Attack of the A-list Mommyblogger

.I love the Internet. I love blogging. I love Twitter. I love you! When I first dipped my toe in the blogging water I heard all this talk of "community" in the blog world. I thought it sounded a bit contrived. How could you have close friends that you haven't met? How could you form attachments to people who live in other countries?

Now I know. Now I live it. I worry when children get hurt. I cry when tragedy strikes. I pray for friends during stressful times. I celebrate triumphs. I never experienced ugliness from a fellow blogger until now.

She who will not be named (because I don't want to add to Internet drama & traffic) used the forum of Twitter last night to publicly tell the world how much I suck. I was called parasitic and accused of copying half a dozen original blogging themes from other bloggers.

I was crushed and shocked. I wanted to just curl up in a fetal position, put the covers over my head, suck my thumb and just pretend it didn't happen. Soon my inbox was full and I was forced to face the fact that someone was publicly telling the world how I suck. Bummer.

What better way to address the issues than a post, right? Slowly over the past year I have been sharing more and more from my private life with you. Now when anything happens I immediately think of telling you and the rest of the Friends of Fussy all about it. So here goes...

1) I call myself "fussy" and there is a blogger who has a blog called "fussy" but does not call herself "fussy".

Sheesh, I'm getting a headache from this! My Husband has called me Mrs. Fussy Fussypants for years. He even sings a song to taunt me when I am fussy called, "Mrs. Fussy Fussypants she's so fussy. Stay outta her way." Slowly over the months Mrs. Fussypants has been shortened to Fussy. 

2) I photoshop photos like Bossy (and the rest of the world)

I adore Bossy as does the entire western hemisphere. However I did not learn my mad photo editing skills from her. She doesn't put her head on random bodies, that's what I do. I think that there are approximately 6 million blogs that photoshop funny stuff and write words on photos.

I did copy someone's photo tricks. I have owned up to it proudly & repeatedly- Craig from Puntabulous. So if you want to know who I copy for real, go visit Craig. He's the funniest guy I know. Tell him Fussy sent ya. Oh yeah, If I was going to steal someone's idea it would totally be his debates. Best thing on the net, by far!

3) I copy Amalah.

This one was tough. I never heard of her and wasn't told exactly how I was copying her. I checked out her site and she is super popular and seems quite awesome. My twitter pals pointed me to her "advice smackdown" because it was what my Fight the Frumps were compared to.

I googled advice smackdown and found this post. I subscribed. She is really funny. I see why she's so popular. But seriously, nothing like fight the frump. Her posts are actually good!

4) I may or may not be copying Dooce.

Wait, I have never done a newsletter to my child! Maybe I'm like Dooce for my awesome skills as a writer and photographer? Laughable. My pictures are blurry and my grammar is bad. Oh well, not like Dooce at all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So there you have it my Friends of Fussy, all the ways I suck. Did you feel silly reading them? I felt silly writing them. I wanted to address it because I love my site, I love you (the Friends of Fussy), and I love our blogosphere. I wanted to hide and  cry, but I needed to address it.

Now how 'bout some real reasons to hate me?

• I never check my voice mail.
• I have 2000 unread emails mocking me.
• I am the ADD poster girl.
• I can't lose this darn baby weight.
• I reply to comments in my head and never by email.
• I am messy & disorganized.
• I use photos that are off-color.
• I smell bad. Kinda like soured breast milk.

If you join the club of Fussy Haters I even have a cute graphic for you to proudly display on your site.

If anyone wants to start photoshopping their heads on people, starting online women's magazines about family life, starting social networks to compliment websites, giving away earrings for contests, etc... feel free. Have fun with it.

Spread the love I say. It is all about having fun and building community, right?

Peace, Fuss

Comments

[Darla]

Miss Fussy, RAWK ON girl. I couldn't hate you if I tried.

I'm so glad Nester, Domestic Chicky, Screaming meme, Watch the Wind Blow By (Marie), Mrs B, Rue's Peanut Butter Life and the like aren't accusing me of copying them, but then again, they have CLASS!

