Do you feel demotivated to publish on Hubpages? I sure do.

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   Cardisaposted 10 years ago

   I should be feeling great as an Apprentice Alumni, making some money and making new friends but the truth is I am not. The site is filled with toxicity and I feel infected, like I have been bitten by some venomous  demon or something.
   
   I used to love hubpages so much but recently I have been feeling like removing my content and calling it a day here. Some people here are just too toxic for me.

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      psycheskinnerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hubpages is hubs.  The forum is optional.
      
      If you would like to make the forums a sunnier place, I would suggest that this is not the way to do it. The flowers that grow are the ones we give the most light.

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         Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Deleted
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            SimeyCposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Cardisa - you are a very tough woman - I know that. These forums often get heated but if you think about it, any words said on here mean nothing as in most cases you don't know the people. Focus on your writing and don't worry about it - life simply is too short. If you have to come to the forums, when something seems to be getting to intense, then leave that forum - that's what I 'usually' do.

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               Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Thanks Simon, I have been through so much this past year and maybe all the losses are taking their toll. I lost my beloved grandfather last month, he was buried just last Monday and I didn't get to see him because he died in England. All the negatives just get to me....you know.

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      Pearldiverposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Cardisa.... Is that why you stopped following me when you became an 'A' just a couple of weeks after you had posted fan mail to me stating how much you appreciated my poetry?  I was really demotivated then by that event, because I had held what I considered at least a similar respect for your efforts and presence! 
      Sometimes we all take places like this too seriously and forget that many of us learned to treat people better in a face to face environment.... rather than 'Liking' them sight unseen or 'Blocking' them because manipulative 'peers' who are not qualified to communicate personally with others, tell us we should! 
      Now, that to me... is what I consider from my life experience to be, 'Toxic!' 

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         Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Oh no Pearldiver.....I did not intentionally do that. I need to check the people I follow. I really love your poetry and I only follow people I want to follow. Are you sure I stopped following you? I'll go check.

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            Pearldiverposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Ok cheers you got me back too... I don't know what happened because this 'defanning' thing has been happening with a lot of people... perhaps it is a bug... but you often don't notice until you find that you haven't read of anything new from a particular hubber... go and check and then find that they have published, but you didn't get any notification, as that 'fan' link is no more for some reason! 
            Thanks for that... and FYI... I get my share of 'toxic' BS in my inbox also.. chin up and don't second guess yourself... Just Believe and box on... take care 

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      relacheposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      If you decided that being an Apprentice Alumni was going to do all those things for you, then you might want to rethink why you feel that way.  Apprentice program participation does not guarantee any of those things.
      
      Resolving the issues at hand could be handled by leaving the site, or by simply changing your mind.  As with any toxic situations, the choices are entirely yours.

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         Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks Relache. I should be motivated because I am making a bit of money and so forth, but I am not. This month I published only 2 hubs, whereas I usually publish much more than that.

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      MissJamieDposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I have to agree with you. So many hubbers are un-supportive and toxic (the term you used, which is perfect). I just simply ignore the mean-spirited people and you can always report them to the administrators here. Nobody really wants a terrible person bothering them here and arguing for no reason. Let hubpages know, they'll take appropriate action. We want you to stay here, it is such a lovely, amazing place to be when things are going smoothly. I'd definitely talk to someone about the people that are bothering you.

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         Jean Bakulaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Cardisa,
         Why don't you just stay off the forums for a week or so, and see if your sunny attitude comes back? I write on other sites, and frankly think HP should have a specific list of topics which cannot be discussed on the fourms. Wizzley does not allow Politics, religion, articles about how you get along or don't with your "ex" and a whole other bunch of negative things. The forums are all very kind and polite.
         
         Lately I have been attracting nutty people to my hubs. I write about unusual topics, but it's been very bad the last few weeks. Last week a women wrote a whole page on one of my hubs, arguing with me about a topic I have studied for 35+ years. I went to her hubs, and realized she wrote a few about similar topics,, and was trying to discredit me to make her own work look better. At first one of her hubs looked so similar to mine I thought she stole it. I have informally answered a few questions for hubbers regarding one of my subjects, and did so again. I made an innocent and not negative comment to a woman who ranted on for a week about how I misunderstood her, maligned her character (I said she was set in her ways)! and so much stuff it's clear she needs mental help. But we can't let people like that get us down. You are a good writer, and I am here because I love to write. It's the first time in my life I took time for it, and you even went through the apprentice program.
         
