On My Soapbox: The Book Bloggers Pledge

We book bloggers are a strange bunch, we come in all sorts and flavours. We all have an incline towards a genre, an author, or at times just a pretty cover may be all it takes to pique our interest. I tend to enjoy books that no one else has and I've never met a dystopian I haven't enjoyed on some level. But for all our differences, I had always thought I was part of a community that is supportive of it's bloggers and willing to lend a much needed hand to the new and confused. The short answer? Yes, we're mostly all awesome. The long and complicated answer? No, we're certainly not.

I attribute my blogging prowess to the girls who you'll find at Happy Indulgence and Sporadic Reads, Jeann and Dre. These girls are friendly and fabulous and taught me how to be the best blogger I can be. Yes, it sounds like motivational bullshit, but it proves my point that with a little guidance from established bloggers, our community can only learn and grow. But what happens when bloggers don't play well with others? Those who believe they're part of a blogging elite? Well, shit goes down and I'll be damned if I'm going to be part of that.

On Twitter not so long ago, is a perfect example of how how the community pulls together, but for all the wrong reasons. A young girl who was caught plagiarising, not only publicly humiliated, but a vigilante group emerged and bullied the young girl. Was the plagiariser in the wrong? Yes. She did deserve to be humiliated and torn apart? Hell no. Surely those calling for blood had never made a mistake before in their lives. Must be terribly lonely sitting up in those ivory towers.


Ivory tower syndrome doesn't just apply to the mean and demented, what about those who ignore others altogether? The lesser of two evils, perhaps they don't have the time to step outside of that safe bibliophile womb, otherwise known as a blog. But perhaps, they just don't like the rest of us. I was under the assumption that to get the most from any blogging community, you need to give something back, but apparently that doesn't apply to everyone. I'm a firm believer of the power of commenting. I may not have time to comment on every blog that I'd like to, but I don't care if you've got two members or two thousand, if you've got something interesting to say, I want to hear about it.

But what happens when you ignore other bloggers attempting to interact with you through other mediums, such as social media? We blog, we offer opinions on books and book related subjects, and yes, everyone deserves the right to reply. Let's face it, publishers allow us to review their books free of charge, so we can offer an honest opinion on whether the book is worth spending your hard earned on it. No readership? Alienated within the community for being a blog hermit? Half an hour per week to support others is well worth it, if not for yourself, then to support our new and upcoming little guys.

So this brings me to my point.

My Pledge


This is where I pledge to be a better book blogger. One who is supportive of others, who will always find a kind word to encourage others and see that they feel validated and respected. I vow to stand up for those who can't themselves, be polite, make time for others and take a stand against bullying.

Your Pledge


Now this is where you come in. A movement starts with an idea, so move your asses and do something about it. Lead by example, and others shall follow.



67 comments

  1. Wow, just wow. Thank you Kelly for doing this post. I am touched and encouraged to do better with everything you said. From a new blogger like me, every word you said were like hands pushing and telling me to enjoy and continue to do better. Again, thank you. :))))


    Ella @ The Filipina Booknote

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    1. Thanks Ella. It's great to see you on board. Together I think we can create an even stronger community that is inclusive of everyone.

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  2. I actually thinks that the book blogger community is much friendlier than the other group bloggers. I used to be a member of other (ie: beauty and lifestyle) bloggers groups but I never got the chance to interact more with them. Just a simple hi-hello and then the conversation ends.

    About commenting back, I visit blogs when I have time. However, I don't leave comments on some blogs when I don't have anything to say. I forbid myself to leave a simple "Great post" or a non-sense comment. I think it's an insult the writer of the post.

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    1. It's sad isn't it Irish, I think bloggers tend to stay within their own cliques. I'm sorry to hear about the beauty bloggers and that you didn't feel included within their community. I remember when I started blogging and it was hard to break through and find my own place too.

      Exactly, it's all about caring about what others are putting out there and taking a genuine interest.

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  3. Such a provocative post! I swear it got my mind reeling. I've heard about the plagirizing incident and it's just sad that this thing happened especially that the girl was pushed to the point of bullying. :( There was fuss about it and some bloggers ranting about some bloggers and etc etc.

