HOME by Becky Higgins launches today

^^^^ sounds like tracie is too chicken shit to post that here. I'm glad herb opinion means nothing to me.

I have strong feelings about McDonald's too. Does that make me entitled?

And this is exactly what I was referring to in my previous post about criticism in certain groups. I choose not to participate in groups that stifle any criticism and it should go both way for those who don't want to see it.

People want opinions, but only the right sort, obviously.

"Entitled" to have opinions. Wow that's bold, offensive, dismissive, and naive all at the same time. Everyone has opinions on everything not just scrapbooking. Such histrionics from the pearl clutches or hand smackers. I love Tracie's podcasts, but this dismissive and nasty attitude REALLY makes me look at her differently. Because YES I am entitled to my opinion. I will not apologize for not fan girling all over everyone scrappy related because I'm trying to have a career in this industry.
BTW to everyone cheering Tracie on - that type of attitude is exactly why the scrap smack blogs started. People wanted a place to have an opinion without getting mocked by the pearl clutchers. It devolved into abhorrent petty ugliness, but posts like this are what started it. But as a self-disclosed reader and poster to the smack blog, Tracie should know all of this. Ridic.

Oh those Smack Blogs! It's like a rabbit hole of crazy.

Bahahah. It's the same old type of person - complaining about people complaining and none of us are entitled to an opinion but they're entitled to have an opinion on our opinion.

Rolling my eyes.

*grabs popcorn*

Also, I think it is hilarious that apparently ONLY scrapbookers have opinions about things. As though in every other industry, the 'celebrities' are revered and given the adulation they deserve. My OH has had a hobby for the best part of 30 years and the participants there are every bit as vocal, as critical, and as defensive of their heroes as us scrapbookers. Because if you are invested enough to spend your time and money on something it's because you CARE about it. We all CARE about scrapbooking and we have opinions about the companies and personalities involved. And the scrapbook industry has capitalised on that by selling us 'lifestyles' so we become even more invested.

Are we all supposed just to sit here and soak up whatever is sold to us without question? You do you, but I'm going to be cheerfully cynical if I want to. And I'm grateful for places like this where we can be honest and questioning and negative and REAL without trying to suck up to industry bigwigs.

Yikes. I understand what you are saying, scrapaddict702, but maybe edit out the part where you repeat what was written on the smack blog about her. I understand disagreeing with someone's opinions, as we all have that right, but that info is extremely harsh.

She received my dissenting opinion and removed her post. I guess because her personal attacks were called out and disagreed with (by me), she felt like removing the post as opposed to having any type of discussion.

Here is what I said:

So hey...what things am I allowed to have my own opinion about? Am I not allowed to send back a plate of food cooked wrong in a restaurant? Or how about leaving a 1 star review of a piece of clothing that fell apart in the wash before I even had a chance to wear it? Certainly if I'm spending $300-$400 a month in an industry I am allowed to carry an opinion.

While I understand where you're coming from, complaining about people complaining and basically saying someone can't have a strong opinion about something they are hugely passionate about (and trying to say it's jealousy as a way to make yourself feel better about the fact that someone doesn't agree with you) as you attempt to tear them down while touting 'we should all be lifting each other up' is not the way to go about it.

I'm on that board and have commented on that post (guess what?? most people there use their 2peas or Studio Calico logins...not to hide, but because it's easier for their friends from those places to recognize them there) and I see absolutely nothing wrong with honest critiques about her brand and the feelings that people get from her. Her launch was anticlimactic and it rubbed many people the wrong way, especially after such a massive push. It's no different than expressing dismay over her constant quality control issues, over the constant quality control issues American Crafts in general seems to be having, over the dismay regarding the copyright infringement regarding that one paper from the Fancy Free line, etc. Opinions in the form of not spending is why so many scrapbook companies are going out of business. Now, would you rather have an honest opinion in the form of words so you might actually know why your business is failing (I'm not speaking of Project Life/Becky Higgins, but rather, ANY scrapbook company not doing well) so you can try and right the ship or would you rather the naysayers not say anything and you have to close your doors because you can't sell the product that you didn't know no one wanted?

Here is what she replied with:

I don't think "a strong opinion" describes the conversation there about this. I just wanted to talk about it because I see it over and over again and this board is filled with a lot of my friends and peers but I will delete this post and thread since its been discussed now for a bit and I was able to vent. I am just weary of the criticism that turns personal and it did in that conversation there.

Here is what my response would have been:

Everything here posted is personal and based on a redacted one sided opinion (yours), Tracie. Yet, I see the post on 2peasrefugees as non sugar coated and honest critiques. We aren't calling her unhappy, jealous, or insecure...now THOSE, those are personal attacks, ones that you are encouraging.

I wasn't being hateful. I hate the things that were said about you.

FYI, I have reported your post for putting my name on here. I discuss things in other parts of this board that I would rather maintain my anonymity regarding. Your attempt at spite just shows how little you understand the fact that YOU are doing exactly what you are accusing others of doing.

As did egging on a mob mentality based on your one sided opinions.

Why are you saying things ANYWHERE that you have to hide behind a user name? That's the problem, right there. People who are nice don't have to hide behind anonymity. Please do report me. Have me banned from here. I need an excuse to never come here again which is sad because so many people I truly care about post here but the haters are here too. That's why I stick to FB 99% of the time. Because I can see who I'm dealing with.

The post was originally put on someone else's group versus her own. If a conversation was to be started with a group of friends, why not put it in her own FB with people who choose to be her friends? It was specially stated that it wasn't because there were some of the same people here and on her group. In MY opinion, that was looking to stir something up.... and now maybe trying to back track a little?

There have been many a conversation that she started on her own group that stemmed from items that begain over here. For example, one recently had nothing to do with this hobby, but involved a question about a spouse being close friends with someone of the opposite sex.

I'm glad to have a neutral place like here where comments don't get removed at the whim of the group moderator/owner.

What's this smack blog about? Sounds like the scrapbooker's version of the National Enquirer!.