         After trying other sites as to not put all the eggs in one basket, I always come back here. I am not sure why, because it can get nastier than other sites. But the format is easy, there is always help, and it was the first site I wrote on, so I learned here and I guess I'm sentimental about it. You've been through a lot. Don't let mean spirited people get you down. You are too nice and too talented. Take care.

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            Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            I have been having a few of those page long comments as well and quite a few other unwanted too. I delete the ones which will eventually lead to a dispute. I remembered a few months ago I wrote a hub about "Conversion therapy" and one hubber  kept returning to the hub. At first they said they were gay and that some gays wanted to be converted. Then they went on to discredit my own opinions about the things and even dicredited the research findings. Their comments were clearly anti-gay comments but they made it seem like they were all for gay rights yet at the same time they were having a problem with my hub.
            
            I am not very tolerant these days so I delete some comments. I really don't care if these people are upset that I do. As far as the forums are concerned Only fun threads which have neutral topics will I venture in from now on.

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         Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         @Miss JamieD, thanks. Sometimes the comment is so subtle that it's not really an attack but more of a put down and you can't really report someone for that. When someone leaves an attacking comment on my hub I mark it as spam so the system picks that up.

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      Sally's Troveposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I share your feelings, Cardisa. I've lost my desire to publish here partly because of the huge hits HP took starting with the original Panda but also because of the "idling" business and the more recent turkstuff.
      
      About 10 of my hubs have been idled/unfeatured in the last few months. I've unpublished nearly all of them, revising only a few simply because I know they are good and useful AND they also see traffic.
      
      I feel demotivated mostly because of the turkstuff. I looked into the details of how the system works, and I am appalled that someone who would sign on to rate writing for pennies would be considered a trusted critical resource. I'm even more appalled that HP would invest its time and money in this ridiculousness. Nuff said about that.
      
      In your opening post, you never said who or what was toxic. Subsequent commenters assumed you meant forums and forum posters or the HP membership in general. I'm not going to assume any of that for you, but I will say for me that the HP experience, in and of itself, feels toxic to me now.
      
      I'm not jumping ship, but I'm also not publishing. I am waiting to see what happens.

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         Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Sally, it's a little of everything but mostly some members here. It is not limited to the forums because there are people who answer questions and make comments on your hubs that don't know one crap about certain subjects or even writing. They rile you and pick apart your work. Most of the people who find fault with our work are people with 1-5 hubs, been here over 3 years and have no friends. There are some who have been here for over 4 years, not making any money and bicker about traffic and other peoples work. I feel like shutting off my comments but I know there are visitors who leave comments and nice hubbers as well.
         
         I looked into the Amazon turk thing and could not undertsand it. I signed up for turk a few years ago when I just started online and wanted to make some money...it was a waste of my time and talent. Now that HP has joined in the chaos I wonder who the hell is rating me work? I know most of the people rating the hubs kno wnothing about the sunjects they are rating or anything at all about writing.

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      cockadawalkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Sorry you fell for the hype.

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      Marisa Wrightposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I know what you mean, Cardisa, but it will pass.  Things may not be quite the same afterwards as I'm sure we will lose a few Hubbers as a result, but it will pass.  I say that because it has happened more than once before.  Each time, we've lost some much-loved Hubbers and the mix of people has changed, and I've thought, "it will never be the same again", but others do turn up to take their place.
      
      Gradually, over time, we have fewer and fewer experienced online writers here, and that's the big shame.

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         Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Marisa I am always so happy to see you. You are so right there. Many of the people giving such BS aren't writers. The real writers are the ones to leave constructive criticism and feedback. Even in the forums, the ones who always seem to be attacking people don't know crap about writing. Many of them do not even have 10 hubs.

