HubPages Advice

You Cannot Please Everyone. You Can Only Please Yourself!

When I first started writing hubs on HubPages.com, I wanted to make a difference.  With a new take on life, and hot ideas floating around in my head, I hit the HubPages forum with a full head of steam.  I had the strange notion that people wanted to be understanding. I foolishly thought the forum, would give me an opportunity teach people and introduce to them new knowledge.  I thought how cool it would be, I could turn another writer/readers view on something, and make them look at it differently.  I wanted to explore the notion, that people could admit ignorance to particular fields of study.  Like how I am ignorant on the different socialist movements.  I know next to nothing about Anarchist, Socialist, Marxism, etc… and, I’m not afraid to admit it.  That does not make me a stupid person.   Just ignorant in that field of study.   Why can’t other people admit that?  What’s wrong with being able to admit a fault?  I thought the hubbers on HubPages.com would be different.  I thought they were a step higher, than other blogging forums, and slightly more studious.  Let us just say, I was wrong.

Here is a journey of mine, that started in the HubPages Forums.

One day last year, I posted a thread in the finance forum that asked, “Have you ever consider God to be your Financial Adviser?”   I even went so far as to say- it might be a loony idea, and ask for other peoples opinion on the matter at hand.  Knowing that plenty of evidence was given to make a strong case to my statement.  I looked forward to having a good debate on the subject matter.   That did not seem to matter. Why?   Because of how I titled and labeled the forum post.

To most people, if not all of the people reading the thread,  took the title to my post way to literal.  Making comments about calling up God on the phone, and talking to him.  Lots of teasing me, and this and that.  However, the notion that some people would perceive my post in this manner-  never even occurred to me.   The point I wanted to make in the end, was all but lost.   Not even I could find it.

Then I took a moment to myself, and remembered the day I thought about the post.   I remember being really excited to post and share on the forums.  I remember thinking to myself, that I wanted a title that would shock people into looking at my post. I wanted non-believers in religion, to reconsider their views of the bible.   I wanted to please the masses of religious people out there, participating in the forums that day.   If you re-read the title I came up with, I think you would be able to see what I was trying to do.  Moreover, I was only try to please everyone else, instead of me.  How could I’ve missed the boat so badly? I failed in my miserable attempt to please everyone, and only became displeased with myself.  I was being challenge in every direction. I became increasingly frustrated and more and more angry with the people commenting on my post. Why couldn’t they see what I was trying to say?  In failing to please myself,  I had disappointed readers and writers alike.   To them I was a whacked out Christian, hell bent on spreading the word of Christ.  Select the titles to your HubPages forum posts carefully and clearly.

That hasn’t been my only failure in the HubPages Forums.

Here is yet another example for you;

A writer on Hubpages made a statement about the Creation story. To me, he was stereo-typing believers of Christ to be Christians.  I also thought that he was also saying that, Christians were nothing more than disillusion ignoramuses, for believing such a story as that one.  In my attempt, to draw attention to the fact that not all believers in Christ are Christians, and that not all Christians believe in the Creation story- I failed miserably.   Horribly really.   I allowed my own arrogances about my faith,  lead me on a temper tamper full hypocritical backlashes speech.   I came off as a complete loon. I again, confused everyone who was reading the thread.  I even lost my way to the point I was making. Instead of being true to myself, I allowed myself to breach the protocol of debate and went on a two day rant.  It was terrible.

Therefore remember, that if a person  does not want to see the truth- about what you are saying, they won’t.   Be careful not assume or make assumptions.  Be especially careful, not to label someone or call them names.

My advice to YOU

1. First and foremost realize, that not everyone is going to like what you have to say.
2. More importantly be okay with it.
3. When titling any forum posts, do not go after the masses.  You are more likely to get a mob instead.
4. Be selective, in what you say.
5. Be aware of how others might perceive something you wrote.
6. Never regret, and be pleased by something you have posted or written.
7. Be mindful of how the masses might react to your words.
8. Be prepared to stand by what you write.
9. Be willing to change your view
10. And, to openly admit it when you are at fault.

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