    I pledge to be a friendly blogger through and through and always to share love in the different social media and of course through commenting. :) Our blogging community is just a really warm fuzzy place, I just hope it stays that way :D

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    1. Me too Abby. I love that our community doesn't care where you live, your ethnicity or your background. We all bond through our love of books and I've made blogger friends all over the world.

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  4. This is a wonderful thing I feel so bad for that poor girl. Everyone stuffs up and yes plagiarism is a big stuff up but I can’t believe they ripped her apart. I wan’t on twitter when it happened but I heard a little bit about it later. I only comment when I have something to actually contribute not just a 'great post’.

    I pledge to be a more active blogger, commenting back every time as well as helping anyone in anyway I can. I promise to never let anyone be bullied again and to give new blogger a fighting start!

    Thank you so much for starting this Kelly, you are so wonderful in every way!

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    1. Katie, you're awesome. Katie is a new blogger and she was one of my lovely new blogger friends that I had in mind when I was writing down my thoughts. She's brilliant and for Katie and other bloggers just finding their feet, they need support.

      It really was terrible what went down.

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  5. I absolutely agree and I'm definitely signing the pledge! I have no idea what went down with that whole business with the plagiarising (I always miss that sort of stuff...I mean, that's probably a good thing, though it does make a soul mighty curious). And I HAVE found it tough to crack into the blogosphere at first. Especially among big blogs. And maybe they ARE really friendly and just plain didn't like me...buuut, yeah. Sometimes it does make you feel like a snivelling brat when you're ignored. But then I've met MORE than enough awesome bloggers to make up for it. ;)

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    1. I usually hear about these incidents second hand too, but since I've been on Twitter more lately (chatting to our new Aussie blogger mates), I've noticed a lot more. There's been several incidents behind the scenes, including the deliberate exclusion of bloggers (not within our community). I thought that if we could start a list (much the same as the bloggers who comment one), it would give vulnerable and newer bloggers sites to visit for advice and support.

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  6. Great post, Kelly! I completely agree. A few years ago there was a HUGE case of blog post stealing by what was probably the biggest blogging name at the time. To say it rocked us to the core was an understatement.

    I don't believe in the point of bullying, either, but I did take some time to re-think my support of this blog and withdrew it without drama. At the time I was supporting a very large meme/contest hosted by the blogger and promptly removed the link to their blog. That being said, I would never gang up on said person and kick them into the dirt. I don't believe in spreading more drama!

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    1. I had heard about that only a few months ago, I wasn't blogging or even into reading at the time when all that happened. Your attitude is brilliant Brittany, it's exactly what we need in our community. I heard it was another form of plagiarism, and a campaign against the prominent blogger was pretty public and humiliating. I would have quietly withdrawn my support too. It doesn't do anyone any good to publicly flog others for their mistakes.

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  7. So true Kelly and you've made some fantastic points! The book blogging community should really be about sharing our joy of reading and our opinions on books with others, and as in any situation this should be treated with respect. Us bookworms need to stick together and support each other - as we should share that common goal and passion for books with hopefully brings us together. It's sad to see these bad situations arise when people turn it into a competition or act in a way which isn't ethical. Hopefully we can learn from these incidents to make ourselves better bloggers who are willing to help each other out and be supportive like we should :)

    I know realise how cheesy that might all sound, but oh well!

    Great post,
    Eugenia (Chasm of Books)

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    1. I couldn't agree more Eugenia, absolutely perfect. I think sitting behind a keyboard, some forget just decent common courtesy for others, it's too easy for them to hide and not be called to account. It happens all over the internet of course, but it really hits home when it's in your own backyard, so to speak.

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  8. THANK YOU Kelly for your wonderful post and I love how you mentioned that most of the community is wonderful, except for a spare few who decide that they will stick within their cliques and voice their opinions very publicly with the power of many. I totally agree with your pledge!

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    1. Without you Jeann (and Dre), I wouldn't be a shadow of the blogger I am now. Just through your example, I learnt how to interact, how to show support and voice my opinion. When I first started, I wasn't a confident blogger, but friends like yourself and through your support have allowed me to find my voice. Every blogger needs a Jeann and Dre of their own. Not mine though, get your own. I didn't pledge to share.