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      Sarra Garrettposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I couldn't have said it better.  There is nothing but bickering and bitchin on here in the forums.  This is the first time in weeks I've been on here.  I don't even feel like writing on here anymore as it's turned sour and if you are not a 'pet' you are nothing.  I was even told "people don't take you seriously unless you have a photo on G+.  Really?  Oh well.

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         Randy Godwinposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Understandable, Sara.  A lot of unhappy people on here these days, no doubt about it.  This whole Idle/Featured program has affected many of us and so far, we've observed no improvement because of it.  I seem to remember you starting a few threads in the past showing your displeasure in certain undesirable events you've experienced.  People tend to bitch about things which don't seem fair or equitable.  I hope you are doing better with your situations now. 

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            Hollie Thomasposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            For me it's about the investment of time. I'm just not prepared to write here knowing that a hub may not get through the MTurk process for unknown reasons and, even if it does, may not be later featured because it has not managed to gain a reasonable amount of traffic in  a short period of time. I'm just seeing a few articles wake up on another site which I'd published in early October. Sometimes it can take months to climb the SERPS and start to gain traction. It appears that hubs will not be given that opportunity now.

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               wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               And yet...when Panda hit and destroyed 60% of my traffic I quit writing.  When HP instituted the subdomains and traffic quintupled I kicked myself hard for being so despondent and not producing more during the doldrums that Panda produced.  I'm in the same boat now with the effects of Penguin and other algorithm changes - traffic has improved, but not enough to keep me really happy.  Do I keep writing, working with HP in their own decisions as what to try or go on to something else?
               
               If (IF!) the plans of HP succeed in re-instating HP into the good graces of Google your time in writing could be amply rewarded.  If they don't you still have good hubs that can be transferred elsewhere.  It's a gamble, yes, and one only you can determine has enough potential value to pay the cost of accepting.
               
               When the subdomains went in both the action and results were nearly immediate.  HP can't clean up the site overnight like that, and result will be much slower in coming - unfortunate as we all want immediate results but something we either accept or move on to try something else.

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                  Hollie Thomasposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  It's always difficult to know which direction to take when we do not have the benefit of hindsight. But for me it really is about the investment of time. I earn my living through freelancing and not UGS, so I have limited time to invest. As such, I've decided, at least for now, to invest my time writing where my work will definitely be featured (unless I write crappy content, then it'd be my own fault) and the site in question will not tolerate spammers, spinners or poor quality articles. So the big G slapping them for poor quality is never going to happen. I don't receive nearly as much traffic, but still, the traffic is growing and steadily. There are no huge peaks and troughs or surges and crashes, just nice, albeit slow, steady growth. Conversions are high, too.

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                     wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                     And that makes perfect sense to me.  I'm retired, have nothing BUT time and use freelancing as a supplement to income - I can wait for results - totally different than your circumstance.
                     
                     I wouldn't bet that G won't slap anyone, though.  Who would have thought they would slap content farms as a group when they produce such a high income for G?  Plus, G doesn't write perfect programs - there is always a chance (actually a guarantee) that unintended results will happen.  I don't think anyone at all is exempt from being pushed down.

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                        Hollie Thomasposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                        I agree, but if there were a problem I honestly don't think G could utter the words 'quality issue'. It would have to be something else, I think.

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                           wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                           Probably, though who knows what G will do?  They state they are attacking the problem of theft, then rank stolen articles higher than the original because it has 200 machine produced backlinks.  And virtually refuse to deindex that same stolen content when notified.
                           
                           The ways of Google are inscrutable and I wouldn't put anything by them.

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                              Hollie Thomasposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                              I think the stolen content aspect is the absolute worst! I've only had a couple of pages scraped so I've been pretty fortunate. But those people, like Izzy for example, who've had loads of their content scrapped must have been absolutely furious. All that work, and some thief benefits from it.

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                                 wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                                 As far as I'm concerned, it's the biggest problem G needs to address.  They complain that producing a hub saying the same thing as another article is a waste of the web, but encourage dozens of stolen duplicates with algorithms that allow such things to flourish.
                                 
                                 Get rid of the theft and you'll cut the number of pages on the web by 50%.
                                 
