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The problem with being a "BLOGGER" today
I know there has been a lot of drama happening recently, and this entire thing is extremely immature and has put bloggers in a really BAD LIGHT.
It got me thinking what does being a blogger even mean nowadays.
Blogger - At this rate, everyone can be a blogger... Oh wait, or should I say, everyone wants to be a blogger? Create an account, start up a blog, *BAM* you're officially self-titled a BLOGGER. #Boogerplease
Bloggers today aren't what they used to be.
I can safely say that at least 80% of the population in Singapore have this rather huge misconception that bloggers are all about taking nice OOTDs, posting superficial stuff, writing reviews and having a substantial amount of followers, getting sponsored from head to toe, bed to car. Yes, this are what bloggers do, and I things I won't deny doing as well. But IT FUCKING TAKES MORE THAN JUST THAT in order to sustain in such a competitive environment.
I've been blogging for the last 6 years, since 2008. Starting a blog with the idea in mind that I wanted to share my opinions with everyone. Never have I chose this path in hope of getting "chio" sponsored stuff, or thinking that this is the easy way out to success or fame. I was just lucky enough to have my first ever engagement in late 2011, and that was when I began blogging professionally. FYI, that means that I receive a stable income from it, and I regard it as a full-time job in all seriousness.
1) Self-proclaimed titles
It gives me goosebumps when I'm named "Superstar" or "Celebrity."
I'm not even kidding, but this irks me real bad. Whenever my peers or readers call me that, never once have I felt that I was eligible for that title. There was this one time, I was waiting for the lift at Cineleisure and a group of readers/followers approached me to ask me for a photo, that followed by a couple of tourists asking if I were a celebrity, and all I did was shook my head with diffidence and smiled with ignominy.
Of course, it'd be an honour to be addressed as one, but that should never be something one claims to be.
You can call yourself ANYTHING but whether you are OR NOT is a whole other thing.
You can have a friend with a very nice camera take a nice OOTDs for you, and add a watermark stating "photography" after their name in the picture, but that alone doesn't make you a model.
I may not be the highest-ranking blogger in SG, but I've put in years of effort to be able to get to where I am today, and I'm definitely still NOT THE BEST. Being a blogger used to be something special to me. I used to have people coming up to me telling me how capable I am to be making more money and to have considerably high amount of followers on all my social platforms, than the people my age.
Nowadays, it's so different, we get 10 year olds who would label themselves as a blogger from owning a blog and people who think they are "the shit" from the followers they BOUGHT.
2) Professional blogger vs. "BLOGGER"
Yes indeed, as a professional blogger, I won't deny that high-paying bloggers earn much more than most freshly graduates, but just because we don't go through the "hard way" (get a proper job that requires me to work for 9 hours a day) of earning money, it doesn't mean that whatever we do is easy.
I'm not sure about the others who blog for a living, but personally, I've been juggling between school and my career for the past 3 years.
It matters to me to write well
It matters to me to come up with content that my readers can relate to
It matters to me to be consistent and that I will never be complacent even when I'm on a roll
It matters to me that I do not succumb to the norms of society, and narrow-minded haters that expect me to cater to their likes and dislikes
It matters to me that I do not deceive my viewers by advertising things that even I don't believe in, just because I was paid to do so
If these things do not matter to you, then you should question yourself if you're really cutout to be a blogger.
Yes, I could easily list a zillion perks of being a well-known blogger, such as - Getting recognised; C'mon it's a good feeling to have people coming up to you, making you feel you're so fucking famous. So don't bull and tell me you hate the fame or attention cos you know you're lying to yourself. And if you really hate it so much then shut down your blog and write everything in a god damn diary.
Even 1/2k followers for a "blogger" is considered high compared to an average person and some boast to their friends just to feed their ego.
Honestly, do you really think you're that cool? Cos even I don't think I'm cool, I can afford shampoo, I can afford my own clothes. There's nothing to show off about, nothing to rave on your blog all day long on how you've been sponsored this and sponsored that, if that's really all you have to say.
Yes I do get sponsors, and blog about them, but that's not the only thing that I'm concerned with and talk about.
3) Success comes to those who earn it.
It's no secret that people can rise to fame overnight. Some try extremely hard to, perhaps by starting some little drama because of their little insecurities or doing nonsensical stuff. Soon, they become the talk of the town, they trend for awhile, but whatever it is, it doesn't last. All these come and go. Even if you're good looking, as long as you don't have a strong opinion and you're following blindly with the crowd, nobody will keep up with you for long.
In time to come, you'd die off and be replaced. There will always be another you that will come along.
