As much as I’d like to tell you that the beauty blogging community is friendly and welcoming and that we sit round a campfire, holding hands and singing kumbaya (some of which is true) the truth is, there is also ugliness behind it all that I think is worth talking about. Be warned and all that.
No one will talk about it. It’s always about how much fun it is. But then, you’ve come to expect this of me, haven’t you? 😉
I’ve experienced them all at one point or another, so I’m not talking through my hat. Almost 7 years of blogging brings you a wealth of experience that isn’t always wonderful. Yet, I can say that it has been educational for me to observe social behaviour and to see that stereotypical or not, having a group of women together isn’t always a good thing.
So, you could be a new blogger or you could be an experienced “old-timer” but I’m sure you will, at some point have thought about, or noticed or experienced one of these ugliness in beauty blogging. So, share if you will, or don’t if you’d prefer not to. Just don’t kid yourself that it isn’t happening 😉
Jealousy and Envy
2 sides of the same coin. Sometimes, that feeling of jealousy or envy could be felt by you as you see other bloggers’ meteoric rise while you stagnate. Or it could be the other way around. You may be the target of others’ jealousy and envy because you have something they did not. This is the ugliest side of beauty blogging I’ve had the privilege to see, and it is truly the root of all ugliness. Every other negative experience will come down to this. But it’s a fact so let’s deal with it.
How do you deal with it? If jealousy is felt by you, stamp on it. Grasp it by its horns and headbutt it because it will only hold you back. Instead of feeling envious and jealous, do something about it. Improve yourself, recognise your strengths and play on those. If you are the butt of others’ jealousy, there’s nothing you can do but just go on being awesome 😉
Cattiness / Bitchiness
Fact is the beauty blogging industry is dominated by women. Put a bunch of women together and be prepared to face cattiness and bitchiness. Feeling a little holier than thou? Don’t. No one is a saint, and admit it, at one point or another, you too would have been catty and bitchy. Perhaps someone else got an opportunity you wanted, or they were at an event you weren’t invited to, or they have more followers/fans/groupies than you do. Catfights abound, if you look for it.
How do you deal with it? Can you keep up? Are you able to appear at every event, to churn out a blog post immediately after the event, to show yourself having So. Much. Fun? If you can do all that, do it. Get yourself out there instead of being catty and whiny and bitchy. If you can’t, do what you can within your capabilities. Oh and don’t follow people who make you feel inadequate and unhappy 😛 If you have friends you can talk to, do. It helps to get it out of the system. Oh and don’t start a catfight. You bring yourself down to the lowest level and no one respects it at all. Till today, when I see a certain someone, all I can think of is the catfight she started, rallying her “followers” to support her cause. Big blogger now, but in my eyes, always the smallest and lowest of the low.
Feeling ostracized or that you don’t fit in
If you try to fit in, whether online or in a real life event, and then feel like you stand out like a sore thumb, join the club. Sometimes, I feel almost too old to be joining in the frivolities and being talked down to because bloggers are perceived to be young and pretty 20-somethings doesn’t help. Sometimes (and this is the truth) people ostracize others purpose to suit their nefarious means. It’s a fact of life, it happens everywhere whether you are a blogger or not.
How do you deal with it? People naturally gravitate towards like minds. That’s how I view it. So, find someone with a like mind. At the end of the day, if you are thrust into a social setting with other bloggers who you don’t feel comfortable with, treat it as a job. Be pleasant, be polite, do your job and get out. You don’t have to be friends with everyone if you don’t want to. Fact.
Pressure to conform
Look around and it almost feels like being a beauty blogger means you are predisposed to like pink, pastels, artistic arrangements of beauty products on instagram, “Face Of The Day” looks and blabbing about beauty at every opportunity. It feels like you have to be part of a network or a group. Ever feel that pressure to conform? Nope, you aren’t alone. At some point, I had doubts – should I infuse my site with baby blue and powder pink? Should I at least try to Tweet SOMETHING about beauty? But you know what? It wasn’t me. I hate pink. I hate pastels. I guess, I’m just not your day-to-day beauty blogger. Cute things turn me off. Practical ones turn me on. The pressure to conform is always there and you don’t have to dye your hair blonde to buck the trend (Oh wait, that’s just conforming. NOT dyeing your hair – now that’s bucking the trend!) but you can always stand out as an individual.