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  9. I think that this is a wonderful idea. I used to stay in my own little bubble, but I've been branching out more and more, and I love finding all the awesome people around the book blogosphere. I will admit that I don't get to go around a lot, but I am trying to explore more. And I do like how people help and support each other. I love those bloggers who interact with each other and share all the love. This is something I'm working on and I hope to get better over time. :D

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    1. I did too Francine. I think when I first started, I was so finicky that it didn't allow for any time to to mix with other bloggers. I would read quite a bit, but wouldn't comment. I still do that today on occasion, as I like to read about books I haven't heard of before, but sometimes it doesn't warrant a comment just to say, great review. It's wonderful to have you on board.

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  10. This is my 4th attempt at commenting. Haha! I don't know why it's not posting. But the main idea is that this post is wonderful and inspiring. And I will definitely work harder to become better and I hope to interact with a lot more bloggers. :D

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    1. Thanks Francine, that really means the world.

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  11. Thank you so much for this post, Kelly. I do admit that when I first started I felt alienated. I'm now reaching my 2nd year, and while I am far from being a popular blogger, I've met a lot of people who were not only friendly, but awesome and spectacular, like you, Dre, and Jeann, all who I consider close to my heart. I don't want new bloggers to feel what I felt then, so I shall try my best to be as friendly and helpful as I possibly can. I've always responded to comments on my blog, and that won't stop. Interaction is key to a successful community. It shouldn't always be about ME ME ME ME. Blogging thrives on interaction. And I see and respect and shall live that.

    *PLEDGED!*

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    1. I had exactly the same feelings Faye. It's not a deliberate action on the blogging groups behalf, but it's like starting a new school. If someone takes you under their wing, it can really give you that much needed confidence to fly. You and your little popper potatoes are among the nicest bloggers I've come across. When the shit was flying on Twitter and I posted for people to stop, you were the only other blogger I seen who took a stand against what was going on.

      You're already awesome Faye. We need more Faye's in the world.

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  12. I thankfully didn't hear too much about that particular drama you mentioned, but I hate to see such negativity in our community - it's unfortunate that that happened, but even more unfortunate that people reacted so strongly! This is a great post Kelly and I'm happy to sign up to be a more understanding and supportive blogger! :)

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    1. I'm thrilled to have you on board Charlene. It was disgusting and I know a lot of bloggers who have withdrawn support for those involved in the incident. I really hope they've learnt a more appropriate course of action in how to deal with sensitive situations. Bit like if you seen a shoplifter putting something in their pocket, would you round up all the shippers around you and kick him to the ground? Hopefully they too are making amends and a fresh start.

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  13. YES YES YES all this. I know these thoughts and feelings so well. The "elitism" is something I've feel like I've been seeing more and more often. Those were the bloggers I used to look up to, I wished I could have a blog as successful as theirs. But the more I saw them not interact, with me and with others, the more I realised that goal might not be the best thing...

    I know I don't comment as often as I could, and I feel really bad about it. So I think I'll pledge to try and comment more. I pledge to praise the beautiful posts (like this one), to interact with any and all people who reach out to me, and to always treat people nicely and respectfully regardless of what they've done or what I think of them.

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    1. You've got a brilliant attitude Bec, not to mention a fabulous blog. Some of the big bloggers are still setting an awesome example for the community, Kat at Cuddlebuggery is one. She's probably one, if not THE most popular Aussie book blogger (especially on Goodreads as well), and always makes time on social media to chat to anyone who's up for it. I found it's more the middle range bloggers who are the ones that seem to be involved in drama, and I wonder if it's to set them apart from the pack, so to speak.

      If that's their way of gaining attention for all the wrong reasons, then that's sad.

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  14. I totally agree with this Kelly! There's just too much negativity happening to this community lately and I admire you for taking this stand, I pledge my full support. I always try and treat everyone with respect, to be friendly and to make sure I engage with fellow readers and bloggers as much as I can. I may not always be able to Comment on every single post on blogs I follow but I make sure to take the time and do it as regularly as I can. I appreciate new visitors who takes time to leave nice comments, the least I can do is return the favor. It opens the communication lines and a possibility to make new friends!