                                 But don't wind me up - I hate thieves and those stealing our work and costing us income by doing so are among the worst.  Much like construction jobsite thieves that target the tools we work to purchase so that we can work to support our family.  OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!

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                                    Motown2Chitownposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                                    wilderness, don't hold back like that.  Tell us how you really feel. 

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                                       wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                                       .  I'd say I was sorry and didn't really mean it.  At least if it was true, but it's not.

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                                          Motown2Chitownposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                                          Never apologize for speaking passionately about those things that you feel are important!

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               Randy Godwinposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               I agree, Hollie!  It's not worth the time here at this point.  Not to mention having to constantly edit an already good article just to keep it featured.  And even that time may well be wasted when the article could be put elsewhere in the beginning and already gaining traffic.  As long as HP is on Google's $hit list I look for things to get no better.  There's collateral damage for HP too, in this instance.  Like us, they just have to suck it up, but we have other options thankfully.

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                  Hollie Thomasposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  Definitely, Randy. I think it's a shame though that perfectly good articles will placed on other sites, when it's HP that needs the good stuff in order to climb off Google's S&*t list.

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      galleryofgraceposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      The only way I'll publish another hub is if someone's life depends on it !

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   Mark Ewbieposted 10 years ago

   Hi Cardisa.  I thought you meant demotivated due to traffic and the battle to get views.
   
   But you mean the other stuff.
   
   All forums and sites have a mixture of people and views.  Sometimes it gets heated, sometimes there is unfairness.
   
   I'd say HP is one of the better places.  It is overwhelmingly supportive, and generally forgiving / allowing when people go off on one.
   
   And...
   
   What's the main point in being here?  To publish and get read is my purpose / hope.

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      Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hey Mark. Sometimes they reach the hubs too....that poison is not limited to the forums.

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         Mark Ewbieposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I haven't had many of those.  But that's the beauty of the delete button for comments.

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      cockadawalkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Don't get around much, do you?

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   paradigmsearchposted 10 years ago

   I agree with the 2 previous posters. Hubs and forums are separate. When the forums are particularly virulent, just ignore them.

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      Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Paradignsearch, I have been ignoring the forums for a while now but I still feel like I lost something here.

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         paradigmsearchposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Things seem to be calming down today. Perhaps another period of peace is upon us. Hang in there!

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      cockadawalkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Whatever, forums are a reflection of those who write here, and it ain't good. This is a chicken scratch venue.

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   Motown2Chitownposted 10 years ago

   Absolutely not, Cardisa!  You are, first and foremost, a high quality writer.  I hope that makes you money here at HP.  Regardless of that, it does get you noticed as an excellent online writer.  In terms of community members, you are one of the kindest, most helpful, and most pleasant around these parts.  I have a feeling your heart is just as soft  as mine, and the anger, the negativity, and the bad attitudes sometimes overwhelm you.  That's what happens to me.
   
   I do two things to overcome that.  First, if necessary, I stay away from the forums for a while.  I find my center again and come back when I'm ready.  Second, if I choose to stay in the forums, I make it a point to be a positive presence and to make peace whenever I can between those who aren't.  When I see that is less than successful, I simply avoid the folks who are perpetuating the negativity.  I don't read their threads, and I try not to even read their responses in threads in which I do choose to participate.
   
   Not a perfect system, but it works for me.  And, face it, girl, you've made some good friends in this place, and they would be sad to see you go, not to mention that you'd eventually miss them lots if you left.

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      Mark Ewbieposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yep, what Motown said.
      
      And where else would you get one of these?
      

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         Motown2Chitownposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Mark!  She's beautiful.  Who can actually draw a stick figure that seriously resembles its human model?  See, Cardisa, it's not all crap! 
         
         

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            Mark Ewbieposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            She is beautiful.  And the stick figure is OK too.  I did that for Cardisa ages ago.  Something about her says nice person to me.
            
            Another nice person I 'met' on the internet many years ago said to me about flaming and trolling and stuff... "they're only pixels on a screen".  It's a way of distancing from the nastiness.
            
