20150721

The Best & Worst Things About Blogging


After a year of blogging I've had some real ups and downs... But mostly ups and definitely ones that far outweigh the negatives. These are my favourite and least favourite things about blogging!

The Worst Things

Criticising People's 'Lack of Originality'

I'm sorry if this is news to anyone but there are very few truly original ideas left in the world; no matter what you think up, someone somewhere has likely done it before. And that's ok! There seems a bit of a trend at the moment of passive-aggressive posts/Tweets about how the person is sick of how ~everyone~ uses a certain prop/background/whatever in their photos or is talking about a certain brand/product/so on. I'm going to put it bluntly: I personally think it comes across as petty and self-important. If someone likes to take their photos a certain way then what's it to you? If you don't like someone's content, feel free to stop reading, just quit bitching about it! Bloggers, save for a lucky few, are doing this for fun so I'm not sure why it makes certain people feel good or superior to put others down. In short: you do you and I'll do me!

Over-Zealous Facebook Groups

Facebook isn't my favourite social media outlet personally or as a blogger but blogger Facebook groups can be downright terrifying. If you dare to murmur a word of dissent then be prepared to get slaughtered! I'm always surprised that it seems to be older bloggers tearing people down for asking naive questions. Or implying that perhaps their reply to a PR company's email (probably sent by an unpaid intern...) was excessively rude. Don't get me wrong; some groups are great and have been really helpful to me. I just don't think this kind of behaviour is nice and it certainly isn't an accurate representation of this community.

'Follow for Follow'/'Like for Like' etc.

You spend hours painstakingly writing, photographing and editing a post before hitting 'publish'. You wait restlessly before getting your first comment, you open the email, looking forward to reading someone's thoughts on it and... 'cool post. I followed you on Bloglovin - please follow back'. Oh. *Heart sinks*. I honestly don't think this technique even works! Either way it's downright rude. Try leaving a thoughtful comment followed by your link and 9/10 times the person will check out your blog and if they like what they see they'll follow! Don't try to force it! Personally these kinds of comments are the only links I skip when reading and replying to comments, however I'm sure even on this post there'll be one...

Negative Comments

Blogging is one of the few areas in life where I genuinely believe 'if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all'. If you literally can't think of a single positive thing to say in a comment, just don't say it! 'I'm gutted x didn't work for my skin type! I do love the shade you have in y though!' is fine 'I would never pay that for z - what a waste of money!' on something the author just said they love, isn't... Just be tactful and think how you would feel or take it if someone left a similar comment on a post you worked hard to produce.

The Best Things

Realising You Can Stick At Something

Joining the gym, learning to play an instrument, ballet, drama club... just a few of the hobbies I’ve failed to keep up over the years! However somehow blogging is different and it’s taught me that I can do it. Perhaps it’s the convenience of managing everything myself and being able to blog virtually any time anywhere, but it’s given me a real confidence in my ability to follow things through (for once!)

Seeing Yourself Grow and Improve

Most people cringe looking back at their early blog posts and whilst I do too, at the same time it makes my smile because I’ve come a loooong way. My blog looks and feels more professional and I occasionally feel like I know what I’m talking about! There are the little things like breaking up the text to make it easier to read to the big things like not taking my photos on my phone against creased bedding in dodgy lighting... Seeing real, tangible improvements in your writing and photography is so rewarding!


Meeting Like-Minded People

My real-life friends love me but even they can’t help but to glaze over when I start a ten-minute conversation about concealer! It’s so much fun to go to events and meet-ups and have those conversations with people that just ‘get it’. They get that there’s a pretty display to the right so we need to pause for a moment to Instagram it, when you name some obscure skincare product you’ve heard is good they offer their opinion, when you mention wanting to try an expensive mascara they tell you thy tried a Maybelline that works just as well. It’s just the little things that make you laugh and it’s nice to have people to share that part of yourself with.

Being Part of an Amazing Community

I’ve met so many lovely people through blogging and there’s a load more I feel like I know through commenting on each other’s blogs and through Twitter chats. It’s an amazing support network and you will discover some wonderful, creative, fun people through it. You’ll find a few great reads as well! Whenever I’m feeling down about my blog I re-visit lovely reader comments and it’s a big part of getting my mojo back.