How do you deal with it? Don’t do it. This is the reason I keep my Twitter and Instagram accounts personal. Paris B is me. My Women Stuff is my blog. So, Twitter and IG are me and this allows me to not conform, and to be an individual, so say and do things as me, myself and I. It allows me a lot more leeway than I ever thought possible and for that, I’m glad I never merged them all into my blog. Joining a network can be beneficial, but be sure you aren’t being taken advantaged of. Most networks out there have an ulterior motive, so if you have to blog something for a CHANCE at a prize, it’s for their benefit, not yours.
Selfishness and One-upmanship
People are selfish. Again, it’s a fact. If they can keep everything to themselves, they would and that includes information. Quite an irony considering that blogging is a social activity. Locally, I do see this a lot. No one seems to share anything in this community, be it a ReTweet on Twitter or Facebook share. If it’s info they want, they’ll just take it and blog about it like it was theirs all along (see next point). The international community is a little more caring in this respect. I see more camaraderie, warmth and generosity (not always, but it is a little more developed). It might boil down to the concept of one-upmanship or what locally, we have a term for – kiasu. Kiasu-ism (lit. fear of dying) would dictate people take and not give or someone might be more favoured. Learn and not share lest someone else get ahead. Do a giveaway? I’ll do one too – bigger and better. Write a product review? I’ll do one too – with more photos, more editing, I’ll look better! Bah.
How do you deal with it? Find your niche. I like to tell myself that blogging has no geographical boundaries. Sure, being noticed locally is a nice thing, but at this stage, I’d much rather have the camaraderie of a community. If I can’t get it here, I’ll just have to look elsewhere. Being eyed up competitively, or not having information or releases shared with you, or just not being appreciated will hurt, and it frustrates, especially if you want to see the community grow. But if you’ve done all you can and yet people choose to pit themselves against you, holding back, being selfish and kiasu, there’s nothing more you can do. Blogging isn’t a competition! Share! Everyone benefits.
Copycats
There are obvious copycats who steal photographs and plagiarise, and there are the subtle copycats. The ones who do something similar to you, buy something after you, source something when you mention it, style their blog after you. Some people have perfected it to such a subtle art, you find it hard to catch them at it. Sometimes you think “Darn, I am just sensitive” but when a friend points it out, that’s when it grates. You’re not just being sensitive, you are being copied. I’ve seen it in 2 different blogs that are so similar, targeting such similar niches that sometimes I do a double take.
How do you deal with it? If it is outright plagiarism or a photograph that’s stolen, take it up directly with the person or report it. If it is the latter, more subtle copycat then you can’t do anything about it without looking like a sensitive git. So, take it as a challenge to level up, to move ahead and forward. Imitation is never the best form of flattery, but if you have no other choice, then be flattered someone thought highly enough of you to be a Single White Female 😛
Unpleasant and rude people and comments
Oh yes. Unpleasant/rude people are out there. I don’t mean people who may feel uncomfortable or gauche. Heaven knows, I’m often the same. I mean those who don’t even know you but will twist themselves into a pretzel so they don’t have to sit facing you. Oh yeah. Amused me to no end. I wasn’t the uncomfortable one there! As for comments, it also happens. I just got one recently calling me an idiot. Limited vocabulary, that one.
How do you deal with it? With comments, read this. I just hit the delete button. With people, I accept that not everyone will like you for whatever reason they may have, and similarly, I don’t like everyone either. To say I do is to lie through my teeth. If the other person is rude, then get out of the situation. There’s no need to stand for it. Or be like me and smile bemusedly at the human pretzel.
Have you experienced the ugly side of beauty blogging, or blogging in general?
The truth is that it is out there. The ugliness, the fakery, the feeling like you’re back in high school. How you deal with it separates the men from the boys, the women from the girls, the professionals from the amateurs. So yes, ugliness is out there, but so is a lot of beauty. Friendships are made on Twitter, through our blogs and there are times when we DO sit around singing Kumbaya. That makes it worth the while. Welcome to the real world of blogging 🙂
Paris B
Simple Blogging Tips are some simple tips I have for fellow bloggers, based on my own experiences. I’m no ‘guru’ but I hope they will help you. You may read up on previous Simple Blogging Tips here or please feel free to ask your question in the comment box or in email.
