing others berated or made fun of and I don't like being the one belittled either. NOT cool!
Cindy Hasko
I agree! Even when I started blogging back in August, I could just tell and feel who was sincere and who was not. You just know. If you (we / all of us) are honest with ourselves, other readers can feel it. I find it so refreshing to read posts from bloggers that are heartfelt, sincere and not just put out there for attention or because they HAVE to have a post up. There is a warmth you get and it makes you want to return back for more, because you want to, not because you have to.
Jessica Dimas
Well stated, Cindy, I completely agree!! I think I hate the attention posts the most, it's such a sell out and makes for a boring read!
Alison
I wrote a post about vaccination, which was syndicated to a big site, and I was bashed big time. Someone said to me, it's not your opinion they're bashing, it's how you said it. Which I didn't believe because she was opposed to my standpoint. I only said it in the way I usually write, which was passionate and heartfelt, but because she disagreed with me, she felt I was forceful. I do hope I didn't come off as rude and insulting (so I do hope it wasn't me you mentioned here! But I'm not a bigger blogger, so. . . )
I agree with you - blogging with integrity, and staying true to oneself, is important. If it's not your truth, why write it?
Jessica Dimas
I remember that Alison! I'm sure most bloggers whose blogs I read wondered if I was talking about them since I was so vague, and I would wonder the same thing if I read this on another reader's blog! I have a few posts that I can think of that were passionate and heartfelt and maybe came off wrong to the opposite side. It's a fine line to walk and us writers are obviously human so sometimes we may come off wrong, we're all guilty of it at some point. I think the difference is in the intention...did we purposely write to offend or did we write to genuinely help others see our point of view? I feel like most bloggers definitely fall into the latter category.
Tamara
What a wonderful post and such food for thought. Integrity has been my #2 goal from the start, just shortly after my #1 goal of connecting. Integrity is big to me. I always write in my own voice. It's always ME. If I do sign on for something sponsored or affiliate-based, it's for a reason.
One of the reasons I don't put my writing out there on big sites is because I like the coziness. I'm afraid of the trolls. Although your HuffPo posts didn't invite a lot of them, right? I don't see how they could have.
Jessica Dimas
You do a good job at always writing in your own voice and always maintaining integrity! And yes, I know what you mean about the coziness. Being on bigger sites definitely brings with it the troll factor. I had trolls for one post but none have ever come over to my blog to continue their haterade, so I'm glad for that!
Emily
So good. So true.
I have a feeling that while that offensive post got it's likes and shares, she probably lost more than just you as a reader.
Jessica Dimas
Exactly Emily, my feeling too.
Lauren
I love everything about this article. I completely agree.. it is heartbreaking to see a blogger you follow write something that is so out of the box for them. I have been tempted to write some controversial articles but in the end that is not the vision I have for my blog. I want it to be a positive place, and I feel good about that. Great post.
Jessica Dimas
Yes, it is! Especially when it's such a let down too because it's beyond offensive or ignorant when you know how talented they are and could be using their skills in better ways. Me too, a positive place always trumps writing something negative! Makes ME feel better to stay away from writing negative things.
Sunaina
So true....integrity seems to have gone out the window when for a few likes, for a short-lived fame, people resort to cheap tactics. I like stuff that is celebratory in nature....by which I mean the positive things in life. Blaming can go on forever but setting good examples is what creates positive ripples.
Jessica Dimas
Yes Sunaina, I agree with you 110%!!!