The fact that she took the same approach she did with her old tweets in private with the mother of a disabled child (you’d think that would make someone humbler/more circumspect even if only out of social embarrassment, at the very least!) when it would have cost her absolutely nothing to do the right thing makes me a lot more dubious about her. Most people have an aversion to hurting someone’s feelings, and by the sounds of it this was not something where the hurt feelings were over something fundamentally benign. So it is troubling that SV’s instinct was to do nothing.
I really respect the posts you have made in this discussion, you have raised some interesting points. I really think that your point about Susie‘s instinct to do nothing is particularly of interest. (This is referring to the situation discussed about, not the tweets)
I don’t think Susie is alone in this instinct. There are multiple posts across the website where people have contacted influencers about posts they have made and the general response is
block/delete. There appears to be an arrogance level based on followers that means these influencers are
untouchable or unquestionable.
Pictures of children naked in the bath are posted regularly if questioned...block/delete.
One influencers children were apparently found on a porn site in their swimming costumes, someone contacted them...guess what? Block/delete and then she posted pictures that day in their swim suits.
There is an influencer accepting paypal payments that she claims she is using to fund work with DV victims, people have asked for a newsletter or information about where that money they have given goes...guess what...block/delete.
I agree with your comments earlier on about
cancel culture, people do make mistakes and conversations about changing behaviour should happen, I understand your link to the olden days about people being put in the stocks and mocked however there are very few influencers who will ever
accept they make mistakes.
They seem to be living on a level of self importance, where they can do no wrong and will be fluffed up their followers if any one dares question their behaviour. That can’t be good for
society as a whole. A lot of people come to tattle who were
originally fans of the people they now discuss, because when they questioned any behaviour they got deleted and then realised through this site they weren’t alone.
As soon as anyone on Social Media is questioned they simplify it down to ‘
troll’.
There needs to be an understanding that asking questions about stories, posts, advice shared, adverts etc, questions that might be
uncomfortable aren’t trolling. This discussion just isn’t happening in Instagram, actually it might be there probably are a small number of influencers who will have it but I just haven’t seem it.
I think the simplicity of the situation at the moment is you are
either a fan or a troll has led to the cancel culture being more prominent. I should be able to follow someone on Instagram and ask them a question without being deleted, in the same way that they should be able to make a mistake without worrying about instant cancellation.
This leads to influencers who are nervous about being caught out. There is almost an
unhealthy level of emotion on each side, and it does feel like sides when really there should be discussion happening somewhere in the middle.
I hope this makes sense and is obviously a wider discussion that just SV, I’d be interested in what you think.
*Id also be interested in what any of the
2170 guests think...I reckon there are a few
influencers hiding in that number. You can stay anonymous but are welcome to join the debate.
this woman knows Susie, is friends with her on Facebook, clearly has her email/number as they’ve worked together - if you’re so keen to call her out, bloody well do it! Don’t just post veiled references to her in stories that disappear in 24 hours.
...... Tattle has this gross reputation right? But the threads I read are largely made of posts which are well considered, critical, structured - spelling and grammar all on point - which doesn’t really tally with this reputation of Dante’s spitting inferno where we’re all dribbling incoherently with rage and dissatisfaction with our own lives.