To the complainers
Saturday, 20 March 2010
Enough is enough, guys. If you don’t like this blog, don’t read it. It’s that simple.
I wasn’t going to respond to the people who have emailed or left narky comments recently (it all began with this comment from Melbournian – thanks for your follow-up email, btw – I understand that you didn’t intend to offend). I didn’t think I should have to justify or explain my actions to anyone. But I’m not the sort of person who’ll just quietly sit and not respond to what I think are unfair and unreasonable demands and complaints.
I think some of you forget that this is a personal blog. Like all personal blogs, it reflects what’s going on in my life, and it continues to evolve.
You don’t have the right to demand anything of this blog and its author, whether it’s the style, subject matter or frequency of posts. If any of those elements – the style, subject matter or frequency of posts – are not to your liking, just stop reading this blog and find one that pleases you more.
I have a life, work and relationships. I am a regular person who happens to also be a blogger. Blogging is not my full-time job. I have a full-time job that is unrelated to blogging. My full-time job is demanding, it’s often stressful. I often work long hours, during which time I do not work on the blog. My full-time job takes up a lot of my time and energy. Whatever time and energy I have left after my working days, spending time with family and friends, sleeping (which my family and friends will tell you I don’t do lot of), doing normal things like shopping, chores (you know, like scrubbing out the toilet, loading the dishwasher, changing the cat litter) – all the stuff that makes up life – whatever time is left, I spend working on the blog.
A few of you have complained recently that I haven’t posted as frequently as you’re used to.
A lack of posts means something has happened in my life that’s affected my time and/or ability to work on the blog. I’ve already said my time to work on the blog is limited. In fact, I’ve said this quite a lot here at the blog, so for regular/long-time readers, I’m sorry if you feel you’ve heard this all before.
If something happens, like I get sick, or Jac gets sick and I have to look after her, or we have family commitments – all of that can and usually will use up some or all of my precious free time to work on the blog. The thing is, I am under no obligation to justify why I may or may not be able to write posts. Sometimes I have chosen to tell you why the posts may not be as frequent for a while – like when we were busy with selling/moving house, like when I was redesigning the website, or when we’d be away on holiday. You have to realise, though – it is my choice to tell you these things. It’s not about asking your forgiveness or justifying myself to you. I am under no obligation to justify myself to you. I have usually mentioned the bigger life events that have had an impact on the blog so you know I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth, because I know some of my readers do care and would worry.
But all kinds of other things can happen, and I don’t always tell you about them, which is my right to choose. Examples:
I was sick for part of last week and this past weekend. I was unable to work on the blog for most of the time I was sick. And you know what? I’m still not 100% well. I’ll be making an appointment to see a doctor next week for blood tests. It just so happened that I didn’t mention any of this to you, but it affected my ability to work on the blog.
I went away for a weekend recently with Jac to spend some quality time with her. During this time I did not work on the blog because I wanted to give her my full attention. I didn’t mention this either.
Recently, our car got broken into, the passenger side window was completely smashed in and the door lock and handle were rendered useless from damage. Funnily enough, I was so angry and upset about it I didn’t feel like blogging that night either. I was too angry to mention it to anyone else, not my family, not to my readers.
Two things: first: you need to respect and realise that there can be a lot more going on in a blogger’s life than he or she may have mentioned on his or her blog. Second: bloggers are not obligated to tell you everything about their lives. Some bloggers let it all hang out and tell you about everything that happens to them. Some don’t. It’s the individual blogger’s choice.
I blog because I enjoy it. You don’t pay me to blog. You don’t own this blog and you have no right to make demands for posts or anything else.
I work damned hard on this blog and probably spend an unhealthy amount of time sitting at my computer editing photos, writing posts, responding to comments and emails, updating Twitter and Facebook. Family and friends know first-hand how much time and effort I put into it, and how frustrated I am that I can’t spend more time on it.
In particular, this comment from Jonathan really frustrates and angers me.
Jonathan’s comment
I liked the old blog better before it went all commercial. It was so simple and enjoyable before, now I just get a headache seeing walls of text to read through usually just talking up a particular restaurant. Seems like we will never see the simple photos of home cooked meals again since you’ve sold out.
Jonathan,
The last home-cooking post was in early March. I happened to go on a trip to Sydney in the first week of March, during which time I didn’t eat home-cooked meals. I stayed in a hotel by myself and did not cook any meals. I happened to dine out every day during that trip and really enjoyed myself. It’s still March, a couple of weeks since my Sydney trip.
If you look back over the past year you will see I have featured the odd competition, sponsored post, and I have run banner ads from time to time. I signed up with an ad company (Nuffnang) because I thought I might be able to earn a little income to help with the ongoing costs of keeping this blog running. The sponsored posts and adverts that may appear on the blog from time to time form only a fraction of its content. Incidentally, the “commercial” aspects of this blog earn me a pittance. In the past year, the money I made from blogging would be a fraction of what a person earns in a year on social security payments. I could not live on what I earn from blogging. I wouldn’t be able to afford to pay my mortgage or my bills. I don’t get paid by anyone to write restaurant reviews. They’re based on my experiences, which are sometimes great, sometimes not so great. I don’t “talk up” a restaurant – I may gush on because I really loved it, or rant on because something irked me. It’s my blog – my space on which to write what I choose.