What are your favourite and least-favourite things about blogging?

 


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62 comments

  1. Can relate to this so much! Love your honesty.
    Blogging definitely has its ups and downs...particularly those annoying 'follow for follow' - even worse I would say are the generic comments where they've clearly not even read the post!

    One girl wrote on my Pinterest inspiration post where I'd included a picture of a makeup vanity "Omg I love your makeup setup" - when the post was clearly full of pictures from Pinterest :| needless to say she got ignored LOL!

    Kat x

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  2. I hate when people say follow for follow! If you like my blog then you should just follow. I do love blogging & found bloggers being so supportive of me lately which is lovely but of course you do get the odd negative! x
    Emma | Emmys Beauty Cave

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  3. cool post - I have follo....

    Nah only kidding, I love this post and was nodding along to all of it. I love the fact that I can have a 10 minute conversation about blusher with a fellow blogger. I feel that I have my little space to tell people how I feel and have a creative outlet and I love my blog and blogging in general but it does come with it's downsides too. Although the good things do out weigh the bad :)

    Pams Stuff and Things | Tarte Palette Giveaway

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  4. Love this post, and I completely agree! Whenever I get a 'follow for follow' comment, I ignore it but I always get the urge to reply: Don't you know that's rude?" Lol

    RachelShuchatMakeup

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  5. I 100% agree with you on this post. I love to be in contact with like-minded bloggers and share a passion about all things beauty and makeup. I also like to see other bloggers that began more or less at the same time than me growing and getting better with their blogs! :) There are unfortunately two sides and the follow-for-follow really annoys me too just as the follow-unfollow thing. Xx

    Alexandra | Glam O’Clock

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    1. I hate the follow/unfollow thing! It's so annoying when they keep doing it just to 'remind' you or something haha xx

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  6. Lovely post, want to follow each other...?
    Only kidding! Great post, I totally agree about the negative comments & people bitching on twitter - it's just so unnecessary!

    Jess xo
    http://just-jesss.blogspot.co.uk

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  7. I completely agree with everything you said! I think with any social media site especially if your a blogger one of the worst things you can do is ask someone for a follow for follow. It's obvious that they haven't really read your post and are just spamming people because they are desperate for followers, I don't think that's the right way to do it, in fact it just annoys people and your more likely not going to succeed in the blogging world. For me I really appreciate comments that actually seem like someone has made an effort to connect with you to the post you have posted, that way I and other bloggers are much more likely to take a look at the blog in return :)
    Oh I have to mention that I love the colour of that nail polish! x http://coffeeatmidnight13.blogspot.co.uk/

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  8. I am so with you on the way you write about products. Just because I didn't like or find something worked for me, it doesn't mean that I can say it's no good for anyone - how do I know? We're all different, product ranges are different and even individual batches of items can be different. I, as a blogger and a person, wouldn't want to be written off by the whole world on the basis of one experience so I wouldn't do it to any other person or brand!

    One thing I love about being a blogger is the twitter chats! (So much so that I made #ltbloggers!) But one thing I think that's bad about blogging is the cliques and blogger vs blogger disputes that seem to be so common - particularly on Twitter. I feel that sometimes, new bloggers don't feel welcome or at ease to talk to their blogger peers. And there seems to be a lot of disputes and bad feeling goes around. Bloggers should be all about celebrating each other's similarities and differences, not tearing one another down and creating spats that look like the comments section of Daily Mail articles.

    We're all doing what we love - why can't we just be happy with that? :)

    Michelle -x-
    Sugardust and Starlight


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    1. I completely agree that unfortunately new bloggers can be put off by the minority of negative people :( xx

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  9. I've been blogging for a lot less time than you (congrats on reaching a year!) but even I've already noticed these positive and the negatives! I totally agree with everything you've said here! Criticising peoples lack of originality is so negative and unnecessary! However meeting like-minded people and being part of an amazing community is such a lovely aspect and makes blogging so worth it!