            The best way though is what you do - and that is to pick up the good and leave the bad.

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               Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Thanks Mark, I loved that pic. I'll use in on FB....LOL

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      Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Motown, my friends are why I have stayed. I make more money freelancing so I could just do that and forget HP but I never like burning bridges.

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         Motown2Chitownposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Me either.    It's sometimes good not to cross one every once in a while, though.  Stay on the side that keeps you the most stable and cross when you need a change of scenery.

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            MelissaBarrettposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            I'm starting a program... It's called "Ask Mo".
            
            I will be running my posts past you before I make them  
            
            I'm also seeing if a friend of mine can do up a Chrome extension that would block posts from a blacklist so that I am not tempted.

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               Motown2Chitownposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Awww.  Thank you, Melissa, but you do well enough on your own, hon.  You don't need an editor. 

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   CASE1WORKERposted 10 years ago

   Always a cheery end to the day...............I think I have stayed out of the forums recently because of people's behavior- it might not be wrong rather just something I don't like. However it is as good as any and I think the trick is not to rise to the bait of anyone or if it gets too tough just walk away

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      Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Caseworker. Sometimes when we feel overwhelmed....like what Mowtown said....it's good to have people like you talk some sense into us.

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   jansharesposted 10 years ago

   Sorry for your loss, Cardisa. It's so hard when you lose someone overseas. My condolences to your family.
   Yesterday was particularly bothersome with that forum. It was like watching a bad carwreck that you can't turn away from, as your stomach turns and your head hurts. "Toxic" is very accurate. I saw that you bravely made a sensible comment that seemed to get minimized. I wanted to comment several times but kept telling myself "stay out, don't go in there if you don't want to get a scar." I eventually decided to post something about 'hopefully getting resolution soon so we can all have peace and breathe.' I don't think anyone even noticed it. Once the beast is unleashed, it doesn't matter how we try to calm the waters, it's the nature of the beast of the forums. I will try to stay out from now on when it gets like that. But I wanted to acknowledge your sentiments and say I get it. I trust you will make the best decision for you. You are successful in your own right so at least you have a choice.

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      Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Jan, I know I may be just over sensitive to one small comment, but that hubber seems to pick on me every chance they get. But it wasn't just about me but about a reasonable query being turned into something nasty. I have seen too many people being picked apart and "cyber mugged" here on HP.

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         jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Yep, it's a shame and a waste of good energy.

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   janderson99posted 10 years ago

   Yep!
   My 780+ hub run has ground to a halt.
   The Idling process, and all its errors and bugs, and the fact that it has achieved no overall boost to traffic over the 6 months it has been operating, has killed my motivation.
   HP's intention was to remove the crap as Google suggested was required, but HP's focus on the 'front door' filtering the new crap, while leaving the piles of crap in old hubs unattended to, was a big mistake in my opinion. The Traffic 'grim reaper' is flawed and idles the good and bad with low traffic, Willy Nilly, while the old crap (that Google wants removed) that gets traffic remains untoched. Idling quality pages reduces the average quality score, and has caused may good authors to leave or cease writing (great outcome!).  HP should have developed a crap detector rather than the 'score out of 10 QAP' (what's the point of ranking above the pass mark?). QAP is so costly and time consuming. All who have tried to predict what Googe wants have failed!!! Quantcast shows no boost in traffic for 6 months work. Ho Hum! It will probably be 6-9 months before the old crap is removed. What a bum! So I wait like a good shepHard looking after my 'H' s and rejuvenating the 'Blanks'.

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   WriteAngledposted 10 years ago

   I feel totally demotivated to write here because a year or so ago I hit $36 a month with my hubs. Now, I am lucky to see $4.
   
   I could not care in the slightest what happens on the forums. That is a sideline to the main reason I came here, which was to earn.
   
   I made my last attempt with a recent "weekly topic inspiration". I researched the subject for hours and wrote a hub that I hoped would provide useful information to people in a difficult situation. It has garnered 43 views in two weeks.
   
   I am done with making an effort here. It is not appreciated, not only is no help given in trying to attract views, but we are being positively s__t on by the idling process.
   