As it so happens when your comment arrived in my Inbox I was sitting here writing up the rest of the posts from my Sydney trip, which happen to be more “eating out”/restaurant review posts – a direct reflection of my recent experiences in Sydney. This afternoon I have also been working on photos and posts that do feature home cooking and family meals. In my never-ending pile of photos and posts to draft up and publish I have a Chinese New Year lunch with my relatives, my niece’s 1st birthday party, and many dinner posts featuring what you would probably refer to as “simple photos of home cooked meals”. Those home-cooked meal posts were always on the way, whether or not you or anyone else complained or demanded them or wrote negative comments here at the blog.
You have no idea how difficult it is to find time to work on this blog as well as juggle my full-time day job, relationships and life in general. I am doing the best I can with the time and energy that I have and comments like yours and from the other recent complainers are unfair, unhelpful and disheartening.
With regards to your remark about “walls of text to read” – it has always been the case that sometimes I’ll write a long post with quite a lot of text, and sometimes I’ll write a post that has barely any text. Sometimes I have a lot to say, sometimes I don’t. I am well aware that some of my readers skim past the text and will just look at the photos. Some will read every last word and discuss points that I’ve raised in their comments. Some will even email me and ask more questions and get quite detailed in their responses to the words I’ve written. They all enjoy the blog in different ways and get different things out of it and interact with me (or not) in different ways. I enjoy writing, and some people enjoy reading my writing.
I tend to write longer posts when I’m excited about something, or unhappy about something, and happen to have a lot to say about it. As I’ve said already, I am not paid to write about restaurants. I write honestly and if my enthusiasm for a restaurant and its food offends you, so be it.
Seriously, if you think the blog has changed for the worse (over the past two weeks, month, year – I don’t know exactly what you have based your judgement on) you don’t have to read it. There are so many great blogs out there I’m sure you’ll find other blogs to visit. And when you decide they’ve changed for the worse or aren’t meeting with your personal demands and preferences, I hope you won’t feel the need to write comments like the one you did here.
[End of response to Jonathan]
I take photos of food because I like to. I like to write. I like the dialogue I share with my readers. I like the sense of community and sharing we have through our love for food – whether it’s home-cooked food, convenience food, junk food, takeaway, food hall or restaurant food. I like making people hungry with my photos. I like trying to describe in words exactly what I loved about a particular dish. I like telling my readers about the secret thoughts I have when I eating particular dishes. I sometimes share details about my personal life, about my relationships with family and friends, and our cats. I’ve redesigned the website, but none of that has changed. Whether it’s home cooking, takeaway or eating out, whether it’s a restaurant review or a more “simple” post, all of those elements are what drives this blog.
I’ll repeat what I said right at the beginning:
Enough is enough, guys. If you don’t like this blog, don’t read it. It’s that simple.
And yes – there are food posts coming. There will be more restaurant reviews, there will be more home-cooked food, takeaway food and family feasts. And cats. As always, I’m working on it as fast as I can. 
I'm TFP, a food blogger from Perth, Western Australia.
{ 101 comments }
Dear TFP,
Your blog is awesome, your blog posts are awesome, and You in general is awesome.
And that’s all I have to say about the matter. <3
Love,
Jen.
HEAR HEAR!
It’s your blog, your choice. And like you said, you don’t have to justify what you write or when you write it to anyone!
Do keep up the fantastic work… just not at the expense of your life :)
OMG!! I can’t believe how pathetic people are!! I have always enjoyed your posts and I hope you will continue with the good work WHEN you have time :) oh and don’t forget the cats – I love cats!!! :)
I love reading your blog and seeing your photos. Sorry Jonathan was such a twerp – but there are hundreds of us here supporting you.
I don’t think you should have bothered too much about his comment. I’m sure the majority appreciate your blog and can obviously see how much effort you put into it. If it makes you feel any better, yours was the FIRST blog I subscribed to, which has resulted me in subscribing to several other delicious food blogs. I come from Perth as well, so that’s a bonus right there as I often know which places you refer to even though I live up north.
Some people can be so effing rude! I have worked in Customer Service for too long and it’s unfortunate that many people think it’s ok to abuse you when they can hide behind their phone or computer. I’m sorry you had a reason to write this post and felt you had to justify yourself. I check your blog several times a day because I thoroughly enjoy reading it, it’s entertaining and it’s a privilege to read. It costs me nothing but I would happily pay you to read it because it would be money well spent. There are so many more of us who genuinely appreciate what you do. Love your work TFP!
Please keep up the good work and take no notice of the minority who are trying to ‘have a go’, I think you have made an excellent job of the new site.
I personally have always enjoyed reading your blog and looking at all the wonderful photos you take! The fact that you do write entries about ‘home cooked’ meals and restaurant meals is one of the reasons I love your blog. The wide range of places you eat or the wide variety of dishes you and/or Jac cook at home!
And I love seeing the cats!
Keep up the great work and ignore the nasty nasty comments!
We love you!
Love,
Emma
Your blog is awesome and I really enjoy reading it. Pffffffffft to the complainers. Keep up the great work! (I’ve actually been really enjoying your posts about Sydney.)
To the complainers:
TFP’s website, TFP’s content, TFP’s rules. We are nothing but visitors who are invited to read it. Pretty simple.
i love reading your blog! enough said =)
As a fellow blogger, it’s always a disappointment to hear about comments like the ones you mention. They always cut deep and can make all those late nights seemingly futile and unappreciated. Invariably you will find comments are made be people who don’t have blogs and have little comprehension of how much of your time, your life and your soul you invest into a hobby designed purely to share the joys of food with others.
Take solace that such detractors are only 1% of your readers. To those who complain about any evolvement in your site or content, I’d love to ask them the address of their blogsite. Otherwise you can always get your money back. Wait, that’s right, your site is free and I should be grateful or just move on.