    Katya | The Beauty Harbour

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  10. I completely agree with your points! Being part of the community and meeting like-minded people is the best part of blogging. But having the opportunity to discover/try new things, being invited to events it's such a lovely side of blogging as well. I have read lots of posts lately about people not being original and could not agree more with you on that, if I liked the marble background in my favourite blogs why can't I use it for myself?? Yes, there are some trends that come and go but, like you said, just do YOU! x

    Mummy’s Beauty Corner

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  11. I wish that we could have the good without the bad, particularly the annoying follow for follow people! But before reading this I had never thought that sticking to blogging was an achievement for me! Like I never stick to anything!
    Jodie xo // Jodie Loue

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  12. Really like this post, so true.

    Negative comment and jealousy... Too much of these happening. Mostly in small countries like mine.

    Katja <3

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  13. You're right about the sticking to a hobby part! I've giving up pretty much everything I did so far but I don't see an end to my blogging anytime soon. Also I've met so many people because of my blog, it's just insane!
    xx

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  14. Totally agree with these points, well said, Jasmine.
    I blog for fun, I don't care if my images are a little dull etc but I can tell they are improving since starting.
    I've gotten to know some amazing people through this hobby and the hopefully will always outweigh the bad.
    Facebook groups scare me too - all so very uptight.

    Gillian  xx  EyelinerFlicks

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    1. Exactly, we are improving all the time :) xx

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  15. I agree with all of these, definitely a great community to get to know other blogging - I've started beauty blogging only last year but on a personal note have been for 5 years! Sometimes I do think that some comments are unnecessary and insincere but I guess we all have that one person who does that! xx

    www.angerawrs.co.uk

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  16. The "cool post, follow me" comments are the actual worst! If anything it's going to make you want to not follow them! I so agree on the community one as well - I love how much bloggers support each other and want to help each other succeed!

    Steph - http://nourishmeclean.blogspot.com

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  17. I loved this post - so true about the spammy and negative comments; I got one once where I'd jokingly said 'Ooh I've made up a word' whilst writing about a hair product, and their only comment was 'that's actually already a word.' OK Dictionary Police! Haha. But anyway, I love the same things you love about being a blogger and also like that this hobby allows me to indulge in my two favourite things, writing and photography.
    Rebecca | The Two Twenty Somethings
    Xx

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  18. What a fantastic post, I loved reading it and I couldn't agree with you more. I'm lucky enough not to have had negative comments yet and being a mother also means that my activity on social media accounts is kept to a bare minimum. I know I should be more active if I want to grow on these channels but I'm kinda glad I miss out on all the bitchiness x

    Beauty with charm | Zoeva Giveaway

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  19. Oh I absolutely hate F4F and L4L comments! Grrr.
    I love being able to meet new people with the same interests as me and see myself and my blog grow ;)

    Love, Charline | Charline Has a Blog

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  20. I'm against 'follow for follow' term, no matter what. But some people use it to broaden their network, somehow. You know, like, if I follow yours and you follow me back then we become friends. While the system doesn't go that way -_-"

    For this issue, I've stated clearly that I'm not accepting any requests for following back and the explanation I've written on the FAQ section :)

    And meeting like-minded people has never been this great, right? :D It's soooo fun to talk about everything we like where people don't ask us back simple question like "What's that?" "Why do you use that product?" LOL :p

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    1. I also don't know anyone who doesn't find it annoying so I don't know why people think it will work! xx

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  21. Totally agree with everything you've said Jasmine! I never know what to say back to follow for follow comments and usually end up following them haha I will be taking a stand next time it happens!