I like this post very much!!! As I’ve been a Blogger for more than 4years, I’ve seen a lot the ugly side of the community LOCALLY. Politics huh? But the best is to avoid, runaway, ignore. Haha!! I still thinks that some are really lovely :)) *toast to you*
Hi Cynthia – haha! I think you and I have seen the same things happening. Over the years, I’ve learned to turn a blind eye to most of them. Can’t help ambition I guess? hehe… Like you, many I’ve met are very lovely too so that makes the whole thing a much more pleasant place to be in!
I’m usually out of the loop with the mainstream beauty bloggers so in a sense, I don’t get these that much. I guess I don’t come across as a threat because of what I cover? Haha.
But I do see some of these traits occasionally. It’s quite scary when you get a chance to witness how some of them badmouth others but yet act so chummy in the bloggers’ presence or on social media. Great acting skills there!
But I also agree that one-upmanship is higher with a bunch of women in most situations, not just blogging. My take is, don’t take things or pple too seriously. I guess we all have at some point, been guilty of some of these undesirable behavior.
Like my pet peeve used to be those subtle copycats but somehow over this past year or so, I’ve adjusted my mentality. Well, not a big deal and if I can inspire someone to copy after me, it says something good about what I did right? So looking on the positive helps. Instead of seeing a cup as half empty, see it as half filled.
“Don’t take things or people too seriously” – good advice 🙂 Yeah, none of us are angels and we too would have been guilty of one or all of these traits at one point or another. As many have said, these are things we experience even in real life situations. Just that when it’s distilled into one niche, it becomes glaringly obvious. However, like you have astutely pointed out, looking on the positive or bright side of things help with keeping sane in this mad world we live in (or choose to live in 😉 )
very well said! *clap clap*
especially on the cattiness bit. U know what? I think these things tend to happen when someone takes blogging ‘too seriously’, and thinking there can be no other players on the field. It’s mind boggling, because at the end of the day, blogging is not a competition, one should feel at least some joy in blogging, instead of ‘ i must blog because someone else is churning out 10 posts a day’.
Haha Thanks Xin and yes, taking anything too seriously isn’t good for our mental health. Guess some people just want to be in front of the queue for everything and everyone else is competition! Meow 😛
Hi Paris,
Well said! All the time I felt that way until I decided I want to quit cause it’s just too ridiculous. =)
Hi Dalina, oh dear you quit? You shouldn’t – that way the nasty people win 😉 Just keep blogging/doing what you enjoy. Blog when you want to, rest when you don’t and it’ll all work itself out 🙂
This is such an interesting post and thank you highlighting these points. I am particularly intrigue by the blogger who started a catfight and also the 2 copycats you mentioned. I do wonder who they are and whether I am reading their blogs. LOL.
As a woman, I am not surprise at all by the points raised. I have seen it over the years in 2 different settings – a single adults church group that I was very active in before I got married and also an MNC company which I worked for 3 years.
For the former, it was so bitter that friends had to choose sides and mind you, this was in a church environment. Some friendships have never been the same again and I doubt it ever would be. As for the latter, there was so much bitchiness, falseness and drama that I ended up questioning my own sanity at times. I decided to leave this work place before I lose my principles completely.
All I can say is that we women are our own worse enemies. We can be such great comfort to our own kind but can also unleash unspeakable hurt to our fellow women when we want to.
Haha I’m sure you’d be able to spot it if you saw it, Victoria 😀 As you have pointed out, most of these are things that happen when you get too many women in one place. It’s all that competition for attention and to be No. 1 that for the rest of us who aren’t in the race (or didn’t think we were) it is all very trying. I’m glad you identified the problem and took yourself out of the situation. You’re right, not even religion can bridge this. Sad but true eh? 🙂
Thumbs up for this post and all the pop-culture references, PB! I love the captions for the pix.
I’m glad that I’m not in the position where people take pot-shots at me or even want to copy me. Equally thankful also that most of the time *touch wood* I’m also not envying or being catty about others. (There are times when my inner b*tch overrides, but hey, I’m a human female, so deal with it!)
My two cents is, I would say that it basically boils down to a person’s character, whether they’re able to take a step back, laugh and let it slide off or if they want to be all worked up about it – no matter which side of the platform they’re on.