Keep blogging. Your work brings a smile (and hunger pangs) to so many :)
Thanks, Helen.
You’ve described the feeling so perfectly in your first paragraph. It really does cut deep and you end up feeling like it’s just not worth the effort. I’m not silly enough to think everyone who finds this blog will like it but I do however, reserve my right to vent and fight back once in a while. :)
Don’t worry, I have no plans to stop blogging. I do think about it from time to time, but for me, life without blogging would be an incomplete life.
TFP, for all the others who don’t enjoy it, there are still loads of us who do, judging from all the comments. So, keep the posts coming; they’re great! And, I hope you get well soon!
Some people can be so rude! its like they expect us to churn out one post after another so that they can satisfy their craving. I respect your personal life and its up to you to update your blog when possible.
I’d also like to say… ” keep that porn coming”! :D
Here is a gastronomically angled comment to Jonathan et al : GET STUFFED !
Preferably with something harsh and prickly, inserted sideways. And lots of raw chili complete with seeds smeared on it.
I really don’t know where people get the snotarsed attitude that somehow, personal food bloggers owe them something. A living ? The world ? who knows. Yes, there are commercial or semi commercial bloggers out there, who are basically there to sell something, usually their books. Mayvbe they do owe *their* audience something. I don’t really care for those, no matter how ” winning ” their online persona is.
I just think its bloody nice and a lot of fun that someone with a genuine deephearted unsnobby love of food shares their experiences, thoughts and photos with so many other people. I don’t want or expect anything else, I just enjoy. Its such a shame that there are people out there blinkered and selfish enough to prompt you to have to justify your life to theml, because you should never have to do that.
I hope the fleas of a thousand camels infest Jonathan’s armpits! May he suffer an early transmission failure on the freeway! I hope his next fart isn’t a fart! Did I just say that? I love your blog, it inspires me. Nuff said, Jonathan go sit in a corner and eat worms for all we care.
AZ,
If there was a prize for the comment that made me LOLOL the loudest, it would go to you! “I hope your next fart isn’t a fart” – what a great line! XD
Jeebus, you have a “PhD in English literature and an Honours in creative writing,” and all I could come up with is a fart comment. Sometimes I type faster than I think, it’s an age thing I‘m sure, either that or the Arizona sun has cooked my brains.
I don’t see what PhDs and Honours have to do with it – everyone loves a good fart joke, including me! And I’m Chinese, so you have to add on a factor of +150 to that because we LOVE fart jokes and toilet humour in general :P
Love the blog. Haters to the left.
I love this blog. I admit that I’m not following your recent posts because I decided to start from the beginning and work my way up to the present. I’m on Mama’s Birthday (January 21, 2006) at the moment.
I don’t understand the complaint about restaurant “reviews’. You have always included them from what I can see. As you’ve said, sometime you rave about a place and sometimes you don’t.
The only time I stopped reading your blog from the time I found it was right after I had surgery and I was on a liquid diet. There was no way I was going to torture myself with your lovely pics. I’d have felt like Pixel waiting for a taste of bacon.
You simply can’t please everyone (no matter how much you may secretly wish you could). Complaints are simply opinions that don’t jive with your plans and intentions. You’re going to see/hear them all the time. If you want, then take a look at what is said/heard, assess it and then make adjustments or move on.
Sometimes we (the reader) can try to impose our unrealistic wants on the blogger. (“I want more pictures of…*thinks*…cake. Yeah! CAKE!”) That’s not our call to make. I don’t want to direct you as to what you blog should be (like I even could). I just enjoy you sharing things with me through your pictures and dialogue.
PS. Thank you for the pie pictures. I’m trying to convince a friend from London to mail me some. *chuckle*
Hi TFP! I don’t comment much, but I do visit your blog regularly! I really enjoy all your photos and “walls of text”. I don’t think you have to justify yourself to whoever. It’s your blog and you can do what you like. Jonathan didn’t deserve that calm response.
I love your blog, whether it be your home cooked meals or a restaurant review. I’m an ex-Sandgroper and I love reading about things back in Perth so keep up what you are doing, no complaints here!
Hi TFP,
I just started reading your blog probably about 6 weeks ago, having been introduced to it via a good friend of mine who is a long-time reader of yours. I’m de-lurking in order to register my gratitude and appreciation for what you give me and your many other readers on this blog. You’ve already given me numerous hours of (free!) enjoyment both in reading your frequent updates and browsing through your archives. I’ve even started dabbling in the weirdly satisfying world of bento box lunches because of your posts! (Though come to think of it, I’m not sure I’m as welcoming of the curiosity for SPAM that you’ve awakened.) :P
Anyway, I simply want to let you know that you have a (former) lurker here who very much appreciates what you do, and who manages the apparently elusive combination (elusive for some, anyway) of eagerly anticipating your updates AND understanding that you 1)owe us nothing, and 2)have a life. I like to think that the majority of your readership feels similarly, and that the Jonathans of the world are merely the ones who (lamentably) never STFU.
In short: thanks, and take heart! An abundance of entitlement + people’s eagerness to unleash their jerk selves on the internet = time to meditate upon what we shall have for lunch, Y/Y? :P
BTW, I love your cats. :)
I love your blog, TFP! You’re doing a fine job. :-) Hello to Jac and *pet pet pet* to Pixel and Billy Lee.
TFP, you are a brilliant blogger, you shouldn’t have to be put in a situation where you have to explain yourself to some people who feel the need to be completely rude. This is the one blog I have actually followed for a long amount of time (4 years). You always have brilliant photos and your posts are all your opinion, people shouldn’t get a say in how you express your own feelings. Keep blogging and don’t stress,
Take Care!