    Danielle's Beauty Blog

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  22. I think your first point was the one that stuck with me the most because I completely agree. While outright stealing is one thing (and even that is a grey area where it can be near impossible to determine something with 100% certainty), whether it's blogging or something else, "originality" is a challenging expectation to meet these days. As you said, there is rarely anything anyone has thought of that someone else hasn't thought of or done before - especially in specified niches like beauty or lifestyle blogs. That's why whenever I'm introducing something "new" on the blog, I say something like "I'm sure someone has done this before" or if I have direct inspiration, I'll say who (but even then you'd drive yourself crazy trying to pin point the "original source" of anything i.e. who's idea was it to do empties post, really?) :-)


    Beauty Isles | An Island Girl's Beauty and Lifestyle Blog


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    1. Exactly! Even if I'm inspired by another blogger I just mention it in the post that this is my spin on a vaguely similar idea :) xx

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  23. I have been blogging for less then a year and I loved seeing my improvements in the qaulity of my blog, and I also love that it gives you the opportunity of meeting people with the same interests as you!

    http://www.notesofglam95.blogspot.it/

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  24. Great honest post. You have to do what makes you happy and you enjoy, there will always be an opinion on things and there's no right or wrong really. It's great that the blogging community is on whole friendly and down to earth. xx

    franklyflawless.com

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  25. now, i've sent out some passive agressive tweets in my day, but mostly for good reason, due to something another blogger personally did to me, or because all of the chats were about the same thing (did that today actually). but i'll never get the whole "oh my god, so sick of a marble background" or "turn down the exposure on your blog pictures" thing. like...that's their blog, not yours. you're not the blogging police, let them do what they want.

    brooke | brooke elise

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    1. Yeah that's different!

      I love my marble background overexposed photos, haterz gonna hate... ;) xx

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  26. Great post. Follow for follow? Lol! Joking! I have just started getting into blogging again so i haven't really experienced some of these things yet! I hope i keep up at it like you!!

    Jacynta xx
    www.jacyntawalsh.com

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  27. Fab post beaut, I have to agree no matter how original you think an idea may be someone somewhere has probably already had the same idea. I always love going back to my original posts to see how far I’ve come no matter how cringe it may be and I love how many lovely people I have met through blogging :)

    Charlee XO | CharmedCharlee

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  28. Great post, the thing about originality totally grinds my gears too, I just don't get it! Your first two points for the best things are totally the same for me, it's why I keep doing it!

    www.hollysparkle.co.uk

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  29. I loved this post, you got everything spot on!! I totally agree wit you that it's so annoying when you've spent a lot of time and effort writing a post only to be left with comments of 'follow for follow's'! xx

    Blushhx

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  30. I can relate to so many of these posts. My biggest pet peeve is the 'like for like' and 'follow for follow' etc purely because there's usually no other comment left with it. I happily check out everyone's blogs if they leave a link but it really annoys me when they only ask for a follow. I've seen my photography improve quite a large amount since I started blogging (not trying to sound big headed at all!!).

    Emily // Beauty and Lifestyle Blog

    xx

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    1. Exactly, it's much better to leave people genuine comments! xx

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  31. Cool Post, let's follow each other, shall we?......................:-):-):-)

    I honestly could not resist the temptation of writing that!!! I absolutely love this post and I was just nodding along the way as I read because you hit the nail on the head. It totally grinds my tits (excuse my French) when other bloggers complain about marble backgrounds and whatnots...like why can't you just mind your photos and let other marble obsessed bloggers mind theirs!! I love some Facebook Groups but a few others really take the biscuit especially with some of their underhanded comments forgetting that they were once new bloggers as well. I generally never ask any questions at all on these groups so I have not had a personal experience but I have seen a few new bloggers being torn down and it 's really sad. For the most part, the blogging community is so amazing and meeting new people and finding new blogs always makes my day. Funny enough, I don't get many of these F4F or L4L comments on my blog but when I do, I just shake my head and ignore them....or just check them out, out of curiosity...xx...Amazing post as always!!!....xx

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    1. I absolutely agree with everything you've said! xx

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  32. Lovely post Jasmin & I totally agree with you on all of them. The thing that gets me down is the follow for follow comments as well...like you said, does anyone actually even follow for a follow?! I personally haven't had any negative comments as such so I am lucky in that respect - you are absolutely right, if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything xx

    Brenda BusyBee | Win a Travalo Perfume Atomiser

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  33. yeah unfortunately I have to agree about the very first comment, too many people criticising others! I always think to myself those that do slate others are just jealous, or insecure of themselves x

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  34. Great post, Jasmine! And I agree with everything you've mentioned.