[MommasTantrum]

GO Girl!

And I do not hate you, so I will not post that on my blog. I want one that says "I love Mrs. Fussypants because she proudly smells like beef jerky."

Now teach me to photoshop my head on a picture fast. I need to do it for my post this coming Wednesday...it is going to be HAWT!

[FabGirl]

Mrs. Hannigan told me about this last night, I STILL can't figure that out. You are totally different from anyone else out there! Dude, you have 8 miilion boys and you still manage to post on your blog! I still can't figure out how you do that and look so dang perky all the time!
We love ya, Fussy! But you already knew I did!

[Alli ~Mrs. Fussypants]

Thank you all so much for the love. I swear I thought I would shrivel up and die last night. I stil just might if te attack continues. ACK!

xoxo, Alli

[World's Greatest Mommy]

This is such bull. And I'd probably add something else, but I like to pretend on occasion that I am a lady.

People who act that way are jealous and insecure. I personally don't feel that you should have to defend yourself, but I hope you were able to remind yourself of all the reasons why what they say is stupid and not true.

Ideas cannot be copyrighted, and if you do something similar to what others do (only better), then they should just grow up.

I can't believe that if I decided to photoshop my head onto Nicole Kidman's body, (Not that I ever would, or am already working on it) that somebody would swoop down to tell the world that I'm a copy cat. How juvenile.

The fact is, that sometimes people come up with similar ideas because there are lots of us that are great out there. Some overlap will naturally happen.

I just want to say that I LOVE YOU! I think you are SUPER_FAB. I read because you ROCK. And that is all that matters to me.

[TLC]

Can you teach a class on your mad photshopping skillz? No. SERIOUSLY. I really want to learn. I love your posts with all the photoshopped stuff, the plastics one was great. It is what sets you apart from say, me.

You have started social networks, a ton of successful blogs. When others attack, it means you are successful. ENJOY it. I will proudly put that badge on my blog. We'll make it a big joke! Seriously. Groundswell.

You come across so sweet. Who could ever hate you?

T.

[Alesha]

We still love you Fussypants... even if you now have one more boy than me : )

Love you,

Alesha in Georgia

[Jamie]

WHAT?!

OK...I haven't yet jumped in the Twitter Kool Aid pool and now this makes me want to resist it forever.

I'm so sorry Alli. You ARE Mrs. Fussypants and there is only one and only and you rock!

[MommyTime]

1. You are awesome, original, and very very very kind. I can't imagine a classier or gentler "calling out" than this post. You are so far head-and-shoulders and strong-mama-arms above whatserham that she should feel HONORED that you deign even to acknowledge her existence. As for her accusations:

2. Some people have too much time on their hands and need to find a hobby other than searching for contrived instances of "copying" -- and you can tell "she who will not be named" that I said so. In fact, as I am suffering through a deplorable bout of plagiarism in student papers right now, perhaps this maven of consciousness would like to start designing some software that will catch and spank ACTUAL plagiarists? If not, then perhaps:

3. She should follow what is clearly the Fussy way and refrain from saying anything if she has nothing nice to say. You managed to take something very mean directed at you and both defend yourself without stooping to returning even a drop of meanness. THAT is a lesson we could all stand to copy.

*mwah*

[Lady with 6 daughters]

I was so hoping it was a joke, I think you responded with dignity, grace and humor. You have just brought awesome to a new level. I've been meaning to copy your photoshop skills for a while, I hope that doesn't make me a copycat. Momma said imitation is a form of flattery. You don't even imitate, though. You do it all better. I think you really are the Queen.

[Lizz @ Yes, and So is My Heart]

All I could think was Oh brother, and poor Fussy. That kind of stuff irritates the heck out of me.

No button for me.

I love, love, love your blog!

In fact I thought of you today as I put my Mary Jane crocs on. I thought, I wonder what shoes Fussy wears to an amusement park. Probably not somthing frumpy like this.

Chin up! You're great!

