Are You A Giver Or A Taker On HubPages?

I recently received an email notification that I had a new follower. I’m always excited when that happens, so I dropped what I was doing and “raced” over to their site to find out more about this newcomer.

I discovered that she had two followers, that she was following 454 Hubbers and she had not written a Hub yet.

May I ask….what is the damn point?

And no, this is not the first time this has happened. The holder of the record so far was a newbie who was following 1,105 Hubbers and had not even done a profile yet. What did he do, stay up all night befriending people?

Seriously, what is the point?

There are no prizes given on HubPages for he or she who follows the most people. Our income is not based on the number of Hubbers we follow, so what the hell is the point?

This is not an isolated incident. As I look at the 1,400 followers I have, I am willing to bet that only one-hundred of them comment on my Hubs on a regular basis. No, I am not grumbling about the lack of following; I just don’t see the point.

Then there are those who belong to Facebook groups and constantly hawk their work but never share the works of any other Hubbers. And then we have those who can’t be bothered to respond when you leave a comment on their Hub. And then….and then…..and then!

Here is where I get confused. HubPages is a COMMUNITY of writers who interact, give encouragement and offer suggestions when wanted. We are each other’s cheerleaders. In a very lonely profession we are the voices of reason and we are the pep-talkers who give much-needed pats on the back.

However, by the very nature of the beast, HubPages offers writers a platform where their work is instantly transported into the Internet where it can be seen by millions and possibly earn money for the writer. As such, some writers must see HP only as a platform and not a community at all.

And quite frankly I think they are missing the boat with that attitude.

Even HubPages, that money-grabbing Big Brother that lives for the financial bottom line, sees the advantages of supporting one another. Why else would they give awards each year to supportive and helpful Hubbers?

Anyone who knows me knows that I mean it when I say it. If you need help….if you have questions….I am more than happy to help any of you. All you have to do is ask. I share what I know in hopes that it will benefit you all. I was a teacher for eighteen years and I believe in giving. I was raised by parents who believed in community and helping one another.

Honestly, I would not be on HubPages if it were not for some very kind Hubbers who reached out and offered me help and encouragement early on, so now it is my time, as an established member of this community, to do the same.

How about you? Do you believe in helping other Hubbers? Do you believe in supporting other Hubbers? Are you a giver here on HP or are you a taker?

It isn’t so hard to do my friends. Every time you leave an encouraging comment you are a giver. Every time you share someone’s work you are a giver. Every time you offer to help a newcomer you are a giver, and every time you reach out a hand of friendship to some writer who is struggling you are a giver.

Conversely, every time you leave a negative comment you are a taker. Every time you feel the need to attack a writer because of their viewpoints you are a taker. If you fail to support someone who has loyally supported you then you are a taker, and if you are only here to make money and not be a part of the community then yes, you are a taker.

I especially detest those who feel the need to show up and attack someone’s Hub because it is a political or religious view they do not agree with. HubPages has forums where you can debate until the cows come home. Why is it necessary to debate in the comment section of a Hubber who is simply doing what they are supposed to do on HP, which is write? If this is a community of writers then it should be a place where WRITING is critiqued and encouraged, and not some political arena where the jackals can feed on the still-warm bodies of their victims.

My goodness I have some great friends who are also Hubbers. I can’t imagine if I had just joined HP and not become involved in this community. How empty would that have been? How meaningless?

I have no desire to continue this rambling reflection. I have Hubs to comment on and friends to chat with…..friends to chat with. Listen, it’s not like I’m hard up for friends. I have lived in Olympia for over twenty years, and taught hundreds of students in this city. I have friends here, but the friends I have on HP are special in that we share a common bond. We understand what it is like to be a writer. We understand the hours it takes and the quiet moments of self-doubt.

The numerous friends I have on HP are my special friends, the ones I have never met and yet are there for me daily, and I have no doubt that if one day I travel around the country they are friends who will open their doors to me and welcome me into their homes.

If you don’t have friends like that on HubPages then I am truly sorry. Maybe if you spent less time taking and more time giving, you would have some too.

2013 William D. Holland (aka billybuc)