    I really like your point about the "lack of originality" and I definitely agree that there seems to be growing a trend of people being rude to others while hiding behind a computer. That's so sad! I'm with you... don't like it, then don't read it. As simple as that. But unfortunately some people seem to take pleasure in putting others down. Just remember the problem is with them, not you.

    The follow for follow is another trend that also really irritates me. I always comment back on people that comment on my blog but if I also skip commenting on people that leave me comments like those. I wish they'd understand it's childish & unfriendly.

    But overall, blogging is a great hobby. I also really enjoy seeing my blog grow and it's been so nice to be able to meet some lovely people through it and also work with some great companies I probably wouldn't even know otherwise. xx

    Renata | Speaking Beauty UK

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    1. Yeah it reflects badly on the person when they're rude like that! And I completely agree with you xx

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  35. I agree with all of this! I think it's pretty easy to compare ourselves and our blogs to others but nothing good comes of that.

    Erin | Erin and Katherine Talk Beauty

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  36. I LOVE this post! Everything you've said is so true, I am so over the petty antics of bloggers that I see on Twitter, some of them really do act so self-entitled, maybe they're just being honest and having an opinion but it can be so annoying! And you're right positives definitely outweigh the negatives, I also love that with blogging you can meet people with the same passions as you, it's so refreshing! :)

    Heather Xx
    100waysto30.co.uk

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  37. Great post! Please follow...


    Just kidding. I get those all the time and it drives me bonkers. I tend to just ignore especially when half the time, the "I followed" is just malarkey!

    Angie x | Chocolate & Lipstick || UK Beauty and Lifestyle Blog

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  38. What a wonderful read! I feel like all of these feel true to me. My favorite things (to name just a couple) is feeling like I am putting something into the world that other people want to read. Meeting wonderful, kind people. Sharing and swapping tricks and tips with other people who understand and validate your obsession.
    Least being, people who judge the hobby. Feeling the pressure to have something to show for all the time I pour into this.

    Thanks for a lovely post, Jasmine.
    http://www.lipstickisalife.com/

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    1. I know what you mean people can judge you for being supposedly shallow because you blog about beauty :( xx

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  39. Thankfully I haven't had any negative comments but I hate follow for a follow type comments, they can be so disheartening! The positives, such as the amazing online blogging community, far weight any negatives :) x

    Heather | Of Beauty & Nothingness

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  40. This post is so so on point! Loved everything about it Jasmine and thanks for sharing it :) I agree with the whole rudeness over props and backgrounds, you're one of the kind hearted bloggers who shared how to improve blog photos and it's really helped me! <3 So thankyou so being genuine and actually looking our for other bloggers, it shows what a kind and caring peson you are.
    Also I love meeting like minded people, it feels like your own little community of people who finally know what you're talking about and won't look at you like a crazy person for spending over £60 on beauty in one go!
    Iqra |The Blushing Giraffe x

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    1. Aww I'm so glad you find these things helpful :D thank you for your lovely words and I completely agree haha xx

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  41. Thank you for commenting :) I loved reading through everyone's thoughts xx

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  42. I couldn't agree more with all of these! what a fantastic post :-)
    Abiee xx
    http://www.abieelucas.com

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  43. This is such a lovely post Jasmine! Couldn't agree with you more. Blogging has basically been my saviour this past year. It's such an incredible community and I count myself lucky to be a part of it. xx

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  44. Great post! I have been blogging now for just over a year and luckily haven't received any bad/negative comments from any readers and I understand that it can be hard thinking of new things to blog about but I guess you can't please everybody!

    Tayla | Daisychains16

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  45. Such a great post! I'm a fairly new blogger and I already see these as true. (especially the facebook group one) i read threads all the time and people are so negative to the person asking a simple easy to answer question! I love how you mentioned the community as well, its so open and loving! Really great relatable post!
    http://amanda-speroni.blogspot.ca

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    1. Sometimes I think people look for something to jump down people's throats over :( xx

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