   I am now waiting to remove all my hubs as they get idled. I am earning better writing unresearched off the top of my head answers on WebAnswers as well as off a web site I set up with about ten posts on it.

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   habeeposted 10 years ago

   Cardisa, I'm so sorry for your loss. Things will get better. Yours is one of the faces I love seeing on the forums!

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      Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Oh Habee I am so happy to see you. Please tell me, have I ever been rude to anyone that you know about?
      
      I really would like people to tell me if Ihave ever been rude or disrespectful to them.

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    Healthy Pursuitsposted 10 years ago

    Cardisa, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. It makes everything such a challenge when you're grieving, so any ngative stuff you get here will be worse, too.
    
    I do know what you mean, though, about HP and the nastiness. I have to say that I agree with you.
    
    I've felt for a long time that allowing religion and politics on the forums has set a nasty tone that only removing them will reduce. I skim the most recent forum entries to see if I can help with some hubber question or if there's an interesting discussion going on. However, I'm finding myself doing that less and less as I continually run into the same ugly religion and politics posts with tons of entries, and I know they have to be people going back and forth with ugly comments. So I'm staying away from a lot of forums.
    
    I've also been de-motivated by the changes in HP. I haven't written here in a couple of months now. I've seen my seasonal and low traffic hubs that are good, but won't draw much attention, being unindexed. I find that offensive, especially when I see what's being accepted these days by turk workers.
    
    Oh, well. I'm not decided yet what I'll do about HubPages. I may move on and put all my hubs in Wizzley or someplace else. I hate to leave HubPages, because I liked it when I first came here.
    
    I wish you luck with your conflict here. It's a difficult decision.

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    ahorsebackposted 10 years ago

    Cardisa , My lovely maiden of the islands !   I know exactly how you feel and  I think that forums should be  discontinued from hubs !  Except for those discussions directly related to our writing , isnt that ,after all , why we are all here ?  Don't go !  You ARE one of the brightest stars of this hub world , You have had a rough year  in your life !  And thats the likely cause of your hitting a "hub wall", our hearts go out to you for the losses  in your family this year   And ,although we all drift back and forth in our writing  tasks and followings !  This hub world would be a much ,much more  barren land without you in it my friend ! you are a beautiful soul  ,I've always known that my dear !  I have  often thought as I meet people here , ,isnt it too bad we hubbers cant knock on each others door and say " Hi , do you need a hug today !"....well heres your Cardisa  ----UUHHHHNNN !

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       Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Ahorseback, you are always such a strong shoulder to lean on. I haven't been much of a hub buddy to you this last year but I haven't been much of anything to anyone either.
       
       It seems as soon as log into hubpages I feel like  Iam grieving and I don't know why. I get this heavy feeling in my chest and I feel like I want cry. When I log out the feeling go as well.
       
       It's either I am feeling someone's pain or I am not supposed to be here when I am .......it's all so confusing.

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12. 74

    That Grrlposted 10 years ago

    The forums are good for finding out about issues with the site. Beyond that the personal forums tend to become about everyone being right. I stick to the stuff about HubPages mainly. The rest just sucks up time I could be using for something else.
    
    If you want to see more traffic/ readers try posting your poetry in other places. Even print publications - check the library for the writer's market for literary publications. You can add your HubPages link to your author information.

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13. 82

    Bard of Elyposted 10 years ago

    HP is still the best of the revenue sharing site's for me so no, I feel like carrying on here and posting more hubs!

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       cockadawalkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       What? It doesn't take much to keep you going.

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          Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

          This cock looks very familiar...lol Have we met?

