Ethical Dilemmas in the Fashion Blogosphere…
Today I found an Etsy store that was UG-LY! The words ‘free form’ were bandied about as if that made up for the complete lack of colour and design principles in the product. I was about to post a picture of the Etsy monstrosity when I stopped and thought ‘Hang on a minute. This is some one’s work. Some one’s artistic integrity. Some poor student working their way through school or some grandma trying to earn a buck to buy her grand-kids a Christmas present. So what if she is trying to sell lumps of unidentifiable crap slapped together with craft glue. Good on her! ’ and then I punched my fist in the air and cheered for goodwill through out the universe. And then I thought ‘Hell that shit’s just gross - someone better put this poor person out of their misery’. And so began my moral dilemma.
We are constantly criticizing the outfits and behaviours of celebrities, musicians, royalty, politicians, our bosses, our mothers, our friends, our boyfriends… the list goes on. Not to mention the seasonal collections of the world’s top designers. We usually do this quietly and behind the other person’s back, generally because we are scared of being hated or being branded a bitch. I’m getting quite a hefty little readership here at Smaggle and I’m noticing that the things I say are reaching bigger audiences than they ever have before. Which means I have to start being more careful when Smaggle McBitchface comes to play because she can be a nasty little wench. I have never hesitated to verbally bash the celebrities that irritate me - Anne Hathaway, Kiera Knightly, Kirsten Dunst and (shudder…) Bindi Irwin. Why? Because I am NOBODY to them. They couldn’t care less because not one of them will ever read my blog or meet me in person. And if they do ever find my blog then they are stupid because they have clearly been googling themselves and that’s lame. Also they are celebrities so they put themselves in a vulnerable position. But doesn’t the owner of the Shop of Crap do the same thing? Doesn’t anyone putting their product out there invite criticism?
The point is this - Do we have the right to tell people that they suck? And should their social status dictate whether or not we fire the bullet? The only thing stopping me from outing the hideous Etsy store is that I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I have no problems having a dig at Bindi and she’s eight years old. That makes me a horrible bully and I’m literally picking on a little girl. So why am I so concerned with the feelings of Fugly Nanna over at Etsy trying to sell what looks like mouldy muffins? She has commited a far worse crime than little Bindi - Bindi is just annoying. Fugly Nanna is actually creating ugliness and polluting the world with it. She really should be put behind bars.
So what do you think? Should we care about everyone? Or care about no-one? And when it comes to (constructive) criticism are the lines really blurred depending on who it is that you are dissing?
Love Lady Smaggle
xxx
Disclaimer - I don’t actually think it’s okay to put other people down. After all who the hell am I to talk? I just think that the most admirable trait in people is the quest for self-improvement. And how are we ever to improve ourselves if others are too scared to (gently) point out our weaknesses?
Oh and Bindi my love, if you are reading this, don’t take it personally. It’s just that no-one likes a precocious child star. Lucky for you, you won’t be one forever.
Photo from My Ugly Sweater
great post…I wonder about that too.
I have settled upon a pleasant double standard. I would never criticize another blogger, someone on a streetstyle site, or someone who posts to something like wardrobe_remix or stylemob. It seems to me that they are just like me…and if I don’t like someone’s outfit, I can count on the fact that someone else doesn’t like mine. True, by posting our photos online we make them ‘public,’ but no one posts their outfits with the assumption that they’ll become a whipping boy.
I am, however, very comfortable criticizing big brands or more public figures (I have done posts mocking certain Steve Madden shoes and even Marie Claire’s fashion editor.) In their cases, they are ‘fashion insiders’ who set the tone for the industry and have the clout to (in a way, anyhow) tell me what I can and cannot wear…so I feel like my brattiness is a way of fighting back.
As for the Etsy seller, I am glad you didn’t out them.
Even if the stuff is fug (which, I trust, it really really is,) Etsy stuff is handmade and sold by one person…it feels a bit anti-establishment to merit extreme criticism. Hope they don’t trick too many people into buying their wares, though!
hmmm i too think that criticizing celebs/designers etc is fine - i have no idea why!
i have an etsy store: http://www.thetinylittlegirl.etsy.com
and i’m sure heaps of people think my stuff is crap. but as it’s handmade by me and i’m proud of it, i’d rather not hear or read that people hate it
there’s a whole lotta stuff on etsy that i’d never buy, but someone buys it.
to each their own i suppose.
great post lady!
If someone is selling crap on Esty or any other site, i think their lack of sales will speak volumes about the quality of their work
When it comes to peoples style, I think we can’t criticize because THAT is their style. Even for celebrities. Now I think dressing inappropriately for a certain event may warrant criticism.
And why is Bindi annoying? Please explain this one to me as I am indifferent and the last thing I remember about her was the announcement she was born!
I say go for it - as long as you’re sensible about what you say. The internet is an open forum for discussion and criticism so why not use it as such. It’s not like you’re writing for The Age or Variety so it’s doubtful your words will reach very far. You could always change the names of those you are talking about so they can’t find your blog if they decide to google themselves.
ps - thanks for the sending of the disc.
