Friend Friday - Blogging & Negativity

After last week's fun Dos & Don'ts post things are getting a bit more serious with this week's Friend Friday questions.

1. Do you post pictures on your blog, or would you if the opportunity came along, of people with poor fashion//beauty sense?

I have from time to time posted "Don'ts", but they are anonymous pictures. I make certain that the person can't be identified from their "don't" picture. I prefer to focus on the positive and show examples of fashion that I like.

2. Do you read any blogs that highlight the bad? Why?

I admit that I look at People of Walmart from time to time along with Get Off My Internets. One of my goals for 2010 though was to stop enjoying and partaking in things like this. I have confidence in myself and shouldn't rely on the shortcomings of others to make myself feel better. Its not to say I don't slip up though - a picture of a good mullet really can brighten your day. :-)

3. Should these bloggers get permission to post the pictures from the subject in the same way the street-style blogs do?

At first thought I want to say yes, yes, yes! But then I have to wonder where would you draw the line. Magazines show "don'ts", media publications voice their opinion against politicians and celebrities often and more. Do they ask for permission to do so? No. It seems a bit of a slippery slope.

For myself I subscribe to the good old adage of doing unto others as you want done to you. With that I would never call out another blogger for their poor (in my opinion) choices.

Side note: I actually came across a situation earlier this summer where a blog I was reading was going off on midwesterns, their poor fashion choices and how if you shopped at Kohl's you could never consider yourself fashionable. All of that irked me, but what really got me was the post included a picture of a blogger that I recognized (and who I thought was very cute). I decided to email the blogger whose picture was being used as a "don't" to give her a heads up (just as I would hope someone would do for me). She was so sweet about it and didn't want to say anything to the blogger that posted her picture. I couldn't let it rest, so decided to leave a comment voicing my opinion on how it wasn't right to include that blogger's picture. Luckily the bad blogger had enough sense to remove the picture (and my comment so there was no evidence of her wrong-doing). I removed her blog from my Reader and haven't looked back.

4. As human beings we are fascinated with disasters - of all sorts - why do you think that is? How do the blogs/websites that highlight the negative thrive?

Wow, we do love disasters, don't we? I admit I watch and read the news all the time and of course I gravitate to the disasters vs. the positive human interest stories (granted, those are hard to find). I don't do it negatively though - I don't do it to find myself superior. I do it so I know the struggles that others have to face and ultimately to make me realize how wonderful my life truly is.

However, when it comes to blogs and websites picking on others I think they thrive because our society if filled with a lot of bullies that feel the need to be made superior to others often. Maybe the readers weren't hugged enough as kids - - I don't know. I do know its sad though that such negativity is so popular.

5. For many, fashion is subjective. Do you think, there can be anything that is objectively bad in the fashion world?

Honestly, life is short and there are a lot of obstacles to overcome during it. With that, I say do what and wear what makes you happy.

Be sure to check out the other great bloggers participating in Friend Friday along with the creator of it, Katy, at Modly Chic or search for the Twitter Tag #FBFF.