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    1. Thrilled you're on board Amir, and an awesome way to set a great example. I've met some awesome new friends through being a blogger and always looking to meet more. I rely on you guys and your opinions to pick and choose what I'm reading, and I try to thank bloggers who've inspired me as much as possible, sometimes straying into creepy admiration.

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  15. Thank you so much, Kelly. First, that poor girl, yes she did something wrong, but she doesn't deserved to be bullied. No one does. People make mistakes.

    Second, I just want to say how much I love the Australian book blogging community. Every Australian book blogger I have interacted with have been nothing but super friendly and nice. I always reply to my comments, and I try to comment on as many other peoples blogs as I can. I subscribe to a lot and it's impossible to comment on every single post. But being nice and supportive of others should be a given, it's not a competition. Interacting with other blogges is what makes blogging fun. It was a bit scary at first, this whole blogging thing, at least it was for me, but I've gotten a lot braver and am commenting a lot more than I use to, actually I'd have to say giveaways helped a lot. You are almost always asked to leave a comment in a giveaway, and because I was asked to comment I wasn't scared to do it, which helped me to be braver and comment on non giveaway posts. I don't know what I was so scared of, maybe not getting a reply and thinking they won't care about my opinion but I was proven wrong. Anyway, I've always been friendly and will continue to be. You should always treat others as you want to be treated :)

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    1. You were actually my first self sponsored giveaway winner Rochelle, was thrilled to be able to send you the hardback copy of The fault in our Stars. I'll always remember that.

      You're so right, and having to leave a comment on giveaways was probably just the push you needed to gain a little more confidence. You've definitely got your wings now and I'm so happy you're on board.

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    2. Thanks, Kelly :) I was really excited to win it, I had been wanting to read it for ages. It totally destroyed me!

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  16. Lovely Kelly berry! Thank you for the shout out!

    All I ever wanted was a community where people felt safe (even online), where people can actually interact and make friends across the globe. Whatever we say online, especially on Twitter and other SNS, reflect who we are offline. What if this happened in a school classroom, "someone copied someone else's essay", do we, as her classmates, throw pencils and papers to her? NO. That is handled by an adult, our teacher. But on Twitter, we can only handle ourselves AS AN ADULT. Handle it in way where we don't bury ourselves in the mud for our brash words and actions.

    In short, choose the KINDER route. It could've been handled properly. I am not taking sides, because both parties are in the wrong. But clearly, I am against bullying. So whose actions are worse than the other? We all know the obvious.

    This post should be scattered everywhere!

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    1. I want that too, see, great minds think alike. That's a perfect example about plagiarism, in my eyes, what happened is the online equivilant of just that. I know we have younger bloggers who may not know how to handle those type of situations, but when you see an older and more seasoned blogger carrying on like that, I'd hate for them to think that's acceptable and join in so they won't be judged next. Calling the girl out on it publicly, I can see why it happened. If you've been stolen from, you're angry and might feel as though the other party needs to learn from what they've done. But who are we to dish out punishment? It should have stopped there, but she was flogged, degraded and abused and as an older blogger, that's the last time that kind of shit will go down on my watch. It only takes one voice to stand up and say enough is enough.

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  17. *standing ovation* I've always loved the book blogging community and how I can just escape from all my real life issues for a while each day to chat to you awesome people. I don't want others to feel like the blogging community should be met with a 10 meter pole because people are making others feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. As for the incident, I take my words back, but the hashtag just went to the next level.

    Brilliant post, Kels! <33

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    1. There was nothing wrong at all with your words, I would have been furious too. We put in so much work with our reviews and it's a violation when someone tries to pass it off as their own. I would have done the same. But where I took issue with the situation, was the abuse afterwards. In an age of teens succumbing to the pressures of internet bullying, it's just not on. You've got nothing to be sorry for my little poppet, you handled yourself beautifully.