[Kat]

Nicely said. I was shocked when 'that which must not be named' starting flying on twitter. I thought we, as a blog community, had more class than childish high school bullying. And to throw it out on Twitter... in very poor taste indeed. Chin up, poor another glass of wine and know that you are L.U.V.D. girlfriend!

[Domestic Chicky]

OMG - I heard about this thing where hundreds of people all over the internet are doing the SAME things at the SAME time...

scandalous, I know!

They call them memes.

There is really nothing new under the sun. You have your own spin on things, just as everyone else does. There's room for everyone.

[moosh in indy.]

sucking is the new rocking.
You are a doll
Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
We are all guilty of blog borrowing whether we know it or not.
Bah.

[Black Hockey Jesus]

This whole post was ripped off from Black Hockey Jesus.

[Adventures In Babywearing]

I'm truly disappointed in the juniorhighschoolness of this whole drama. I love our blogging community and love the support we are to each other as women. Who cares if someone copies another- purposely or unintentionally? It's one thing to think something or talk about another person privately, and totally different to do so in a hurtful public way.

Our blogs are our blogs (which is why i can understand someone being protective of their style and brand- to an extent) but we are free to name ourselves or post about whatever our heart desires. This blogosphere is certainly big enough for everyone. I haven't read most of the bloggers you've been accused of copying. But I do hope you don't let this get to you too deeply- get out of that fetal position and strut it, girl.

Steph

[Jessica (aka Rose)]

All of it is ridiculous and trumped up by someone clearly jealous. And seriously, who wouldn't be?

But, stop a second, you didn't know Amalah? I didn't think there was anyone left if the blogosphere who didn't know her... wild.

[karla]

I think I shall rename you "Classy".

Mwah,
K

[Nancy]

Silly woman acting like an even sillier girl. That is all it is.
I bet you a dollar to a do-nut THAT person has very little traffic, fewer friends, and a huge case of envy rattling around her empty head.

So sad and pitiful that anyone has that much time on their hands to waste on petty, spiteful back stabbing.

Shrug it off, be your fab Fussy-self and let the rotten eggs go stink up their own teeny tiny corner of the web.

That said, you rock and I find you refreshingly original. Give me ONE of you compared to ten of HER any day. :0)

[Michelle]

Where there are wonderful people, there will always be haters. Let it roll off (I know - easier said than done). I don't see any validity to the ways you suck...but then are there many truly original ideas left in the world of blogging at this point? I'm sure if someone spent time they could accuse any of us of copying another.

And I think it is against the law to complain about not losing baby weight less than 6 months after giving birth.

[Dre the Texican]

Ooh, I have not been reading blogs lately (just in my reader--bad, bad, girl, I know), but I had to stop in to say this:

I am mean and judgmental, and I LOVE and ADORE Mrs. Fussypants to high Heaven! So I think that's all that should count (IMTKAO--In My Totally Kick Ass Opinion).

Who is Amalah? Not even going to bother looking.

Anyway, I love Fussy.

She is funny, sweet, sassy, and she makes her husband choose between either her or the house looking good. And she's purdy.

AND when I write, I come read here first to steal ideas from her. It never quite works out though, so no one can really tell. Darn!

[Indy Jane]

I love Mrs. Fussypants!

[Darla]

Is it wrong to be snorting at Moosh In Indy's comment?! Sucking is the new rocking...bwahahahaha

[chickadee]

mrs. fussy, it's so strange when people just attack for no reason. i don't understand why it happens. i'm sorry it happened to you.

[Suburban Oblivion]

I had to look up 'she who must not be named', and needless to say was NOT surprised to find out who it was. She is A-list true, but thats useless when you have a reputation as being a total bitch (and look like Cruella DeVille to boot).

Keep your head high my friend, you are gentleness and class personified.

[Hillary]

Poor Fussy! I simply ADORE you! Keep up the fantastic work!

[Mrs. Schmitty]

People need to lighten the heck up. It's ridiculous, really. I thought we were all out of high school.

I love your blog, don't ever stop being you!

