Controversial Thoughts on Sarah Ashcroft

Unless you live under a rock (which tbh would be goals at the moment) then you will have seen your Twitter feed explode with anger at this blogger that no one’s really heard of called Sarah Ashcroft and her interview with Cosmo>. The thing is, I’ve read the piece and, while it comes across as self-indulgent, I don’t disagree with everything she says…

I wanted to offer new and fresh content every post, but it came with a lot of pressure

Firstly, I thought this was a really honest thing to admit. I’m not a fashion blogger but I’ve seen posts from many who say they feel forced to spend all their money on Topshop trends to stay current. I live 75% of my life in pyjamas so my fashion blog would be duller than watching Formula 1. And trust me, that’s dull. So I get where she’s coming from.

I actually turned down ‘real’ jobs because it started to become a standalone thing

Maybe this seems bitchy because she’s using the ironic quote marks, but it’s also largely reflective of modern attitudes. Most people don’t blog with the expectation that it will become their main source of income- it’s often still not viewed as a ‘real’ job and I think this statement merely reflects her similar surprise.

My followers are so engaged with me that whatever I wear, they will go and buy it

Then we’re met with this Bad Boy, and it feels like Alexandra Burke’s 2009 hit all over again. Is it patronising? Yes. Is it vain? YES. Do I like her confidence though? To an extent. It’s definitely a nice change to see a woman acknowledging her success instead of the usual ‘I wrote a thing… maybe you’ll read it?’ but I think she channels that in a negative way. Rather than focusing on how she’s grateful that she has such a keen fanbase, she presumes that we’re all going to pop to Primark and buy those tacky af boots she’s wearing in every pic. Which we’re not. (Especially because I don’t even know who she is.)

I was doing it for fun and as a hobby, and I feel like that’s lost now. Blogging is so saturated with people who do it because they want to make loads of money, they want to be sponsored; not because they love it

But this is the main troublemaker. Bloggers are rather pissed off that she presumes they’re not passionate, or pissed off that other bloggers are just in it to make money. If I’m honest- which obviously I’m always going to be- I think both groups are wrong. Who cares if people blog to make money? I really don’t understand why it’s constantly wedged between voting Conservative and buying those Missguided shoes that were made from cat fur, when it isn’t even that bad. I got a part time job in a supermarket, not because I was like ‘yass!! Blady love dressing up as a tube of toothpaste and spending three hours reducing the fridge of butter! Can’t wait to develop acute hypothermia yet again!’ but because I wanted the money. Most people with a part time job will say exactly the same thing. So why are bloggers who want dollar demonised?

Everyone that blogs is doing it for gain. For me personally, that’s not a financial one, but blogging benefits me in other ways- it gives me a portfolio to show employers, allows me to work with other creative minds and the opportunity to grow my ego even more. These motivations aren’t any more or less valid than someone else’s desire to earn money, so I don’t get what anyone’s problem is here.

I don’t really blog anymore because we live in a lazy culture, and I know that people can’t be bothered to click a link

Bit rude, considering we all write blogs and click each other’s links (not a euphemism) every day.

The blogging world is quite fake, because you’re essentially in competition with each other

I know a lot of people who agree with this, but I disagree so much. Personally, I love bloggers, and I don’t understand why we let a few girls who set up burn book accounts, or tweet everyone asking them whether she should put fake tan on her vagina (it can’t just be me who’s experienced her?) create the illusion of a really fragmented industry. People don’t realise that by saying ‘blogging is so negative!’ or ‘I hate the community’ or ‘fml everyone is so bitchy’ they are promoting a 10/10 pessimistic atmosphere which feels even more uncomfortable than that time I bumped into my sociology teacher when I was bra shopping in M&S as a tween. Not fun.

I don’t think there’s any space for more bloggers in the industry – everyone is one these days. It’s ridiculous

Finally, there was this. And when I read this I didn’t disagree- I do find it difficult sometimes because so many people have blogs and it means that you have to work even harder to be unique or, simply, read. So much promotion is required to draw people into your posts and I don’t always have time for that, so yes there are times I wish the WordPress population decreased a little bit. But with that said, I hate the ‘ridiculous’ assumption in her statement. Trying to compete in an industry isn’t stupid or helpless, at the end of the day, it only prepares you for trying to get any job, ever. Most desirable industries these days are oversubscribed to so if you’re telling people to step away from blogging because it’s too competitive then you might as well say the same to singers, actors, doctors, journalists, etc. Yes remind people that success isn’t always easy but don’t demotivate them completely.

So Teamales, what do you think of this interview? I didn’t find it as horrendous as everyone was making it out to be, but there were definite parts I didn’t support, so it would be interesting to see what you all think.

Image from SA’s site That Pommie Girl