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  18. *gives Kelly a big hug (and some cake)*

    This community is definitely a lovely one most of the time. There's a lot of acceptance, friendship and crazy-ass chats going around in blogs, Twitter, etc. Everyone just seemed so friendly even when I was just a newbie blogger, and I loved being able to open up to everyone, ask for help or start a random conversation. There are still a few people who don't interact much on blogs, not even bothering to comment back on the comments on their posts (if it's for a few posts, it's understandable, but ALL POSTS?) and it's kind of sad..

    Aw, and I'm so glad that Dre and Jeann helped you in some way. They are both awesome girls! <33

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    1. There's far more good within our community, you're totally right Aimee, it's sad that we can't all share that same respect though. It's fun loving bloggers such as yourself that set an awesome example..

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  19. Wonderful post Kelly. I wrote a post about not being a drama mama, and so agree. We need to set examples not uplift each other. I love our community and it saddens me when I see our sphere darkened by plagiarism and the ugly response to it.

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    1. The ugly responses were what saddened me the most Kimba, but I couldn't have said it better myself. Thanks for stopping by.

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  20. I love this post and completely agree. I have only been blogging for seven months and still feel very much a newbie. But I have met so many amazing bloggers who take the time to come visit and comment or talk to me on other social sites. Another blogger sent me design ideas for my blog when I mentioned in a post that I was struggling with it. Then she actually went through the whole process of designing and adding the elements to the blog. That is the wonderful blogging community that I have come to love and adore. I pledge to continue to go comment on blogs at least a few times a week. To seek out more blogs and to always be encouraging and supportive. I also pledge to always comment back on the comments people leave me, even if it takes me a few days ;)

    I also pledge to share this post, because others need to read it.

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    1. I love hearing such positive stories like , even half an hour of someone's time makes all the difference to someone who needs a hand. You should give her a plug, she sounds like a brilliant blogger that we could do with more of. Thrilled that you've taken the pledge.

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    2. Oh, don't worry, I did! I mention her all the time on my blog - she blogs at Book Badger and she's offered free design help out to other bloggers. Amanda's just so lovely, I am so pleased to meet such a nice, caring blogger who was willing to give me her time and help. The pledge is a fantastic idea, will definitely be linking to his on my blog in the hopes that others will join in.

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  21. What a great idea! I signed the pledge. Sometimes I catch myself being to involved in my own blog and not bothering to go out to show some support to other bloggers. It's great to be reminded to do that!

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    1. Me too Sunny, especially if I'm feeling a little overwhelmed as well. Thank you for taking the pledge.

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  22. I signed the pledge! I think we should come together for things other than calling out people! The book blogging community should come together for fun, positive things! Amazing post! :)

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    1. Thanks Marianne, I couldn't agree more. Even by changing my own attitude I've found that I'm a much happier blogger. Thank you for pledging.

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  23. Wow! I think this is such a great and powerful idea Kelly! Being kind and respectful is so, so, so, so, SO important, especially in a community like book blogging, and I feel that this pledge will definitely remind people to go the extra mile. Obviously, we're not all 100% perfect - it's impossible! - but trying to be the best you can be is such an important first step. Thanks so much for sharing this Kelly! You rock! <3

    ~ Zoe @ The Infinite To-Read Shelf

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    1. It's amazing how many awesome new bloggers I've met through the blog and Twitter with the campaign. Book bloggers like your awesome self who want a safe and respectful community. You've always been brilliant Zoe. Thank you for pledging.

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  24. I'm totally down with being an active part of a better community :) And you're right, the time it takes to hop around places, show your support, assist where it's needed and be a nice human being really is worth investing.

    I don't take kindly to plagiarizing blogs, big or small, but I simply stop reading them for a while, or for good depending on how they react to being caught. I'm not saying that the way to go, people should get second chances and a lot of readers will give second chances and all, but I'm not gonna fake still having an interest when I stop having it.
    But it's important that someone who missteps has people around them to explain why doing something in a certain way is wrong, to show them it's worth doing the right thing instead, you know?

    Anyways, liked your post, totally liked the spirit!