Thanks Rinnah – glad you enjoyed it (and the pix LOL!) I think a lot of it is human nature. All of us will have been in the situation one way or another. Rather like thinking you’re more entitled to something, which can be quite draining. Learning to step back, as you have said, is the biggest thing I’ve had to learn for myself and it has been the best personal growth I’ve seen in myself over time. Stepping back to see the big picture puts things right in their place, doesn’t it? 🙂
Bravo!! Bravo!! I love the honesty of this post (and the Disney related images). I never would have imagined that this goes on behind the scenes.
Frankly, there are some beauty blogs that turn me off because (i) they post too many photos of themselves (ii) their review is not helpful and (iii) they seem a bit young to me i.e. blond hair, coloured lens, etc.
I’m sure there’s a crowd for them, but I am not one of them, and I’m sure many of your readers appreciate your point of view, your reviews and style. Keep it up!!
I’m glad you enjoyed this little insight into the dark underbelly of the blogging world, Applegal 🙂 Thank you too for the words of support. It means a lot to me to know that I’m doing things right (in my own way and in my own book) and that I don’t have to *gasp* dye my hair blonde hehe… 😉
For me the challenge was being admitted into a slightly excessive consumer culture. It’s all buy-buy-buy, and if you don’t buy, they won’t have anything to talk to you about. Granted, I’ve removed myself from that circle, and things have gotten quiet for me heh heh.
I’ve not met any beauty-bloggers around my demographic, though, because I’ve never attended any PR events. But I’ve joined a few beauty-blogging FB groups, and I find the blogs there quite… superficial. Everything from everyone is the same – pastel shades, near-blonde girls with circle lenses and falsies, raving about the same products in the same events. =.=” (Not to mention the level of English proficiency…) Oh, I’m turning catty now, aren’t I? Sorry ^.^
But I’m content in this little corner of mine. I don’t have to conform to any kind of sub-culture that might be formed. It’s a little lonely, but not cost-effective because everything comes from my own wallet, but am rather happy heh heh ^.^
Good point there Hanny about excessive consumerism. To keep up with some of these bloggers’ lifestyles is murder on the wallet! Can’t say I’m not guilty sometimes of consumerism but I always remind myself that there is a lot more to talk about than just buying everything new and latest. I don’t think it necessary to have to meet people only at events. My best friends from blogging were “met” just by commenting on each others’ blogs and through emails. Some, I’ve never even met till today! So, if you find someone with whom you can resonate, by all means reach out. I have found that by joining groups, people tend to start conforming to each other. Then you start seeing a same-ness to it all which puts a lot of pressure on a newbie. Still, as long as you’re happy doing what you’re doing and so long as it remains fun for you, just keep at it. You will derive the greatest satisfaction of all and that is ultimately what this is about isn’t it? 😉
This is so true! I do experience it but I choose to ignore them because I have got more better stuff to do in my life. Sometimes those bitches even bitched to PR or brands, and for those who choosed to believe in them, It’s OK to me that they do not have their own judgement.
Hi Rane, haha you’re right. We DO have better things to do than to keep up with all this nastiness don’t we? I didn’t know people actually bad mouth other bloggers to PR? Oh dear, that is so nasty! What do they have to gain by it? Well, other than getting a larger share of the pie? Sigh…
Ah, and you look so cute in the pic with Minnie! I have the same hairband too ^ ^
HAHA Thank you and yay for great minds thinking alike! It’s so cute right?
What you brought up here are all valid, PB. Things like this happen everywhere, in fact. Office politics, even among friends, family… so in the end, I think it’s important to know who we are ourselves. If we’re secure and confident, then nothing else matters. You can’t control others, you can only take control of your own life.
When it comes to blogging, I feel like I owe it to the readers not to be silent for too long, but I never take it too seriously. It’s a learning curve for sure. Blogging doesn’t bring me income and I don’t look for fame. It’s just a pastime I enjoy tremendously and I only tune in to positive people. I reject most events, collaborate with brands that intrigue me, set expectations according to my own level of happiness, and I’m good to go 🙂
Who knows where this blogging evolution takes us, but at my age, I’ve learned when to let go and when not to take shit from anyone. Never said I was a saint and lets be real. Readers can tell if you’re blogging sincerely.
