The ugly 2012 observations . . .

Hello All

Hope you're all fabulous and getting ready to drink and be merry over the next few days.

Anyway if you've been following my blog/twitter from the early days you will know that I thoroughly enjoy my time blogging (albeit a lil quiet at times), and I am extremely grateful for all the opportunities I have had. This past year has been filled with lots of exciting things in the blogging community, which have been truly amazing but on the other hand, I have seen some things which I have said nothing about all year, but feel compelled to do so today. So here goes . . .

''YAY . . you've won my giveaway, please forward your address and I will post out your prize''

Giveaways . . where do I start? We all like giveaways; whether that is hosting them or winning them. Throughout the year there have been some fab prizes which I think are absolutely amazing. Of course, when we win these lovely prizes, we are under the impression the individual hosting the giveaway will post the prize, but this year for some bloggers, that has not been the case. Following a giveaway that I won in September that giveaway prize til this very day has never arrived. A tweet and two further emails to that person to ask what was happening fell on deaf ears, and I heard nothing! I mentioned this on twitter, and I was incredibly shocked and surprised to hear that so many other bloggers have also endured this same experience; win prizes, but never receive them. That in my opinion is unacceptable; fair enough if you are no longer able to provide the prize or for whatever reason, let the winner know! Being in contact with the person will go down a lot better than just ignoring emails/tweets, which is rude! Not only is it bad manners, but also it is false advertising, which I believe is now a way to ''boost'' followers''!

''Sorry, but you live outside my posting area''

I responded to a tweet not long ago, told to follow that person so they could DM. All was going well until I was asked where abouts am I located. Because I am not within the same posting vicinity as that person I was told I couldn't have the prize!!  Fair enough if people are outside the posting area, and you're unable to post the prize that's fine but for the love of God state that within the Terms and Conditions on the giveaway/tweet! Not everyone is telepathic, your twitter bio doesn't qualify as part of the Terms and Conditions, and in the long run it's to cover your own backside, and not waste peoples time.

Manners cost nothing, right?

**Ahhh my favourite topic** How many of you were taught from a young age to respond to people you may not necessarily know in a polite but friendly manner? So why is it a select few people within the blogging community are unable to sustain this within their adult lives? I mean if someone tweets you a query/question, surely it's just manners to respond back? I fully appreciate that some have busy lives/large followings, but it only takes a few seconds to respond back to the odd query tweets/emails people send; they take the time to send them, so why not take the time to respond back?

Bullying is an ugly trait 

Bullying . . .HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT! I have seen this happen too many times this year, and quite frankly it is an ugly trait to have! I suffered it last year from a blogger but kept very quiet as I didn't want to cause a scene, but I was bullied into saying nothing at all! This person proceeded to then twisting everything, and with a larger following than myself at the time, I had no leg to stand on. Let me tell you this - those who bully and think it's cool and great to put those down who enjoy blogging you WILL be found out! The people I have seen bullied, picked on this year for no apparent reason are the most friendliest people ever and have bent over backwards to help a lot of people. I never understand why bullies feel the need to do it, I mean how would they like it if it was their child/brother/sister or some family relation being bullied for no apparent reason? They sure as hell wouldn't like it, so don't do it to people you don't know behind a computer screen; it's cowardly and it's ugly!

#BBloggers

I have participated in this Sunday weekly chat since last year, as at first I found it incredibly helpful and a great way to find new bloggers/blogs. However this year it just seems to be ''The Battle of Do this, Don't do this'', and quite frankly it is absolutely ridiculous. Everyone within the blogging community has different styles, tastes, thinking, opinions, which is fair enough (it would be a pretty boring world if we all had the same thinking and etc). That side, if someone says something that you don't like, necessarily agree with, don't go firing tweets at them, deliberately trying to start an argument. The whole point of #BBloggers is to tweet helpful advice, not to fire insults, start unnecessary arguments.

 . . . . And breathe! lol

I have never done a 'blunt, but frank' blog post before, but I felt compelled to do it. I appreciate that perhaps not everyone is going to agree to what I have written, which is fair enough. But I do hope perhaps people take on board what I have written, and help to make 2013 a delightful blogging community.

Stay warm, stay safe.

Merry Christmas

**Prepares for abuse . . .**