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    1. Exactly Livia. In no way am I condoning those who've done the wrong thing, but I think we need to be kinder in our approach. Whether or not it comes with age, but I see so many younger bloggers that need support, so I've started my own campaign to promote and support. Of course we can't comment everywhere, if the content doesn't interest us or we just don't have time, but reply to those who do and stuff we enjoy checking out.

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  25. This is just wonderful! I missed most of the initial Twitter happenings, but caught some of the aftermath, and was saddened. Certainly no one thinks that plagiarism is acceptable, but in no way does bullying help the situation. Those in glass houses and all that jazz, no? Overall though, I do love this community, and I am taking your pledge! I find that the other book bloggers in general are just so fun, so interactive. I have had my book blog for only about 7 months, and have really only been active for about 5 of those months. I have been doing a mom blog for about 2.5 years now, and have so, SO much more enjoyment from my book blog, mainly because of the awesome community. So thanks Kelly, for helping us all take a harder look at our actions! I am totally signing the pledge, because I want to always love book blogging as much as I do now!

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    1. Thanks Shannon, and congratulations on a brilliant mummy blog AND book blog. For someone entrenched in the blog world, I'm sure you see a lot of incidents that are cringe worthy. I think what spurred me into action was this particular girl's age. She's young enough to be my own daughter and if I found this had happened to her, I'd be livid. What she did was wrong, horribly wrong, but bullying is not the answer, nor taking it out on those who want to be better, and not just another bystander.

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  26. Awesome post! Most of the time I live under a rock, so I didn't hear about the plagiarism until later - just bits of it. Although most of the time I don't have time for interaction either! But I'm more open on Twitter and usually reply back if someone starts a convo (okay, I'm shy but I don't bite). ;)

    Although towers... Rapunzel? Well said. It's certainly lonely - at least that's what I imagine it to be. ;)

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    1. Sophia, most of the time I'm probably under the rock next to yours, but if this is what usually goes down with this kind of thing touches our community, then I certainly hope that it'll be the last instance of how we deal with it. It's hard to know how you'd cope in the same situation, but the bullying definitely shouldn't be happening at all. With so much online bullying, I'm surprised we still allow it to happen. Thanks for your support Sophia.

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  27. I loved everything about this post. Yes. Plagiarizing is horrible. But to go out of your way and crucify someone?! That's disgusting. I'm so glad that you wrote this and I certainly am making the pledge!

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    1. Thanks Melissa, I agree wholeheartedly. I think internet wide, we need to be more accountable for our actions and I'm thrilled you've made the pledge.

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  28. I wish that linky didn't close in 30 days. It should be up forever. I ALWAYS support other blogs. I actually hope I am known for that. I take the time each evening to visit the ones I follow and stop by ALL the ones that comment on my blog. Some days it's more time consuming then other days. But I can't stand the blogs that act like they are so big and just don't have time for that. If you don't have time to visit and chat with other bloggers then what are you blogging for? Isn't blogging about meeting new bloggers and everyone chatting about the book community? Great post.

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    1. Me too Angela. When it expires, I'll create a second one within the post as a reference for bloggers who want to visit blogs with a friendly environment. I couldn't have said it better myself. We all blog for ourselves, but part of blogging is to connect with others. We don't need to visit every blog, that's just ridiculous, but for those who don't visit any? I just find that really bizarre. Thanks for taking the pledge Angela.

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  29. This is such a wonderful, thoughtful post! I think that at times people don't stop for two seconds to think of what their bullying is doing to another person, its quite sad really. Plagiarism is horrible and I had no idea about that incident but it can always be handled a little differently.

    I try to comment not only on my blog to the comments I receive but also stop by theirs as well, its a great way to make new friends and gain new readers.

    Have a great weekend & happy reading ☺Sharon - Obsession with Books

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    1. Thanks Sharon. Me too, I try to get around to everyone eventually, as long as their content contains YA of some sort. On the odd occasion I click to visit and blog that reviews mainly erotica, I find that I just click back out. I love being able to comment, but only on content that interests me, otherwise we just end up with meaningless comments.