I don’t comment often either but I love your blog too. Both for the “walls of text” and the porny food photos. If there’s a post I’m not into, I just scroll down/up to something I find enjoyable. It’s that simple. Nobody’s forcing me to hang around here. In fact I used to read your blog with my workmate in the office when we needed cheering up, or just find inspiration for lunch LOL. If some moron’s complaining about your walls of text, they probably haven’t followed your blog long enough, or simply need to learn to grow up and move beyond being a ‘visual person’.
You do something amazing here. I hope you keep it up. :)
TFP,
It’s been a while since I’ve commented – keeping up to date via RSS though – but I thought this was a fitting time to come out of the woodworks again.
There will always be a small minority that ruins it for everyone else. Rest assured though that the comments you address in this appropriate, though unfortunate post are in no way representative of the majority.
Like you, I can’t find much time to blog as regularly as I’d like – these days I average once a month – but feel a sense of accomplishment irrespective of irregularity.
At the end of the day, you blog because you want to, so don’t let these things sap your joy, otherwise your readers will be poorer for it.
And THAT would be a real shame.
dc
TFP, you are one of the greatest and most consistent bloggers out of any blog that I read. I hate that those people commented like that for you. Just keep up the great work and do what you need to do. Like the other faithful ones, we won’t stray away, we will keep on reading because you are great at what you do!
I just wanted to add my appreciation for your blog to all the other commentators! This is a fantastic site that you have obviously dedicated a lot of time and care to and I enjoy reading it so much. Don’t let the haters get you down :)
Dear TFP,
I absolutely love your blog, and I don’t know why would anyone complain about the frequency of your posts or how your blog has become commercialized, it still feels pretty personal and frequent to me!
I have been reading your blog for the past year, and I have learnt that I can bake potatoes with a microwave, and I absolutely love your bento posts, which has inspired me to want to make bento boxes for lunch and one particular post about corned beef rice made me wish we had cheap canned corn beef here in Malaysia. And I love your write ups on restaurant and take out food!
Oh, and your cats make me giggle.
I don’t find your posts wordy at all, I can’t imagine your posts being wordy that it’ll be annoying to read – and even if they are longer than usual, you have a knack for writing, and just imagining how good the food pics you post up taste like is because of your awesome descriptions.
So to the garbage bin those whiners should go to, for being so hurtful and insulting – because you absolutely rock!
I too am applauding your comments and feel saddened that it needed to be said.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog and any post you make. coming from perth myself your blog has led me to try many new food places and items from a wide spectrum from uni to spencers village and restaurants. also being married into an asian family your explanation of foods and events gives me so much pleasure.
stand tall!! and proud!! take a bow my extended family are all avid readers and commenters you and your blog are often the centre of discussion at our family dinners like you and Jac are sitting amongst us!! we give you a standing ovation!!!!
I’m echoing most of your reader’s comments, but Like one reader said.. tell the naysayers and the whiners to shove it. Your blog, your rules. I love your blog just the way it is. I’ve been reading it for about a year now, and i’ve loved everything I’ve read.
If you don’t post something new, I don’t mind.. because I just go back to posts i have not read and there are quite a lot of those.
Do what you want, you’re The boss here, TFP!
I love this website, and I think you should take advantage of any money making opportunities, complainers are probably just jealous that they have no writing/photography skills and can’t be earning extra money like you can. I love looking at pictures of food and reading about your life. Yay TFP!!!!!!! Keep at it.
That Jonathan is so silly. I love this blog and when I sit down at my computer it is usually one of the first ones I check!
Bring on the cat posts!!
Mary,
There will be more cat posts coming for sure. In fact, I think you’ll love the next one (should be up sometime this week). It features a fat cat on a mat. And a little fluffy black cat on a mat too. :D
Although I read all your posts, I don’t often comment so I didn’t realise you were getting these types of reactions from some readers. I love your work, am sorry you are having to deal with this crap on top of what seems to be a pretty full on period, and hope you’re feeling 100% healthy soon! (wish I could give you a Junior Caramel pick-me-up but I’ll just eat some in your honour instead)
Dear TPF
Just Congratulate you on the blog and also on your response to complainers. Some people it´s just way out of line. I have to admit I love any of your family big parties posts with all the home made food, but in the 2 or 3 years I have been reading your blog I feel like somehow I got to know you (your blogger part, of course), and I am interested in everything else you post, that´s why I like your blog so much. When I visit a few times this week and the Tetsuya post haden´t been updated I just though you´d been busy and waited for a new post to appear. How can people criticize you for that, it’s beyond me. Also, I don’t think your blog has changed that much at all, and you’re quite carefull to clarify when you are giving your opinion and when you are talking about a sponsored product. Anyway, long story short, don’t mind those opinions at all and keep the good work, yours is one of the only blogs I keep coming back to, and it’s not just about the food.
What can I say that hasn’t already been said in the comments, except maybe “Well said”. :-)
Ignore the haters!
You are a wonderful writer. When someonewrites well, it’s a pleasure to read them. Too wordy? How can anyone ask or expect a person to limit their thoughts just to please someone with a poor attention span? I am always happy to find a new post. Grateful, too. Feeling like a friend to someone I don’t really know is a great feeling. I don’t dictate to my “in person” friends, so why would I make demands on someone who gives me enjoyment and doesn’t even know me? People need to stop being so selfish and understand the work that goes into blogging. As somebody who can’t make it through a comment without mistakes ( pathetic, I know!), I am in awe at what TFP accomplishes. TFP, don’t let the bastards grind you down!