To be irreplaceable, one has always gotta be different.
I've seen people who worked hard for the things they are passionate about, even when they hit rock bottom, they never fail to stand up strong. These are the people that I look up to and whom I feel we should all respect. There are still people like these who exist today, and no doubt, some of them have gained the success they've earned. I'm not saying this to convince you that I'm one of these people, but I just want you to know that that group of bloggers still exist, and if you wanna "worship" them, make sure you choose the right one to love blindly.
Labels: Rants, Views
The problem with being a "BLOGGER" today
I know there has been a lot of drama happening recently, and this entire thing is extremely immature and has put bloggers in a really BAD LIGHT.
It got me thinking what does being a blogger even mean nowadays.
Blogger - At this rate, everyone can be a blogger... Oh wait, or should I say, everyone wants to be a blogger? Create an account, start up a blog, *BAM* you're officially self-titled a BLOGGER. #Boogerplease
Bloggers today aren't what they used to be.
I can safely say that at least 80% of the population in Singapore have this rather huge misconception that bloggers are all about taking nice OOTDs, posting superficial stuff, writing reviews and having a substantial amount of followers, getting sponsored from head to toe, bed to car. Yes, this are what bloggers do, and I things I won't deny doing as well. But IT FUCKING TAKES MORE THAN JUST THAT in order to sustain in such a competitive environment.
I've been blogging for the last 6 years, since 2008. Starting a blog with the idea in mind that I wanted to share my opinions with everyone. Never have I chose this path in hope of getting "chio" sponsored stuff, or thinking that this is the easy way out to success or fame. I was just lucky enough to have my first ever engagement in late 2011, and that was when I began blogging professionally. FYI, that means that I receive a stable income from it, and I regard it as a full-time job in all seriousness.
1) Self-proclaimed titles
It gives me goosebumps when I'm named "Superstar" or "Celebrity."
I'm not even kidding, but this irks me real bad. Whenever my peers or readers call me that, never once have I felt that I was eligible for that title. There was this one time, I was waiting for the lift at Cineleisure and a group of readers/followers approached me to ask me for a photo, that followed by a couple of tourists asking if I were a celebrity, and all I did was shook my head with diffidence and smiled with ignominy.
Of course, it'd be an honour to be addressed as one, but that should never be something one claims to be.
You can call yourself ANYTHING but whether you are OR NOT is a whole other thing.
You can have a friend with a very nice camera take a nice OOTDs for you, and add a watermark stating "photography" after their name in the picture, but that alone doesn't make you a model.
I may not be the highest-ranking blogger in SG, but I've put in years of effort to be able to get to where I am today, and I'm definitely still NOT THE BEST. Being a blogger used to be something special to me. I used to have people coming up to me telling me how capable I am to be making more money and to have considerably high amount of followers on all my social platforms, than the people my age.
Nowadays, it's so different, we get 10 year olds who would label themselves as a blogger from owning a blog and people who think they are "the shit" from the followers they BOUGHT.
2) Professional blogger vs. "BLOGGER"
Yes indeed, as a professional blogger, I won't deny that high-paying bloggers earn much more than most freshly graduates, but just because we don't go through the "hard way" (get a proper job that requires me to work for 9 hours a day) of earning money, it doesn't mean that whatever we do is easy.
I'm not sure about the others who blog for a living, but personally, I've been juggling between school and my career for the past 3 years.
It matters to me to write well
It matters to me to come up with content that my readers can relate to
It matters to me to be consistent and that I will never be complacent even when I'm on a roll
It matters to me that I do not succumb to the norms of society, and narrow-minded haters that expect me to cater to their likes and dislikes
It matters to me that I do not deceive my viewers by advertising things that even I don't believe in, just because I was paid to do so
If these things do not matter to you, then you should question yourself if you're really cutout to be a blogger.
Yes, I could easily list a zillion perks of being a well-known blogger, such as - Getting recognised; C'mon it's a good feeling to have people coming up to you, making you feel you're so fucking famous. So don't bull and tell me you hate the fame or attention cos you know you're lying to yourself. And if you really hate it so much then shut down your blog and write everything in a god damn diary.
Even 1/2k followers for a "blogger" is considered high compared to an average person and some boast to their friends just to feed their ego.
Honestly, do you really think you're that cool? Cos even I don't think I'm cool, I can afford shampoo, I can afford my own clothes. There's nothing to show off about, nothing to rave on your blog all day long on how you've been sponsored this and sponsored that, if that's really all you have to say.
Yes I do get sponsors, and blog about them, but that's not the only thing that I'm concerned with and talk about.
