Comments on: Oprah and the Mommybloggers Should Go One Step Further http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further Having an opinion never goes out of style. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:22:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: PunditMom http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further/comment-page-1#comment-6829 PunditMom Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:02:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further#comment-6829 Alex, Thanks for that perspective. It is important for us to remember there are lots of women out there who do not have this blogosphere lifeline. I would have liked the Oprah show better, though, if she had seemed to want to talk more about the isolation and depression aspects rather than the funny and amusing stories, and the book and TV show they were promoting. Alex, Thanks for that perspective. It is important for us to remember there are lots of women out there who do not have this blogosphere lifeline. I would have liked the Oprah show better, though, if she had seemed to want to talk more about the isolation and depression aspects rather than the funny and amusing stories, and the book and TV show they were promoting.

]]> By: Alex Elliot http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further/comment-page-1#comment-6827 Alex Elliot Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:01:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further#comment-6827 I emailed this to Jodifur personally after her comment on my blog. I think we need to keep in mind that not everyone is a blogger or reads blogs. Many women in the real world don't discuss the difficulties of being a mother. Women in our society are not encouraged to complain. The message women many times get is that we can do it all and the difficult part is left out. Sure, we bloggers know that isn't true and that we are not alone from reading others blogs and hearing their daily stories of struggles they are going through. Not everyone though has experienced that. I just finished a parenting class where I can honestly say that if those women were to watch the show, that would have been surprised that they weren't alone in parenting. I'm in a moms group and sure we talked about the temper tantrums and being tired, but nothing like the honesty in the blogging world. That's more between very close friends and many of us didn't have very close mommy friends when we first became moms. Also, a lot of them still don't understand or read blogs. I suspect if the show were about dads, it would have been more positively viewed. I also don't think they would have been expected to have a solution to the "problems". Was I shocked by anything? No. However, I thought the show served a purpose; just another way of letting moms know that they're not alone. I just think with all the isolation, self-doubt and depression out there you can't say it too many times. I emailed this to Jodifur personally after her comment on my blog. I think we need to keep in mind that not everyone is a blogger or reads blogs. Many women in the real world don’t discuss the difficulties of being a mother. Women in our society are not encouraged to complain. The message women many times get is that we can do it all and the difficult part is left out. Sure, we bloggers know that isn’t true and that we are not alone from reading others blogs and hearing their daily stories of struggles they are going through. Not everyone though has experienced that. I just finished a parenting class where I can honestly say that if those women were to watch the show, that would have been surprised that they weren’t alone in parenting. I’m in a moms group and sure we talked about the temper tantrums and being tired, but nothing like the honesty in the blogging world. That’s more between very close friends and many of us didn’t have very close mommy friends when we first became moms. Also, a lot of them still don’t understand or read blogs. I suspect if the show were about dads, it would have been more positively viewed. I also don’t think they would have been expected to have a solution to the “problems”. Was I shocked by anything? No. However, I thought the show served a purpose; just another way of letting moms know that they’re not alone. I just think with all the isolation, self-doubt and depression out there you can’t say it too many times.

]]> By: PunditMom http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further/comment-page-1#comment-6822 PunditMom Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:03:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further#comment-6822 Several other women I know have said the same thing about hoping there would be some focus of mothers of children who are a bit older. As the mom of a 9 year old, I'm in that category. I'm assuming it's because there's not enough stuff that advertisers want us to buy that are geared toward our kids. Several other women I know have said the same thing about hoping there would be some focus of mothers of children who are a bit older. As the mom of a 9 year old, I’m in that category. I’m assuming it’s because there’s not enough stuff that advertisers want us to buy that are geared toward our kids.

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further/comment-page-1#comment-6816 Stephanie Fri, 10 Apr 2009 03:14:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further#comment-6816 Wow I'm glad I missed that episode. I may still be dealing with diapers with my youngest, but that's not what defines me. I'd also like to see more of an accurate representation of moms out there. Wow I’m glad I missed that episode. I may still be dealing with diapers with my youngest, but that’s not what defines me. I’d also like to see more of an accurate representation of moms out there.

]]> By: Cindy La Ferle http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further/comment-page-1#comment-6814 Cindy La Ferle Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:48:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further#comment-6814 I'm also sorry that her "Mommybloggers" didn't include middle-aged moms with voices of experience. We're a force to be reckoned with. Plus, mothers of teens and college-age kids always get short-changed in the parenting pubs. Parenting doesn't stop after the kids go to kindergarten. I’m also sorry that her “Mommybloggers” didn’t include middle-aged moms with voices of experience. We’re a force to be reckoned with. Plus, mothers of teens and college-age kids always get short-changed in the parenting pubs. Parenting doesn’t stop after the kids go to kindergarten.

]]> By: MojoMom http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further/comment-page-1#comment-6810 MojoMom Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:00:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further#comment-6810 Hi PunditMom, you are a true kindred spirit and your post inspired me to sit down and <a HREF="http://mojomom.blogspot.com/2009/04/mojo-mom-and-oprah-mom-bloggers.html#links" REL="nofollow">blog about</a> how I see <a HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Mojo-Mom-Nurturing-Raising-Family/dp/1592404553/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236883554&sr=8-1" REL="nofollow"><i>Mojo Mom</i></a> fitting into this universe of Mom writing. My goal for my book is to specifically go beyond just girlfriend truth-telling to inspire women to take action. Hi PunditMom, you are a true kindred spirit and your post inspired me to sit down and blog about how I see Mojo Mom fitting into this universe of Mom writing. My goal for my book is to specifically go beyond just girlfriend truth-telling to inspire women to take action.

