I am not sure if you have been following the hashtags #BehindThisDoor and #WhatTheFeige on Twitter, but there is an interesting conversation to be a part of if you are looking for something new to chat argue about. In the new movie, Spiderman: Homecoming, Robert Downey Jr’s character, Tony Stark, says something to the effect of, “Behind this door are real journalists, not bloggers.” And now, many bloggers are taking issue with this statement. A lot of bloggers that I really respect and that I am a fan of feel a real gut punch by this comment. Many of these bloggers I call friends. So, I sat on this for a few days and really tried to get offended with you in solidarity. But I just couldn’t. Here are the reasons why.
Tony Stark On Bloggers And Why I Don’t Care
1. I am not a journalist. I did not go to journalism school, nor did I get a journalism degree. I also do not work for a reputable paper or news organization that is held to what I think is a higher standard than what bloggers should be held to. I am here to entertain you, people. I am not here to provide you with statistical facts and peer reviewed data. I had stats in college and it was traumatic enough the first time. I am done with that crap.
I am here to entertain you in the most factual and truthful way that I can. I am also here to give opinions, which is not something that a reputable news source should be doing. And I am definitely not spending weeks researching an article I write on this blog. I just am not rolling in that kind of cash. Having said that, if you want to bankroll a project like that, let’s chat. ๐ You should not be relying on me as your trusted news source. You really shouldn’t even be relying on one trusted news source as your trusted news source. You should take in a lot of information from different sources and then think critically about everything that you have learned. I am talking to you, FOX News fans.
This is what I expect from a journalist and this is why I do not consider myself one.
looks fun! ps, it is "integral" https://t.co/241UuMfKc3 — not "intrical"
— Amy JayBee (@BossClaw) May 23, 2017
Anyway, sometimes I screw up and I am totally cool with you calling me out. I get called out about grammatical errors all the time. All. The. Time. Find a hobby, people. ๐ But seriously, since I am not a journalist, and should not be held to the same standard, I definitely don’t expect to get the Brian Williams treatment if I do screw up. A good Twitter-lashing is sufficient punishment.
Just like journalists are not novelists and novelists are not poets, bloggers are not journalists. That does not mean that one is better than the other. That just means they are different. We are ALL important. Sure, Tony Stark is insinuating that one is better than the other, but that is just his opinion. Just like this post is just my opinion. No one has to agree. If you are happy in what you do, who cares what anyone else thinks anyway? You do you. You having a different opinion than mine doesn’t invalidate mine. And you potentially thinking my job is “less than” doesn’t make it so. It’s just an opinion in a sea of many, many opinions.
2. Tony Stark is a smart ass. Personally, that’s why I love him. And it would be hard for him to be so funny if he couldn’t say anything for fear of offending people. And Tony Stark totally doesn’t worry about offending people. No one got upset when he referred to Dr. Banner as a “big old bag of weed” pothead, though he was also generalizing that for someone like the Hulk to be “calm” he must be a pothead. The potheads probably thought that was funny, though.
Anyway, in the grand scheme of things Tony Stark isn’t even really a super hero. He is a rich dude with a fancy suit. Unless of course you count being a smart ass as a super power – which I totally do. Being a smartass is also part of my charm. And I am hoping that is why some of you like my blog. ๐
3. The term “mommy blogger” is not offensive. I get referred to as a “mommy blogger” all the time. Look around. How much mommy related stuff do I post on this here piece of the interwebs? I refer to myself as a lifestyle, entertainment and travel blogger. But I am also a mommy. My munchkin is 20 years old. So, I am definitely not offended by the term mommy blogger. I am a mommy and I am a blogger. Therefore, by that definition, I am technically a mommy blogger. So, that is a more factual way of referring to me than as a journalist.
4. I can understand where Journalists are coming from. I have a Bachelors Degree in Psychology. In totality, I spent about 10 years working on it. I earned about 1/3 of my credits as a single mom going to community college with classes spread out over many years. Then I finished my Associates after I got married. In 2009, I started at Appalachian State University where I drove back and forth 2 hours EACH way, taking classes all year including summer while also working and taking care of my family – earning my Bachelors by the next year. My Bachelors in Psychology is something I worked VERY hard to earn.