[Lynn from Organicmania.com]

You know, there are very few original ideas out there anymore. I can't tell you the number of times I've thought I had an original idea - my "greener than thou" post being the last such example - only to Google it and discover that someone else had already used the term.

So what does that really mean? I still thought of it on my own - it's just coincidence - there are too many of us humans out there to think that anyone of us is completely original.

So perhaps she sees some similarities in your work...so?

I've enjoyed you just on Twitter- now I"m discovering your fun blog. Keep up the great work!

And a very, very, classy, creative response, I might add.

Very well done. I just became a big fan of yours.

[Summer]

She's just one of those who thinks there should only be about 10 blogs in the world and everyone else just readers. Of course she thinks she should be one of those 10. Don't let the big heads get you down. :)

And, um, where's the tattoo of my name I was promised? Ha!

[Karen]

What's A-list? Just something someone made up in their heads. Anyone who has class enough to stand up to bullying is A-list in my book.

Rock on, Fussy.

[Sylvia]

Fussy, Fussy, Fussy - you can't listen to that crackpot. I just found your site about a week ago and sat down and read (quite obsessively really) all your past posts and I love it. How do you do it all, with 5 boys? Anyway I love your site, the format, your writing, the humour etc. Don't change a thing. As Chuck Swindoll once said - in life we have to have a thick skin and a tender heart.

You go girl.
Sylvia

[standing still]

Hi there "She Who Must Not Be Named,"

As someone's mother, I am obligated by my maternal license to give you this advice (which I learned from my mama and my daddy's mama):

Mind your p's and q's. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. And, please don't be a jerk. It's really not becoming.

--Yours truly,
Standing Still

[Angella]

Aw, sweetie. Sorry you have to deal with all of this.

You are one of the sweetest people on the planet. HUGS!!

[Genevieve]

Lurve your blog fussy and your blogging voice. Your one-of-a-kind!

[catnip]

My jaw dropped when I saw it happen last night. Then I unfollowed her when I realized she wasn't joking.

I admire you even more now seeing how you've responded. You rock Fussy!

[Jia]

Wow. Parasite huh? How lame is that?! And to put it on Twitter? At least post it on your own blog so Fussy Friends can offer their spam or something! LOL!

Fussy I subscribe to you, Dooce, Amalah, and bossy and you know what? I LOVE IT ALL! Who cares where ideas come from? I've seen similar memes across the board! There are like 4 differnt Memes all called Spiritual Sunday or something like that.

Heck, I photoshop my pictures too. Mainly cause my husband doesnt want his photo online, so I put stickers over his face. Who cares? Jeez.

You're awesome chica, and I think you're very original.

Jia

[Alli Worthington]

OK y'all, I'm gonna break my laptop from crying on it. I am overwhelmed with love.

Most of you know the last few weeks have been really tough for my family and last night I just felt I couldn't take another heartache.

You have given me such a wonderful gift today with your support.

I love you all immensely.

[Monica @ Paper Bridges]

I'm sorry you have to deal with nonsense. Since when did the blogosphere turn into junior high?? You just keep doing your thing and try to ignore the childishness. Coffee ice cream always helps me when I'm feeling down too. I think you deserve a generous helping after all this.

[another (Alison)]

This yucky part of blogging/twittering/etc is my excuse for not doing it but I really do appreciate you Fussy for putting yourself out there and giving so much enjoyment to your readers. To whoever is slamming Fussy Mrs. Fussypants--go find another hobby!

[michele]

boo to that person. who needs their negativity? isn't life hard enough without all that noise? you have a great life and they clearly must just be jealous. i agree with karla--you shall be renamed "classy."

stop being so hard on yourself! didn't you have a baby approximately 5 minutes ago? cut yourself some slack honey!

[m]

Having left Twitter for Plurk (hint hint) I completely missed this latest craptastic example of mommyblogger meanness. But I'm not surprised. Annoyed, incredulous that someone would pick on YOU, of all people, but not surprised. I don't know who the A-lister is right now, but I can guess. There are a few of those delightful beyotches and they get their kicks picking on other people because they're queen bees and so we should all bow down to them. Well I say 'screw you' to anyone that picks on you. They are must moronskys. Lemme attem. I'll teachem' a lesson in good behavior.