]]> By: The Girl Revolution http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further/comment-page-1#comment-6806 The Girl Revolution Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:12:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further#comment-6806 I think Shame on Oprah is a bit much. I mean, it's not as though she said, "there's a limit to how many blogger or mommy stories we're doing and this is it." <br/><br/>I got the impression the show was set up to sell the book and the television show and maybe in response to the new legislation about PPD. <br/><br/>I think the show was meant to be light humor rather than serious "we can change the world." <br/><br/>That said, there was something oddly off and inauthentic about it. <br/><br/>Maybe I'm just done complaining about motherhood and I'm over the shock of what it is and how it changed me, so it was a real "Been there done that" show for me. <br/><br/>Or maybe I was just jealous that no one asked me to be on. I think Shame on Oprah is a bit much. I mean, it’s not as though she said, “there’s a limit to how many blogger or mommy stories we’re doing and this is it.”

I got the impression the show was set up to sell the book and the television show and maybe in response to the new legislation about PPD.

I think the show was meant to be light humor rather than serious “we can change the world.”

That said, there was something oddly off and inauthentic about it.

Maybe I’m just done complaining about motherhood and I’m over the shock of what it is and how it changed me, so it was a real “Been there done that” show for me.

Or maybe I was just jealous that no one asked me to be on.

]]> By: The Yummy Mummy http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further/comment-page-1#comment-6805 The Yummy Mummy Thu, 09 Apr 2009 02:13:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further#comment-6805 Well said! I left a comment at Jodifur's blog, too. I was amazed at how seriously boring it was. I mean, there was no meat. No funny. No poignancy. No provocative, thoughtful thinking or re-thinking of motherhood. It was a scant, watered-down view of parenting, cut to fit the promotion of a book and TV show. <br/><br/>Being a parent is tough, but really, these women made it seem like they worked in a coal mine or something. And really, did you see Oprah's face? Sometimes it was like she was forcing herself to look interested. <br/><br/>I thought this was a real missed opportunity for such a large media format. There are amazing things happening in this world of parenting and blogging. And once again, people on the outside missed the real relevance, connection and community that is created around motherhood/fatherhood on the internet. <br/><br/>Shame on Oprah. That was lame. <br/><br/>Kim Well said! I left a comment at Jodifur’s blog, too. I was amazed at how seriously boring it was. I mean, there was no meat. No funny. No poignancy. No provocative, thoughtful thinking or re-thinking of motherhood. It was a scant, watered-down view of parenting, cut to fit the promotion of a book and TV show.

Being a parent is tough, but really, these women made it seem like they worked in a coal mine or something. And really, did you see Oprah’s face? Sometimes it was like she was forcing herself to look interested.

I thought this was a real missed opportunity for such a large media format. There are amazing things happening in this world of parenting and blogging. And once again, people on the outside missed the real relevance, connection and community that is created around motherhood/fatherhood on the internet.

Shame on Oprah. That was lame.

Kim

]]> By: Boston Mamas http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further/comment-page-1#comment-6803 Boston Mamas Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:58:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further#comment-6803 I just left a comment at Jodifur's post - it's so refreshing to read her and your posts after scratching my head at the glowing tweets about the episode.<br/><br/>I'm copying below what I wrote at Jodifur's post. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts! -Christine<br/><br/>+++++<br/><br/>THANK GOD. <br/><br/>I was DM'ing with Susan Getgood about this topic and she directed me to your post. I was skeptical when I saw the ads for the Oprah episode but wanted to tune in because some of my blog friends were going to be on.<br/><br/>Unfortunately, the episode was just what I had anticipated -- very surface-y and a lot of complaining about basic issues that aren't exactly secret, as you pointed out. I ended up turning it off when they got to the sex segment because: a) I was disappointed; and b) my 4yo already was asking why there was so much potty talk on TV.<br/><br/>The other issue that I brought up with Susan was that I found it odd that none of the bloggers other than Dooce received URL credit. I mean, I get that Dooce is the mother of all bloggers, but not including the URL's made it seem like they just found a group of random women around the country to skype and subsequently failed to point out the fact that there is this amazingly powerful current of honesty about the good, bad, and ugly of motherhood. And that in this current runs content and reflection far deeper than diaper and mealtime travails. I just left a comment at Jodifur’s post – it’s so refreshing to read her and your posts after scratching my head at the glowing tweets about the episode.

I’m copying below what I wrote at Jodifur’s post. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts! -Christine

+++++

THANK GOD.

I was DM’ing with Susan Getgood about this topic and she directed me to your post. I was skeptical when I saw the ads for the Oprah episode but wanted to tune in because some of my blog friends were going to be on.

Unfortunately, the episode was just what I had anticipated — very surface-y and a lot of complaining about basic issues that aren’t exactly secret, as you pointed out. I ended up turning it off when they got to the sex segment because: a) I was disappointed; and b) my 4yo already was asking why there was so much potty talk on TV.

The other issue that I brought up with Susan was that I found it odd that none of the bloggers other than Dooce received URL credit. I mean, I get that Dooce is the mother of all bloggers, but not including the URL’s made it seem like they just found a group of random women around the country to skype and subsequently failed to point out the fact that there is this amazingly powerful current of honesty about the good, bad, and ugly of motherhood. And that in this current runs content and reflection far deeper than diaper and mealtime travails.

]]> By: Emily-TheMotherhood http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further/comment-page-1#comment-6802 Emily-TheMotherhood Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2009/04/oprah-and-the-mommybloggers-should-go-one-step-further#comment-6802 You are so right about this! We're all helping each other in so many ways through our online connections and making things a little better each and every day by being there for each other. I'd love to see some coverage of that!!! Thanks Joanne for saying it all so well - as always!!! You are so right about this! We’re all helping each other in so many ways through our online connections and making things a little better each and every day by being there for each other. I’d love to see some coverage of that!!! Thanks Joanne for saying it all so well – as always!!!

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