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14. 0

    ahorsebackposted 10 years ago

    Cardisa , when you log in with that feeling , its just the writers soul thats calling you to scream if you will , or cry or beg for understanding .  Don't deny the urge to put it all into words , it helps us greatly and  you know that ! You ...are a writer !.....Big hug for you my dear !.......Ed

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15. 67

    LisaMarie724posted 10 years ago

    I'm really sorry to hear about your loss.  Please don't take what people say here to heart.  Most of the people I come across are nice, but there are rude people everywhere.  You're very talented, keep writing

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16. 63

    Lisa HWposted 10 years ago

    Cardisa, I'd guess what one problem could be is that it's still so soon after you've gone through loss.  Having trouble caring about some things that seem unimportant, having trouble being patient with what seems like such unimportant stuff, not feeling motivated or creative, sometimes not really being able to concentrate (or at least not unless the mood or time is right)....    They're all part of things that people go through when loss is recent.  It gets better with time, but it can take a lot longer than we'd think it would/should, and what can be confusing is knowing that all the losses weren't, say, a month ago and thinking the worst of it is over, and kind of expecting oneself to feel "regular".  With a big loss (and/or a shocking one) it takes a lot longer than you've got under your belt.  It does get better slowly, and a little at a time; and sometimes the "residual effects" (not a great way to describe it because it's not really "residual" at all) don't even really seem related to having gone through loss or emotional trauma.  One loss is bad enough.  Too many too close together are a whole other thing.
    
    I'd guess there's the chance that you feel OK enough until you start to expect your mind to think clearly and be motivated to write (or do whatever on here).  I'd guess that's when you realize you really don't feel motivated, and it may be when you realize that you can't really be bothered with some of the "insignificant" stuff that goes on here.  When people have that kind of thing going on, sometimes they can feel motivated if they're in a particularly better mood or aren't tired, or whatever.  So it's not like they can't feel motivated ever.  It's just that they can't feel motivated always and/or "on demand".
    
    I don't know if I'm right that this could explain your feeling demotivated.  I do know that I'm right about how difficult it can be to "be bothered" with a lot of stuff too soon after a big loss (or losses).  I've always found that it's easier (simple) for me to write whether or not I can feel interested enough to "be bothered reading".  I assume that's because writing is matter of just putting out information, while reading requires the concentration to take it in.  Anyway, if I'm all wrong with my guess here - obviously, ignore all this.  I'm guessing that the fact that you're expecting your mind to be motivated and function on here as usual reminds you of what's really uppermost in it (even if somewhere at the back of it sometimes),  When you don't sign on your mind can go along and do whatever it's been doing these days, without having demands made on it; and without your calling attention to thinking of why it is you don't feel motivated on here.
    
    Sorry to know you've so recently had yet another loss.  I don't know if any of my guessing is at all useful/helpful (or, again, even anywhere near close to right); but I thought I'd go ahead and take a shot at it because people can feel pretty isolated and "different from everybody else" when they're going through the kind of thing you have been.  Hang in there.  Just let your mind rest when/if you can.

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       Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Hi Lisa, I am sorry to take so long to respond to this. You are right. I have been really thinking about it and I realize that I do other stuff, but I don't seem to want to bother with the "insignificant" things that go on here.
       
       Every time I encounter it I feel badly bruised and my heart hurts. I want to feel comfortable here because I got quite a lot of support when I lost my brother. I make some money and I have no publishing problems but I don't want to write here anymore. I am barely hanging in there just because of my determined nature.
       
       Thanks for the insight. Really appreciate it.

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       1. 88

          Marisa Wrightposted 10 years agoin reply to this

          I think I know how you feel, Cardisa, because I feel pretty much the same.  The HubPages forums are my online "home", even though I haven't written any new Hubs here for many months.  I can't leave here, even when I feel upset by the shenanigans that go on here!  But I've found I can still be part of this community, even though I'm not writing Hubs. Maybe that's a solution for you, too.   
          
          How is your martial arts blog going?  I like the look of your Jamaican food blog - just one tip, though: your header is far too big.  Remember Google likes to see a good amount of content "above the fold" on your pages - so these days, it's best to keep your header small.   You have an image in your background, that's probably enough.

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          1. 87

             Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

             Thanks Marisa. I think I have been working on too many things all at once. right now I can't seem to focus on any one thing but I am not fighting the feelings, for when I do I just get all depressed..lol

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17. 73

    ddsurfscaposted 10 years ago

    I am having problems settling down to write these days too...part of the reason being that I have had multiple family (serious) problems, but the other part is also the change in the atmosphere here in the last few months...although it maybe could be contributed to my normal cycle of writers block I seem to battle with.