Yep, we’ve just pretty much exchanged office politics for blogging politics LOL! That’s a good point to note – that we have to know who we are and what we’re in it for, because ultimately, that would be what matters most. I have found that a lot of this is seen among the younger set, who may be a little unexposed to the working world and are therefore still very much in their high school mind set – so when I come across someone older who should know better, I do get taken aback. Truly, with age doesn’t always come wisdom 😉
Very well written Paris…absolutely loved the honesty in it! I have been blogging for 4 yrs now..first it was my food blog and now recently started my beauty blog and I can relate to each and every point, though I feel this kind of stuff happens all around us not only in blogging. There is so much politics, jealousy etc even in office, around relatives..friends..its everywhere
I deal it by being true to myself and my readers! I dont blog to earn nor to gain fame but for me blogging is and has always been my passion to share things with my readers 🙂
These days I often find blogging used just to earn money or gain fame…nothing wrong with that but the pure essence of blogging is lost..NOM to anyone!
You are honestly one of my favorite writer and I truly enjoy your writing style! Continue the fabulous work!
Thank you Parita – I hate to think that anyone can actually relate because it means that you have experienced it one way or another haha! But I think what’s important is also learning how to deal with it. Sometimes, I get mad too but I think it’s important to not let it get to me. Ultimately, this isn’t the be-all-end-all of our lives. And you’re so right about the essence of blogging being lost. I’ve seen it evolve and it’s been an eye-opening experience. But sometimes, a lot of this negativity deters or blocks the progress of some promising bloggers or some may feel the need to conform too much so they become bland.
Interesting post. I’m relatively new to beauty blogging, but I’ve been blogging on other subjects for a very long time, and the sad truth is that there are always going to people out there who have negative things to say. Same with any affinity group, whether it’s online or in person.
Certain people feel the need to compete with others or just be rude, which is honestly sort of difficult for me to understand because I feel like we’d all be able to do our own thing successfully while still helping each other? Easier said than done, I know. I’m a human being so of course I experience jealousy sometimes, but it’s easier to move on if you just suck it up and say “congratulations”. I’m not sure what my point is… I guess we should all be nice to each other, and do our own thing the best we can (and let the people who blog about stuff we’re not interested in do so in peace, haha).
Hi Rebecca 🙂 Yes, a lot of social behaviour transposes itself onto the blogging community, I suppose because it is a very social affair. Along with the good points come the bad, sadly enough. As you have said, I too cannot understand the need to be rude or to compete with others. A lot of the time, we do things how we think it ought to be done. Those who don’t agree, they can go their own way. The world (and the blogging world) is big enough for everyone, yet not everyone thinks so. Pity eh? Still, so long as we’re happy doing what we’re doing, I think that’s ultimately what blogging is about, and those who are on the same page we welcome and those who aren’t, well they can take their own path then 🙂
i concur with most of the things you said or may be all but there is one flip side. there can some genuine bloggers who do treat you and other famous bloggers as inspiration and in a bid to become better might unconciously imitate you. i for myself have taken inspiration from yours, Tine’s and Sesame’s blog. my niche is almost similar to what Sesame covers but yeah if I do copy or write a post on a similar topic as some other blogger, I always give credits in the beginning of the post itself. so, yes, it all boils down to how mcuh forthcoming one is. and, yes, bitchiness and cattiness is really worse!!!
Hi Swati, that’s a good point you have raised about the flip side 🙂 From my experience, it is quite clear when someone is drawing inspiration from another (I do too) but quite another when they are copying. It almost feels like a mirror image in the latter case – you take one step forward, and so do they. You wave and so do they. Very creepy LOL! Topically, I think there is only so much to talk about out there and we all have different audiences, so I don’t mind the sharing of ideas. That you share the credit to where your inspiration came from is proof you are aware of morals. Not everyone is 😉
Here! Here! Nicely put my friend! Me- I usually feel to old to put up with anything I don’t want to!
Haha you know what Tracy? SO DO I!! 😀
Well written 🙂
Thank you Charlene 🙂
This is why you’re one of my favorite blogger, you’re always so honest when you speak about something: no matter if you’re talking about a product you don’t like or about how blogger interact with brands.
I have to say I’ve had far more good experiences than bad ones, so far.
I’ve been jealous of other bloggers getting collaborations, thinking *why them and not me?*, especially because brand’s pr seem to go for number over content: no matter if those numbers are made with a sub4sub policy.
Lately I’ve realized that I really can’t change the way it works, right? So I’m just focusing on what I do.