Yeah, I never understood these idiots that leave stupid negative comments. I secretly think that it’s not that they’re just mean and bored, but also a little retarded.
Still love your food pics. They’ve inspired a few of my own home cooking meals. :-)
Dear TFP,
aren’t you glad that you don’t ever have to meet the idiots who’ve left negative comments other than through a virtual space? :) Anyway, I won’t repeat whatever else that’s been said already. We all love ya (and Jac and the cats AND the FOOD) and as long as you have this blog you’ll have me as a fan!!:)
laundrydays,
I think some of the people who leave rude or mean-spirited comments at blogs (I’m talking in general, not just here specifically) wouldn’t be quite so brave in real life and would probably not have the guts to say it to the blogger’s face. That’s another reason why I am not always satisfied with staying silent and ignoring them. I can’t speak to them in real life, but I can have my say in writing at my blog. And have all of you guys tell them off too! :)
I, like many of your readers enjoy your blog very much. Please don’t stop blogging. There are times, I admit where I’ll visit your page and am sad to not see an update but only b.c I love looking at your food pictures!
I’m so grateful for your blog. It’s entertaining, personal, engaging and fun. I can’t believe anyone would not get that, keep up the good work and screw the complainers.
Thank you for writing that to us/your readers/ complainers.
It can be hard to keep up appearances wen life is giving you shit, especially as this isn’t a blog where you seem to write about those things.
*hugs* :| Take care of yourself first. (oh and Jac and the cats and the family! )
TFP,
I’m only echoing what has already been said, but seeing a new article in my Google Reader from you makes me smile every time. Beautiful food, well written commentaries… don’t ever change. EVER.
Best wishes,
Rob, France
I also want to chime in and say that I have always loved your blog from the moment I first discovered it. There has never been a moment of disappointment. There may have been twinges of sadness when I’d be waiting in anticipation for your next post and it had not yet arrived, but always because I was just so excited to hear/read your voice/writing, and wanted to drool over your eats. I’ve never had any expectation for more than what you’ve given us readers because you give us so much all ready.
Keep up the wonderful work you’ve been doing, you don’t need to change your posts, your pictures, your schedule, or anything at all, because TFP is already perfect.
Thanks for always being a highlight in my day!
Dear TFP,
I love your blog. My sister and I bond over your posts. We sit on my bed and read your latest entry. :) We all enjoy your wonderful writing skills and your photographs so much that we could only wish you had more time and energy for it. (It’s a complement)
Life gets in the way and we totally understand that you have a life too. :D
We just wanted to let you know we <3 you and your blog so so much.
xoxo from TX,
Tiffany and my little sister Brinney
TFP! I’m so sorry that there are people that are so rude out there! I love your blog, and yes it is your right to decide when to blog, what to blog, when and what not to blog! Just delete those comments.
dearest TFP :
don’t let the haters get to you. your blog will always be wonderful, no matter how many times you decide to update it/change it/ etc.
i ADORE reading your posts and drooling over all the fantastic photos.
I just want to give you a big hug!. Or a high five. Something. :) Blogging for YOU is what it’s all about. Took me much longer to learn that. Don’t ever change you awesome woman!
Love you, love your page, love your writing. End of story.
I hope me asking you to transcribe your audio posts isn’t a part of what’s lead to this post… because if it is, I honestly didn’t mean to sound demanding or anything, I just legitimately wanted to be able to read what you were saying in them. (I guess I was feeling a little left out because it was too difficult for me to hear them properly).
I love your blog and I get that you have a personal life. I guess that when a blogger becomes popular, readers feel they can demand anything, and forget that the blogger actually has a life outside the blog. Anyway, you’ll always have your committed readers (like me!) who stick with you regardless because we always enjoy your posts. If we don’t like a particular category, we suck it up and wait until the next post. Those who can’t wait can, to put it bluntly, bugger off.
Not sure if my comment has helped, but I just wanted to voice my support and to say I love your blog. =)
Hi Katie,
No, don’t worry, I didn’t see you as a “complainer” at all and you are not one of the complainers that I’ve addressed in this post. :) I thought your request was a perfectly reasonable one, and you were not demanding about it at all. I didn’t take any offence to your asking, and in fact, when I started doing the audio recordings it did occur to me that perhaps some readers might not be able to hear them (for various reasons). I was only sorry I couldn’t transcribe the audio more quickly so you could read them sooner. I was chuffed when I was finally able to email you and tell you the Sydney transcripts were done! :D
Yes, your comment did help. Thank you so much for being so sweet and so understanding. :)
I’m another reader who has been following you for years. I love your blog! I don’t follow many blogs but I follow yours religiously. I check in every morning and sometimes come back to see if there’s anything new at night. My partner and I drool over the photos. I come here when I have no clue what to make for dinner and need inspiration. In short – you are awesome. :-) And I’d miss you if you weren’t blogging.
TFP, you are a great writer, since discovering your blog early last year I have been a follower (but only just started leaving comments recently, what can I say, I’m an Internet hermit lol).
Let the haters be haters and don’t let them get you down, I wish I could suck them all up with a massive hater vacuum but alas there will always be some “expletives” in the world that are way too self entitled.
It’s a priviledge reading every one of your posts. I can tell that you really love what you do, we all (for the mostpart, damn haters) have lives with jobs/families and a lot of people wouldn’t put in the same time and effort that you have with this blog. Even simple things like letting us know when things are getting inactive due to a busy life or website update etc etc. You dont have to do that and nobody should expect it, but it shows how passionate you are.