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  30. What a wonderful post - thank you. I don't know the girl or the story involved, but I'm quite a new blogger (well, 5 months now) and it was hard at the beginning, I was afraid of doing things wrong. I don't know if this blogger was a newbie but…. in any event, I guess it would have been better to firstly politely point it out to her and if she is less than understanding and continues to plagiarise, maybe just ignoring / unsubscribing would do. At the beginning, I read a lot about etiquette, and having written academically before, I know plagiarising is a hot topic - but also one which everyone can easily get wrong.
    I'm very lucky that so far, I have found only very very supportive bloggers and wouldn't want to miss it any more.

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    1. I struggled in the beginning as well when I started blogging at the start of 2013, so I'm probably still considered a newbie as well. I was lucky enough to have met two awesome book bloggers around six months ago (could have been a little longer), who helped me become a better blogger though simply observing them. I had no idea about comments in the first few months, and just thanked others for visiting. But it wasn't until I begun to visit other blogs and join book blogging groups that it really started to be a more rewarding experience.

      That's what I'm enjoying most about blogging nowadays, the interaction with like minded people who understand the love of a good book. Thanks for visiting Peggy.

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  31. Thank you for this post. Because as a new blogger, I at times feel lost in a sea of people who know how to do everything I don't. I've some very elitist attitudes among several bloggers that will remain nameless, and I've stopped following their blogs for that reason. Why the negativity? If blogging isn't your primary source of income to sustain your livelihood, you're no different than the rest of us.

    Twitter in itself is very cliquish, which is one reason I backed off it years ago. Internet fame is a drug, and lots of people are high on it. So it's really awesome to find people who are just as down to earth as I am. I try to be a nice person in real life. Why should my Internet persona be any differently?

    So well said!!

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    1. THIS. IS. BRILLIANT.
      You've put into two paragraphs exactly what I was trying to portray. It really does come down to keyboard jockeys (do they still call them that). I'm sure none of us would intimidate or berate others so publicly by yelling in the street for everyone to hear, the internet shouldn't be any different. I think in moments of anger, we all tend to lose it and act without thinking, I'm guilty of it as well. But as long as we can learn and grow from our mistakes, then the next time something like this comes around, we'll all be better equipped to handle it more discreetly and without the pack mentality. Thanks for visiting.

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  32. Really great post! I'm a newer blogger and I've had a few 'veteran' bloggers come alongside me to help me get started, and their support has been such a huge help! Besides offering suggestions, their encouragement has really helped me get through the angst of starting a new blog.

    And I agree with you on commenting-I spend over an hour every day, reading through other blogs and leaving comments. I'm so excited to be a part of the book blogging community and I want to do my part to make it a great experience for others :)

    Just found your blog and now following through bloglovin!
    Finley Jayne
    http://finleyjayne.com/

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  33. Quote:
    "I was under the assumption that to get the most from any blogging community, you need to give something back, but apparently that doesn't apply to everyone. I'm a firm believer of the power of commenting. I may not have time to comment on every blog that I'd like to, but I don't care if you've got two members or two thousand, if you've got something interesting to say, I want to hear about it."

    First off, I found your post via Parajunkee's blog. And it made me feel less alone. I don't have a Twitter or Facebook or Google+ page, and I only interact with other bloggers via our blogs (or Goodreads sometimes) - so most of the drama goes missing for me. But one thing I seemed to notice...comment love has been going a little downhill lately (I even wrote a post about it). And you sort of validated my impression. On the other hand, you helped restore my faith in a better blogging world :). Great idea with the linky, too. I saw a few people I already know up there, and a vast majority of new-to-me bloggers, whom I will be happy to visit as soon as I can (I'm busy prepping my Armchair BEA intro and posts these days, and of course life tends to get in the way, but I'll slowly get to that!).
    As for my pledge...I've always done my best in order to reply to comments on my blog and leave thoughtful ones on the other's - so I simply pledge to keep doing that!

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  34. I definitely agree that the blogging world should be one big happy family and we should be supportive of each other. My co-blogger and I do our best to return/reply to all comments since people take the time to interact with us, we take the time to return the favor. I've even started sharing other people's posts in a weekly sharing the love type post. It just makes sense to give back in order to be part of the community.

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