3) Success comes to those who earn it.
It's no secret that people can rise to fame overnight. Some try extremely hard to, perhaps by starting some little drama because of their little insecurities or doing nonsensical stuff. Soon, they become the talk of the town, they trend for awhile, but whatever it is, it doesn't last. All these come and go. Even if you're good looking, as long as you don't have a strong opinion and you're following blindly with the crowd, nobody will keep up with you for long.
In time to come, you'd die off and be replaced. There will always be another you that will come along.
To be irreplaceable, one has always gotta be different.
I've seen people who worked hard for the things they are passionate about, even when they hit rock bottom, they never fail to stand up strong. These are the people that I look up to and whom I feel we should all respect. There are still people like these who exist today, and no doubt, some of them have gained the success they've earned. I'm not saying this to convince you that I'm one of these people, but I just want you to know that that group of bloggers still exist, and if you wanna "worship" them, make sure you choose the right one to love blindly.
Labels: Rants, Views
ABOUT ME
Hey there! I share about anything and everything here. You can choose to leave, but I think you should get to know me a little more before you pass your judgement. Check out my FAQ section if it helps.
Who are you?
I'm Naomi, better known as Naomi Neo, and I'm born on the 25th of January 1996. I don't have any siblings, but I'm grateful to have the best parents in the world, who love me unconditionally, and a best friend Trixy who's been there for me for the past 5 years. Currently titled as the youngest "Celebrity Blogger" under my management, Gushcloud - With approximately 124k likes & followers on my Facebook profile and page, 80k followers on twitter and 116k on Instagram currently.
What are you known for?
Honestly, I've no idea what am I known for in majority's eyes, but here's what I presume and hope to be recognised for - I've been writing on all my social platforms since 2009, and got kind of known from writing my thoughts and views on Facebook. My first blog post that went viral was an entry dedicated to my good friend back then, titled "Mothers," in late 2010. Noticing the positive results, I decided to take blogging a little more seriously in 2011. Since then, I've been told that my posts were relatable and inspiring to many, which hence, got me to where I am today.
How well to do is your family? You seem rather spoilt.
I think I'm just average and if you think I'm wealthy rich and spoilt, you're so wrong. I mean yes, my parents do pamper me cos I'm the only child, but I've never taken their money since 2013. And I pay for all my clothes, accessories, make up and 90% of my daily necessities from the money I earn.
What are your stats?
I'm a UK 4 or 6, I've been stuck between 38kg - 40kg. Since I've never really talked about my height, you can deduce I'm exceptionally short and I'm not proud of it - So if you know it, good for you. If you don't, too bad I'm not revealing it. :p
Are you single?
Yes I am. My last relationship was in 2013, and I'm not seeing anyone at the moment.
Do you photoshop your pictures?
No, I don't. Cos I honestly have no idea how to use that crazily complexed software. Ok, it's not very complicated I suppose. I'm just god damn lazy. I only use it to design my texts etc. However, I've been using PicMonkey to edit my pictures. Yeah I know, the main question's still back to whether I "beautify" myself or not. Er, I've no idea what's up with people constantly harping on this issue. The last time I claimed that I don't, was probably in 2012 (which I really didn't back then) But along the way, I figured it was necessary to "upgrade" myself and learn how to. If I can't do plastic surgery, at least make my pictures look chio what. If you know how to, question is, WHY NOT? And, don't you guys wanna see nice pictures too?!?! However I'd like to emphasise that - I do not beautify myself in all my pictures. I only do so when I feel the need to. And 3/4 of the time, I only make adjustments to my gigantic, elephant legs WHICH I admit, I'm very insecure about. So don't tell me my legs are damn nice la, cos some pictures are deceiving. Anyway, I've tons of videos everywhere... Judge for yourself?
Did you have any plastic surgery done?
No I didn't. Firstly, I could not afford to. Secondly, even if I do have the money, my parents are definitely not open to the idea. Thirdly, if I have the money and my parents' consent... OH PLEASE, I would have made myself look a zillion times better than how I am now. So some of you may ask, why is it that I have parallel eyelids. I've mentioned this before, but since some of you are too lazy to find out the truth - Fyi, I am born with double eyelids to begin with, I just wanted to have parallel instead of tapered eyelids. And in case you're really sensitive about it, I'm not saying tapered's not nice... It's just personal preference. In case you don't know what I'm talking about...
So yeah, I tried using eyelid tapes for about 6 months in 2011, and miraculously, have permanent parallel lids since then. I think I'm really lucky. Why do I say so? Cos it doesn't work for everyone.
Don't you think it's better to be natural?