I’ll continue to read this blog and be a supporter, as will many many others *looks up at all the nice comments* for as long as I can.
Thanks for bringing spam and eggs, rice, beans and corn into my life *drools*.
:D :D
Don’t let the haters get to you. Write about anything you want. It’s your space after all. :) Keep the food porn coming!
Hear Hear. You aren’t an automaton, you are a real person with a life outside the bits and bytes. Like you write, if you don’t like don’t look. Boy oh boy, people must feel like they absolutely know you and feel than can criticize, moan and tell you what to do. Go get a life people, TFP has one, why don’t you????
This is my 1st ever comment so I don’t feel like I should be telling myself the above. :D
Cheers
Dear TFP
Please ignore the haters and keep blogging! I love your blog! You don’t need to justify yourself to anyone. Stay true to yourself
Thank you, everyone for all your lovely, supportive, encouraging and kind comments. :D
I know it’s best to ignore complainers, but I’ve never been the kind of person to stay silent in an argument when I felt the other person was completely wrong about me, or wrong about something I’ve done or haven’t done. And writing out my feelings on this issue did have a therapeutic effect; I felt much better after I hit the “publish” button. And with all your comments, I now feel even better. :)
The way I see it, if complainers are truly being mean-spirited and nasty, well then, I’ve stood up for myself in the only way I can – through my writing here at the blog. f they had no intention of offending and were completely innocent/ignorant of the concept “I am a blogger but I am a regular person with a life and you don’t have the right to make any demands of me” when they wrote their comments/emails, well then, maybe I’ve given them something to think about that they may have never considered or been aware of. Perhaps it could change their attitude (hopefully for the better) towards bloggers and blogs, not just towards me/this blog. Of course, I also realise it may make no difference whatsoever – but as I said, I felt better just writing about it.
I won’t respond to each individual comment – but please know that I really appreciate you all. I did say in my piece that I blog because I enjoy it and you don’t pay me to blog etc. but I do know that this blog would not be what it is today without your interest, support and the interaction we share with one another.
I love sharing my food adventures with you and telling you all about my secret thoughts (which become not-so-secret! :P) about the meals I eat. I love reading about what you think and I love it when you tell me about the foods you like to eat.
I intend to continue blogging for a long while yet.
I’ll respond to some of your comments individually above. Thanks again.
Hi TFP!
I’m a bit late on the bandwagon (away for the weekend) and I know I don’t comment much but I have to say I do love your blog! Stuff the haters!
I think you’re one of the least ‘commercial’ food blogs out there and with one of the best balances of reviews and eating at home. Your posts are always unpretentious and honest. I’m surprised that people still want to have a go…I mean, what do they expect??? For you to bow down to the wishes of some random stranger on the internet?
Just keep it up and keep posting when you can :-D Ooh and I do love your kitty posts too, they look like such characters. Loving the new layout too!
Esz
Hey TFP, keep it up mate! I love that you stand up for yourself. You just keep doing what you do. :)
Hey TFP!
Unfortunately it’s always the nasty, unhappy readers who have verbal diarrhea while us loyal, perfectly satisfied readers forget to comment once in a while to tell you how happy we are. We should also do better to let you know that you’re doing a good job, and that there are many more of us than those ugly haters.
Yeah, to be perfectly honest I do prefer the old layout and I don’t really care for the voice clips, but doesn’t stop me from checking in at minimum once a day eagerly hoping for a new post and more pictures of food that make me want to lick my screen.
You didn’t have to explain yourself to anyone, but it’s good you did, so everyone knows where you stand and that any future haters know how much their unreasonable opinion is worth and where they can shove it.
I, like many other long-time and new readers, sincerely hope you don’t ever stop blogging and just ignore the fools who can’t understand that the world doesn’t revolve around them and their preferences.
With love and a growling tummy,
Averil.
Hey Averil,
Thanks – I guess for me it wasn’t so much a need to “explain myself” as much as a desire to speak up (as opposed to staying silent). That’s one reason I created this “TFP SAYS…” column – so I had a place kind of separate to the regular food blog content to post extended rants if I wanted.
Don’t worry, I have no plans to stop blogging. :)
Dear TFP,
I would also like to put in my thank you for your hard work and flip the bird to those who prefer to detract and bring a person down because of their own selfish wants.
Being on the other side of the ocean, it’s wonderful to see what food is like in other parts of the world and your blog provides a wonderful window of insight.
I wish to thank you again for your tireless efforts. Please continue your dogged perseverance and delightful blogging!
Cheers,
Jon
Good on you sweets. As someone who writes for a living I hear you!
I have a weekly column in a newspaper, and you wouldn’t believe the amount of people who take the time to come up to me at a cafe or a bar and tell me how much they hate my work (of course lovely people say hi too, so it isn’t all bad).
My editor always says (when I come out of the loo with red eyes after yet another nasty letter) that it is only the best that get the crap (or words to that effect). When people take real ownership of what you do to the point of moaning about it, it’s actually a massive, yet hugely frustrating and annoying, compliment.
So chin up!!!
Thanks, Sssss. My chin is definitely up. In fact, it was up as I wrote this post. Writing it gave me great satisfaction. And of course, all your lovely comments of support have made it all the more satisfying.