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    1. 87

       Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Ddsurfsca, the atmosphere has certainly changed here. I used to get motivated here whenever I have a block but now I am so not into HP, I am really surprised because, before, wild horses couldn't tear me away.

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       1. 59

          paradigmsearchposted 10 years agoin reply to this

          Hey, Cardisa.
          
          The flame wars seem to have pretty much stopped again (R&P don't count ). All seems well.
          
          The only concern now seems to be that HP is idling non-junk hubs that are getting weekly traffic. I hope that isn't true..., but folks are apparently posting actual examples. Time will tell...
          
          So far, when the mood strikes, I'm still writing new hubs here. Looking to break a 100 reasonably soon.
          
          - paradigmsearch

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18. 75

    Kangaroo_Jaseposted 10 years ago

    How you feel emotionally using this site will always be amplified or viewed through the eyes of how your feeling on any given day. As an example I know my comments have bite and can come across as snarly when I enter the forums and post comments after having a shit day.
    
    Cardisa, your going to have to get some thick skin to combat against the toxicity on this site. In some way, shape or form, you will always experience and find toxicity on this site. ALWAYS.
    
    In the three years I have been here I have seen it myself. Some people did well on the site and when things went somewhat awry, theft left and complained about HubPages. When Panda hit, toxicity got to it's highest levels. Since the internet has some form of anonymity and most people expect almost no real life reprisals, showing their worst examples of behavior online in the forums with verbal stoushes and fighting got to its most toxic Ive seen ever any ANY website let alone just HubPages.
    
    I can suggest also that no matter how bad HubPages does now and in the future or even if it gets much inproved and also much better in the future (which is what everyone in the majority here is striving for) your going to have some toxicity. You. Will. Always. Have. Somewhere. A. Unhappy. Bunch.
    
    Now Rae (Relache) & James (jimmythejock) are a couple of the longest serving non staff members on this site Ive seen that occasionally pop up in the forums. They have seen more events on this site than most. They are both still here and both still publishing. This itself speaks volumes.
    
    By removing your hubs and taking them elsewhere will not change how toxic people get here. If they have displayed toxic behavior towards you and its from commenting on your hubs, then they will just simply be toxic on other peoples hubs if your no longer a member. So the only change is the site has lost your membership.
    
    For many others who use this site, their is also the camaraderie aspect. Marisa has said this herself. Although no publishing hubs for some time, Marisa still comes here to engage with the community. Engaging like this has to have some emotional impact.
    
    It is hard to soar like an Eagle when the Turkeys are keeping you grounded, so find a way up that mountain to soar from the cliff tops. Don't ever worry about the turkeys

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       Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you KJ, I needed that. You speak sense and I appreciate it. Even if I leave that will not prevent them from treating others badly. I guess I can just work on getting pat these hurdles.

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19. 81

    MakinBaconposted 10 years ago

    What you feed yourself with is what you normally will become. As some have mentioned, just stay out of the forums. It's not that hard to do.
    
    As to some talking about fellow writers being unsupportive. Who cares? We don't write for fellow Hubbers and community members.
    
    If we focus on writing based upon the support of others, or any other area of life for that matter, we'll never be successful or reach our goals.

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    1. 87

       Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I have never mentioned the support of others. Frankly I really don't care which hubber reads my posts. You may be misunderstanding my argument. the toxic behavior I am referring to is not limited to the forums either.

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20. 78

    LuisEGonzalezposted 10 years ago

    No don't leave!!! I miss your insights on my hubs, your often funny comments on the forums and your overall presence. I will miss you if you leave....so there you can't go....pretty please?????????
    
                                                                           

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    1. 87

       Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Hey Luis, it's been a tough year for me and 2013 presented itself with more grief for my family. My brother was killed in June 2012. His father died in January 2013. My uncle died in January 2013 and my beloved grandfather also died in January 2013. I find it difficult to function in a place where it seems like I am stifling at time but I wont leave. I'll heal eventually.

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          SomewayOuttaHereposted 10 years agoin reply to this

          Hey Cardisa....peace....find it....somewhere.............and take your time with the 'healing'
          
          xo SOH

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