You had me laughing today,
I have trouble to give ‘constructive criticism and criticism’ but when absolutely necessary, I do it. It’s totally the reason you said about being seen as a bitch - lol.
Good point, Ms.Smaggle! I think there’s a fine line between bitchy criticism and constructive criticism. I’ve made a point of my blog to NEVER criticise. Just because insulting people’s taste is destructive and like taking two steps back. People remember negativity more than positivity. One negative statement can stay with them for life - why should we afect people’s lives in that kind of way? It’s bullshit. I say let’s bring more light to the blogoshpere than darkness
Peace love and mung beans (lol),
Ivy xxx
Natasha - Oh me too! I would never pay out a fellow blogger or wardrobe re-mixer. And I think it’s also a matter of taste. Some people might like what Fugly Nanna sells…
Beth - Your stuff is gorgeous! Bead weaving is such a lovely art. But even if your stuff wasn’t to my taste (which it is!) there is no way I would ever criticise it because you obviously have a purpose and have pride in your work.
ShowA59 - I would never be mean to real people. It’s strange isn’t it? Unless it was friend that was dressing inappropriately for a wedding or something. Have you seen Kid-fitness with Bindi? It’s pretty terrifying.
Azz - Well showing a picture of the shop of fug would make it pretty obvious who I was talking about. And no worries about the disk!
Hailey - I know! I totally don’t want people to hate me!
Ivy - I agree with the whole loving each other’s looks etc and that’s what I adore about the fashion blogging world. I read so many blogs of awesome girls through out the world and they are all different and really inspiring. But I am getting a little jack of this rainbows and sunshines stuff that everyone keeps spouting. Why is Go Fug Yourself so popular? Because it’s funny! It’s not funny to go around saying that you love everything. It’s not terribly exciting either. I guess there is fine line and I’m hoping I tred it well. If I pay myself out too then my victims seem less offended!
I’m in a quandry about this one… when ppl criticise me, I have to take for the fact that I’m putting my style out there…but it doesn’t mean it hurts less… granted in my head, I didn’t think I was putting out fugly outfits because fugliness is an objective thing….
I’m really not into bashing designers/celebs/whatever but I think it really depends on how you do it…there’s intelligent bashing and pointless bashing…
Fuck it Honey…slag away! Like all things in life if it is done with style, panache, and bitingly pin-point precision even something as lowly and shallow as bitching can be raised to the level of art. And let’s be honest Lottie, my love you are to “bitch” what Callas was to opera.
super interesting post, and v. honest!
nowadays i wouldn’t diss someone’s coutfit if it was a bit off the wall, because i expect (and know) people think it about me, but i do hate with a passion anyone fake blonde, fake tanned in sweatpants or pjs bottoms, a tiny strappy top and uggs… phew had to vent that! but i most certainly feel making fun of other people for their own traits has a deep set mirror on yourself, for example i would hate these girls because i know that alot of guys consider that the optimum of attractiveness and that would make me jealous.
plus, i think bitching behind people’s backs is better than, like you say, firing the bullet. i know what it’s like to have confidence instantly shattered because someone thinks they have the right to make fun!
you might like this!
http://www.uglyoutfitsnyc.com/
Susie - I agree. I think you need to have a certain level of class about it. I also think it has a lot to do with the intent of the person that you are putting down. If someone makes a genuine effort with their appearence and has a go at working an experimental look then I think that’s great and I would never put some one down for that. It’s also about being about to justify what it is that your saying regardless of whether it’s postive or negative.
Matt & Ged - Ah I’m glowing in your praise! Shall I change my title to Queen Smaggle Mc Bitchface?
Selina - ARGH! I HATE those girls. Just such a huge waste of space. I totally get the frustration that guys find them attractive. It’s the big boobs, slapper make-up, fake nails thing. Ew. We are both ‘chick-hot’ girls not ‘guy-hot girls’ and it can be mighty irritating. I think it’s matter of choosing your words and firing them accurately… straight towards the Britney look a likes!
Even before I sold my own items on Etsy, I did blog posts about things from there I was longing for or cute stuff I found (a lion’s mane knit from yarn comes to mind.) It was rare that I happened to find anything I didn’t really like and it didn’t occur to me to critique it if I did. However, after I started selling it really did become a personal policy not to *ever* critique a fellow seller. As someone above mentioned, poor quality, poor photos or just a poor looking shop will ultimately translate into zero sales so why should I add to the pile on? Besides which, as someone else mentioned, it’s generally *one* person putting those things together–it’s not a team of marketers, designers and executives coming up with the fug that I often see on Zappos.
Awesome post, btw.
We prefer your full title:
Her Majesty Queen Smaggle, Princess Bitchface Del Lacroix, Duchess Witty-Quip, Empress Punnarney Tingle…The Third