Geesh. Love you, love your blog, love what you're doing, and who the F cares if it resembles someone else. But Amalah? I think NOT!

[Piper of Love]

Big girl pants look stunning on you! Remarkably, they don't resemble Mom Jeans at all. Just keep being you.

kiss kiss

[Darla]

Catnip ~ that is EXACTLY what I had hoped would happen. People would un-follow her *$$ when they saw the snottiness she gave out.

STANDING OVATION to you!

[Sarah]

Your blog is great and ilove blissfully domestic!

[Domestic Chicky]

It's a FUSSY-palooza!!

[Paloma]

Ridiculous! You don't need this drama! Hugs!

I think you are totally rad!

[we are THAT family]

You have nothing to defend. You are an original through and through. I've always thought it was sad when in order to lift themselves people have to put others down. Six months ago I would have laughed if you would have told me I'd have a blog and grow to care for people I might never meet. Stay Fussy and don't change a thing. Blessings!

[Susan]

Ahh what a playground thing to do.
I have to admit I copy. On another blog someone posted a picture of a butterfly and AHH So did I! Hold head in shame.
This girl-because that is what she is a little girl- is speaking at Blogher- I think Blogher should think twice before setting someone up to represent women and blogging and community and REACHING!

[Andrea]

Can't someone tell me who "she who must not be named is" so I can know, too? I feel so dumb, LOL! I don't read too many blogs and I really enjoy Fussy. I signed up for Twitter, but now I don't know what to do with it. Anyway, I'm curious about what kind of person does this. Clearly, not nice.

[Jackie]

Walks up to Mrs. F & takes off the 'kick me' sign someone taped to her back. Starts a camp fire with it & asks if anyone wants s'mores.

SO some fan of someone else has an issue ? That makes them a rabid fan, right ? They have a problem & YOU are NOT it. There use to be a way to send people you don't like black roses. Maybe I should start a cyber smacking service. Pay me to send a cyber smack, slap, to TROLLS. Bottom line isn't trolls what we are talking about. They are unhappy so they want EVERYBODY to be in the unhappy pit with them ?

SO repeat after me .... "DON'T FEED the Trolls !"

Seriously, can we all just have a group hug & celebrate what we have in common ? Treat other bloggers how we want to be treated. You know the Golden Rule. Cause I've done the turn the other cheek thing & I only have 4.

I can understand transference. I've done it. Something IRL sends me to the internet where I take it out on an issue. I've seen it happen in forums. Learned my lesson & try just to vent now.

Does this person even have a blog?

I think Bossy, Ree, Dooce (whomever the heck she is, seriously I know who she is, but I don't twitter with her) & others would be tickled with imitators. Isn't imitation the sincerest form of a complement ?

I'm not sayin' Mrs. F imitates. I don't think she does. She is original & does similar stuff. Now if I could photoshop. You bet I'd be a photoshoppin' fool right up there with her. And I bet Mrs. F would be cheering from the side lines.

Some people's perceptions are just illogical. Ran across an anti Dooce & Ree blogger earlier this year. She claimed Ree was copying Dooce. I'm like what ? Pioneer Woman & Utah chic are similar ? *rolls eyes* Sometimes people are not on the same page or the same planet.

SO you have 1 anti fan & thousands of fans. Those odds ain't bad. Let's look at the math. 10% of 1,000 would be 100. When you reach 99 anti fans then I'd worry. IF you reach 99 I GUARAUNTEE you'll have way more than 1,000 fans.

IRL we are suppose to have one twin in the world. Well, if that holds true to the blogospher then another blogger will be similar.

Let's leave this troll in the dust & concentrate our efforts positively.

On Friday a blogger left her link in the Frump linky & wanted help with her hair. We should go over there & help her. Yesterday I was the only commenter & my help was lame. So let's go. I'll meet you there.