I’m over-sensitive on the copycats-theme lately. Since I’ve started my top 5 series I’ve had a huge response, hundreds of posts doing their own top 5 and linking me in their posts, which is great.
I’ve also noticed a lot of posts/YT videos reproposing my ideas with a different title.
This makes me kind of sad, recognizing other people’s work is not going to lessen what you do but some blogger/vlogger just not get it.
I’m not going to chase everybody who decided to outsmart me, I don’t think it’s worth it.
I hope my comments makes sense, I’m not fully awake yet 🙂
Loved this post and the disney themed pictures in it!
Aww S *blush* Thank you 🙂 It helps to know I’m not just talking to a wall of silence because all of you make it so easy for me to be up front about things! You should count yourself lucky not to have experienced these negative things. I don’t wish them on anyone at all! I have to admit I sometimes feel a little upset when I see a great opportunity happen for someone else, but then I also tell myself that I couldn’t have done it the way they have, so that could just be why they got it. They were more willing to put themselves out there while I’m not 🙂 Oh and number over content? Oh I see it so much 🙁 It’s so unfair isn’t it, especially when people can BUY their numbers! But I guess ultimately, we do what we do and we all have our communities to keep us happy. It’s sad to know people are copying your ideas and even taking credit for it, but then I suppose that’s how people do it all the time. It’s a pity. We should all technically be able to play well together. We’re all talking about the same thing after all – but maybe that’s the problem eh? 🙂
3rd and 4th point for me is always a niggling thought, whether it’s online or offline.
people will always be people, there’s no way of avoiding it. So I guess as long as you just be yourself, be nice and polite, people won’t have much chance to be nasty to you.
if we cared about every single thing, life will never be happy eh?
You said it Plue! Can’t account for everyone nor please everyone out there 🙂 Oh and try not to let Point 3 and 4 get to you. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter to those who care and if it matters then they don’t really care! 😉
Lol.Don’t ever dye your hair blonde.You don’t have to be a blondie with fake eyelashes and thick make up to know skin care.I like you just the way you are.I like the fact that you’re very honest regarding the products that you like or dislike.I’ve read one of those blonde girls blog.They appeared to LOVE everything they blog about.What a turn off.I was thinking ‘does the girl even have a brain?Why doesn’t she have her own opinion?’.I’m very into skin care myself and I know that there’s no way that she could love everything she blog about.I’m very skeptical and I think they are being paid to say how good those products are instead of telling me their honest opinions.Yes you might not be as young as them.But reading your blog helps me to decide what products might work.Young girls have good metabolism rate and a lot of collagen.So basically MOST products will work on them.Plus,what the hell do they know about skin care?With that amount of make up on their faces+their lifestyles( a lot of party pictures to show off tht their lives are perfect and tht they get drunk every night,i doubt they even remove their make up before they go to bed)+A lot of selfies(I don’t get why they want to take SO MANY photos of themselves).I’m not going to trust anything they say lol.Omg.I ended up writing a post bitching about how terrible they are.I just want to say that I will always like you for you.And PLS DON’T DYE YOUR HAIR BLONDE.You look great with dark hair. 🙂
P.S.I like the layout.Simple and nice.I find pink blogs and too many pictures distracting.Takes a long time to load too.
Haha Thank you for your input Christine! I am so relieved to know a trip to the hairdresser to go platinum blonde won’t be necessary 😉 (I’m also too stingy to pay so much to upkeep the blondeness LOL) I suppose everyone out there has people who resonate with them. It does upset me sometimes to see what goes on out there or even when an opportunity arises that I feel I could have had. But ultimately, I realise not everyone can put themselves amd their lives out there and I know I can’t. So, I’m afraid everyone just has to live with my blatant honesty and lack of pink 😉 Thank you for the support – it means a lot to me!
“Big blogger now, but in my eyes, always the smallest and lowest of the low”.
– wow! Very well-said, Paris! 🙂
And the other points, can’t agree more with you.
Also want to add some people try to ride on the fame of others sneakily, and then start asking for money to write posts. As in, asking for money shamelessly, not being offered by the brand or PR.
Hi Vicky, thank you for sharing your thoughts! I have heard of people asking to be paid to write a post, or even to attend an event (!!) While I’m not for doing everything free, I think there are limits and asking for money means you can never be impartial. Ever.