Having said that, I am not a psychologist, but I do have A LOT more knowledge about Psychology and personality than most people I know. I can also see why people like to differentiate between bloggers and journalists. After I worked my ass off to get my Psychology degree, other people that I knew who did not have a degree in Psychology suddenly did. It was amazing to me to see Communications degrees become Psychology degrees overnight. I still know people who have Psychology degrees on Facebook who do not, in fact, have a Psychology degree. I mean, if you are not happy with the degree you chose, get another one. I totally changed majors like 3 times before I discovered my love of Psychology. So, I am one of the people who have been offended by people referring to their Fashion Merchandising degree, Communications or other non-psychology degree or even Psychology MINOR as an actual Psychology degree. It’s not.
Be proud of your own accomplishments and don’t try to steal other people’s.
And being the resident “expert” on personality, I have to say that I TOTALLY think that wise crack about bloggers was something Tony Stark would have said. I am totally happy and comfortable with what I do. Tony Stark’s {or anyone else’s} approval is not needed, lol. ๐
To Sum This Mess Up…
I am not in the least bit offended by that line in the movie nor is this the first movie that I heard something like this in. When I was a radio deejay, I got to hear all about from non-country fans how my station sucked. When I was a telemarketer, I got to hear tons of opinions about how I should get a “real job.” When I was a waitress at a popular steakhouse, many people felt the need to share with me how other steakhouses were better. And, when I got my Psychology degree, I was made aware how shrinks are just hacks. Whatever you do, someone won’t like it or respect it. But lots of others will. I think it’s best to focus on them and forget the haters. You will NEVER convert everyone or have all people respect you. Never. So, why not focus on the good? Share your opinions and educate people as to why they should respect you, but don’t take it personally and let it get you down when they don’t.
I don’t need respect to pay my bills. I just need to hustle and make that money. And as long as I am proud of myself and my accomplishments and I can sleep at night, that’s all I need. And just as I don’t need anyone else’s validation, neither do you. Maybe this movie has a line in it talking shit about bloggers – but they still wanted help from bloggers in promoting this same movie. So they know what’s up. ๐
Consider this – if movies, books, songs and TV shows left out everything that could potentially offend someone, would there even be enough material to work with? No matter what is said, someone won’t like it. And, I don’t think that I am a special, untouchable person simply because I am a blogger. I think we should pick our fights carefully. And a fictional superhero in a fictional movie thinking that I am not a journalist because I am a blogger just isn’t an argument I care about.
So, What Do You Think?
So, what say you? Are bloggers journalists? Is The Hulk a pothead? Were you offended by what Tony Stark said about bloggers? Were you offended by what I said? Do you even care one way or the other? Do you even know who Tony Stark is or have you been confused this entire post? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
And, in case you missed it – I threw in a little something special for my largest and most dedicated audience, the Punctuation Police. I used both “smartass” and “smart ass” in this piece. I don’t know which one is right nor do I care enough to find out. But, I’m sure you do so I’ll be seeing you on Twitter later.
Game on.
Scott says
It didn’t bother me what he said. But…it was unnecessary. Bloggers do a LOT to help promote his movies, and it is kindof like biting the hand that’s feeding you.
Stacey Werner says
I struggled with this issue as well. When I first heard about it, I got caught up in the group of people upset. I even went so far as to put a tweet out there. However, I took it down 10 minutes later; it just didn’t sit right.
I’m not a reporter. I don’t want to be a reporter. Frankly, in this time of “fake news” accusations and (unjustified) hatred of reporters, I’m glad I’m not a reporter.
If I’m going to get upset about anything blogger related, it is going to be with people who feel that we aren’t worth paying to promote something. Now that is a Twitter rant I could get behind.
Dawn McAlexander says
Oh I am definitely with you on that. What kills me are the people writing, asking for promotion. Then when you quote a price, they either let you know that your audience is far to small for the price quoted {yet somehow they found you} or that they will give you “great exposure” in exchange for your work. Now THAT is something to fuss about. Gee, thanks.
Mary Johnson says
I found the line funny. He was driving home to the kid that he hit the big time. While bloggers do a lot to promote movies and products, for the most part, it’s usually in exchange for money, goods, or tickets.