This site has been bookmarked, googled, made a short cut on my iPhone and religously followed for the last two and a half years from this here girl! I love it. I love you and jac and the cats and the lunch bag I won in this very blog to this day. You are a daily staple. If you have that much impact on a persons daily routine you’ve done more right than wrong as a blogger! You are the only blog I follow anymore and your idea and vision of a food blog is my idea of the perfect blog. As for jonawhatever: learn to handle change before you come off calling someone you don’t know a sell out.
Okay, I know I’m a bit late on the commenting bit, but woah @ the narky comments from the readers. ur right tfp, u dont owe anyone anything. we read ur entries cos we love the foodie pics and the commentaries. and as a long looooong time reader, i’ll just say that i’ll keep visiting ur blog as often or as rarely as u update it. i mean, you have a life too. and its amazing how you’ve devoted so much time and energy into making this an awesome experience for us.
so dont worry, k. u have far more supporters than ‘evil’ comments.
You go girl! I like all the photos and you write very well… people need to lighten up, i check the blog every day, sometimes there’s a post, sometimes there isnt – so what?? You answer to no one! Thanks for your enjoyable writing and great pictures that make me drool.
Hi, You’re doing a great job. I missed your posts when you were offline doing up the new format. Just a funny note. I thought that somehow your new format prevented me from seeing your photos. Turns out my pay as you go broadband ( UK red tape is driving me barmy! – can’t get internet access or a landline as we haven’t been in the country long) has restricted access unless you’re over 18 and I’d have to contact them to get it lifted. Gives a whole new meaning to food porn!!
Appreciate the hard work you do. I find keeping a hand written journal hard to keep up as it is. I just started when I moved here. Reading that review of Mamak is making me drool and miss Perth and the food I can find there so much. Haven’t found a good place that serves that sort of food in Bristol.
Hey! I’m in Bristol too! Where are you based?
I’m sorry some folks are so thoughtless and rude! I LOVE reading your blog during my work lunch breaks and if there’s not a new one, there’s TONS of good stuff in your archives!!! I’ve been inspired several times by dishes that you or your loved ones make (like potato bakes) and have learned about new foods and different cultures and for that, I am eternally grateful! Thank you so much for taking the time to make this blog!
I do think you did overreact a little, but I mean if you don’t like the content don’t read it! With that aside, 2 years back, your site was the first “foodie” site I stumbled upon right when my interest in food and cooking was starting. For awhile, yours was the only food site I subscribed to. So, I credit you solely for furthering my interest in the food blog scene. I am a loyal TFPer thorugh and thorugh! I love that we get a sense of what you eat everyday and that you reply to every comment. So, when I do make it to Perth, I fully expect to treat you and Jac to dinner!
TFP:
I love your blog. Logging on and reading it is one of the highlights of my day.
TFP I haven’t commented for a while but reading your blog is a must do for me everyday. In fact it was your food blog that got me into looking at other food blogs in the first place.
Every lunch time without fail I’ll be eating lunch at my desk and someone might walk past and wonder how is it I can eat food and look at food at the same time!
To those out there who don’t like your blog or bits of it, don’t read it then!
Thanks, Paul – I love reading about/looking at food while eating! In fact, I think the more food-related things you can do at the same time, the better. In our family we plan the next meal while we’re demolishing the current one. :)
OMG….that’s so like our family, in fact we’ll even plan a few meals ahead!
Hi TFP,
A pity that my first comment to you ever is on a bad note. I just wanted to say I log on every monday to cure my monday-itis or any time I’m feeling down and I have been loving your work through all these years. I talk about you all the time with other food lovers =)
Please don’t let the “haters” get to you, they are like the flies of the internet.
xoxo
Thanks, Shorty. Glad I can help with your monday-itis. I suffer from it terribly myself every week. :) I start getting depressed on Sunday afternoon, which makes me type faster (I’m usually sitting here working on the blog when those thoughts hit). The ‘haters’ do give me the sh*ts (sorry, that’s really the best phrase to describe the feeling), but don’t worry, I’ll vent like this post from time to time, but will definitely keep on blogging. You guys (the non-flies) make it all worthwhile.
Brava!!!!
People get used to something being a certain way and are resistant to its changing. I loved the “good old blog” myself but give me another month and I won’t even remember it! Well said about your life and your freedom to blog as you wish! And to quote Thumper’s mom (from “Bambi”): ” If you can’t say something nice about a person, don’t say anything at all.” I mean, I happen to dislike eggs and fried-egg photos are not my thing, but I still love the blog and love YOU, TFP! Ignore the negativity. You owe no one here. I thank you for the years of drool-icious photos and descriptions of all kinds of foods (aside from eggs!) But if you ate and featured eggs every day I’d still read ya!
Hey TFP, I’m a long time reader (1 or 2 years I reckon) who still loves the blog as much as the first day I stumbled across it.
I hope you are able to continue the blog for many years to come!
Hi TFP,
I’m sorry there are so many ungrateful people out there. As a blogger, I completely agree with everything you say. Its a place to vent and share your thoughts. If someone wants to read, excellent, if they don’t, its still YOUR BLOG. Please don’t be discouraged by those people. I can’t wait to see more of your posts, regardless of what they’re about.
Hope you’re feeling better soon!
Well put and I hope that gets the message across and we can just get straight back to enjoying your blog. I’ve only recently stumbled onto your blog and I really enjoy your detailed reviews. I have also found a new appreciation for Spencer Village Food Hall thanks to your blog. I think I’ve taken it for granted and never really tried many of the dishes. I don’t even think you even had to justify why u were not writing as often on your blog….it’s pretty straight forward…if someone doesn’t like what you’re doing…they simply don’t have to read. Keep up your drool-worthy pics of food and reviews!
I <3 you, TFP!!