Unfortunately, not everyone's blessed with natural beauty. And even though I've never claimed to be ugly, I've never claimed to be pretty by nature either. I won't deny I've been rather extravagant when it comes to the amount of money I spend on things to beautify my physical appearance, cos sadly, it is important to look good in this society today. You can read more on my views about physical appearance (here). And I don't see anything wrong with wanting to look good or better. Everybody wants to. If you tell me you value natural beauty, I'm cool with it, but if you tell me about your self-righteous logic on how it's wrong to enhance your appearance... Fuck you, go marry a plant since you like it natural.
Don't you think it's better to be natural?
Unfortunately, not everyone's blessed with natural beauty. And even though I've never claimed to be ugly, I've never claimed to be pretty by nature either. I won't deny I've been rather extravagant when it comes to the amount of money I spend on things to beautify my physical appearance, cos sadly, it is important to look good in this society today. You can read more on my views about physical appearance (here). And I don't see anything wrong with wanting to look good or better. Everybody wants to. If you tell me you value natural beauty, I'm cool with it, but if you tell me about your self-righteous logic on how it's wrong to enhance your appearance... Fuck you, go marry a plant since you like it natural.
Are you insecure about your looks?
Yes I am, to a certain extent. I believe you would too, if you have a hundred people reminding you about your flaws every single day. But the thing is, I love myself. So I've accepted that's it's fine not to be perfect.
Do you think you're attention seeking?
Most ridiculous question ever. My question to you is, are you not? This is probably my millionth time saying this, but I think everyone seeks for attention. The only thing that differentiates each of us would be the miles we would travel for it. From a level of - I want attention to Kim Kardashian, it's just a matter of fact how much you want it. And I see absolutely nothing wrong with it unless you're doing something despicable, and harming someone to your own benefits. Besides, no matter how much I love it - It may sound ironic, but I hate unnecessary attention. I only like it when it's for something I worked hard to gain. If you know me well enough, I'm not the kind who would go nude just to get myself to where I want. (Just an example)
How do you deal with your haters?
I've been receiving nasty comments since the day I had a blog, in 2007. I've seen the worst, and it came to a point where it amuses me, because I actually get to find out things I didn't know about myself. I used to care so much, I would cry myself to bed on most nights and I even had issues stepping out of my house at a period of time. However, it took me years to realise how stupid it is to reciprocate to what people who don't me have to say, especially stories/rumours they fabricate. I'm fine with constructive criticisms because I've learnt to take it the positive way - Helping me to improve and get better. Of course it still pisses me off at times when I see untrue stuff about me circulated around by my haters, and I'd either ignore it (if it's nothing too serious) or address it, in other words, stand up for myself (if I find a need to.) And when I ignore it, I don't look at it in a way where I'm a coward or I admit to it - I just find it a waste of time to acknowledge the existence of these people, when most of them are just dying to get my response from their juvenile remarks. Yet when I retaliate, (which I rarely do these days) I only do so when something's getting out of hand. Like if it's tarnishing my reputation or sort. After all, I'm a girl. And I wouldn't "just ignore it" if it affects my name. If I don't stand up for myself, who would? Then again, I don't think that means I care about my haters - I just care about myself enough to want to shut your mouth. Besides, I can stop 1, 2 or 3 people from talking about me, but how many times can I do so? Fact is, you can't please everyone. So it's either you focus on what you have, or waste your life by dwelling on what you don't. And for those friends who decided to leave and hate me for what others have to say? Here's a big... THANK YOU. Haha, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have realised who my real friends were.
Do you think you deserve what you have now?
Honestly, I've always felt that I don't in a way, cos of how affected I used to be about what people have to say - "There are better looking people out there," "You are not good enough!" etc. However, I've came to a realisation that it's impossible to be the best. Cos there will always be someone better, no matter how good you think you are. And as long as I think I've done my best, I don't see why I don't deserve to be where I am today. I've worked so hard for the things I have, and it's not like everything I have is an overnight success. So too bad if you beg to differ and think that a) I'm only here due to my looks, which I think is completely senseless, cos if it was just about my looks, I wouldn't have been around after so long - Taking into consideration, the ever-rising number of good-looking people there are today. b) it's bcos of what I write, cos I definitely won't claim to be the best writer. Somehow it's still a mystery to me why people still read my blog until today. c) and it's probably cos you don't know me well enough. I definitely agree that someone out there deserves this so much more than I do, but I guess it's true that life's unfair, and I'm sorry I have no control over it.
Fan mails, personal questions, or need an advice?
Contact me at asknaomineo@gmail.com
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