People are seriously complaining about the blog? Honestly? Geez…I stopped reading it the past two weeks(I was with my mom, and she doesn’t have internet, so I couldn’t get here), so I didn’t see any of the comments. I can’t believe they’re complaining, being a food blogger is hard! I tried my best to take pictures of all the food I was eating while on vacation, but either no one would wait for me to take a picture before they started, or it completely slipped my mind to pull my camera out.
Hey TFP,
I love your blog. I know how disconcerning it can be to get haters and complainers, but pay no attention.
I don’t know how many of these you have, but I’m a pure vegetarian since birth and I still love reading your blog, bbq’s, japanese food and all! I think it may have something to do with your writing which is always beautifully descriptive. As a fellow English student, I always appreciate good writing…!
Keep at it, you rock :)
Dee
Oh wow TFP… I can’t believe people actually complain about your blog! I enjoy it SO much… It saddens me that you are upset… keep up the good work; there are tons of us out here that have been faithful readers for years…
Much Love
-Bryan
I’ve been enjoying your blog for sometime now, clear across the world in Philadelphia, PA. The pictures are lusty and the blog itself is a pleasure to read. Thank you for sharing with us. It is a privledge.
Cheers,
w
Don’t you ever mind the haters and complainers. People do so cause it is “oh so easy” in front of a monitor that doesn’t stare back. Actually.. I personally wouldn’t even mind responding.
Cheers,
Andreas, Poland
Dear TFP,
Due to my own life suddenly becoming super busy over the past year, i have not been able to read your site as much as I liked to when you first started out (i am an orginal reader!!). So when i visited your site more recently, certain “changes” were clearly noticeable, BUT, not in a negative way at all. In fact, I think it shows how far TFP has come as a blog! It’s also evidence of how many people enjoy your posts, your photos and have a general interest in your opinion on all things food.
I hope people read this post of yours before moaning about how you’ve gone commercial or whatever, because it seems they forget that you have a life outside of TFP (im guessing you weren’t named TFP at birth lol) and if you ever feel like the upkeep of this site is a chore, you would be entirely within your rights to shut it down!
So to the complainers, if you don’t like what you see anymore, then don’t read the site. simple!
- Lucia
Complainers? Not I! I wish I had seen this post back in March and offered more timely encouragement. Keep up the great blogging – when and where you will!
I just stumbled on your blog and I think it’s great. It really looks awesome. Don’t worry about stupid narrow-minded people, I agree you have no obligation to anyone, it’s your blog you can do what you like, write what you like.
I am bookmarking the site and will be back later when I have a bit of time to sit down and read. Great job! I agree with you though, you can’t make much money from blogging… don’t know why people make such a fuss about it really. Sorry to hear about your ups and downs lately, hope things start going abit smoother for you in future. :) Kelly in Perth x
Hello,
I’ve just had a look at your blog after reading about it in the Sunday Times magazine last weekend. I enjoyed it, especially the photos about your bento box lunches. It would be wonderful if more parents (I’m a kindergarten teacher) took the time to present their children’s lunches like this, although time is probably the issue. Re people who complain; I can imagine it would be frustrating to read negative comments and criticism, but unfortunately, when you publish your work, which is essentially what you are doing when you put it out into the public domain, there will be both positive and negative comments. That’s the nature of human beings, yin and yang, dark and light etc etc. It’s called free speech and is a core aspect of democracy. Of course, I acknowledge that you also have a right to speak out against those comments you perceive to be negative, that’s your right!! You’re correct in saying they don’t have to read your blog, but they obviously enjoy it enough to want to continue, otherwise they wouldn’t bother. Maybe, just maybe there may be comments that may change your view, or the way you put your blog together, if you give them a chance and digest the message. For me, I read blogs when and if I feel like it. If they bore me I just leave. I never sign up as a follower and rarely leave comments, I just enjoy what that have to offer if and when it suits me (a little like flicking through a magazine).I don’t really see the point in being critical. I did once leave a comment on a fellow teacher’s blog asking her to please correct her punctuation, which I found particularly annoying.
I am a journaller myself, but not ready to share it with the wider world, and may never be.
Enjoy your blogging!!
Hi TFP,
I have been following your photos and blog off and on since 2005 or 2006 (I’m “saipanrick” on Flickr). I think you do a great job and I still love the blog. Keep up the good work! Bon appetit! :-)
Hi Rick,
Thanks for your comments on Flickr and I appreciate your support of my blog. :D It’s awesome you’ve been a long-time follower – you guys have helped the blog get to where it is today! :)
To TFP
Because of you, my husband and I are trying different dishes around Perth. I’ve been to a majority of them, but never looked at them the way you did, I just went because I was hungry and needed to be filled. I look at food a different way thanks to you and my husband is trying different kinds of food on his very limited palate. Thank you, you are doing well the way you are! Don’t worry about Johnathan at all. All our love X
Mel,
Thanks for your kind words. It’s wonderful to hear about you and your hubby trying different kinds of food around Perth. I hope you’ll keep finding things at the blog that interest and inspire you!
Hi TFP,
I’m recently going through a similar crisis with a few ‘haters’. One in particular, took time out of their busy schedule to spend a few hours posting a comment on every single blog of mine that was awfully mean and definitely a personal attack.
As much as I hate to say it – I’m glad I’m not the only one. It’s a bit frustrating, especially because we do have a right to our opinions and if people don’t like it then they should just move on.
I agree with everything you said and hope that things are better now (I know I’m speaking of a blog that was posted a while back)…
All the best,
PFJ
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