Dooce /Heather Armstrong

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So on top of all the time spent here, you all really spend a lot of time reading poorly written half truths about women’s lives. I cannot believe how seriously people take bloggers like this. I can’t believe it is therapeutic or helpful in any way.

What she did wasn’t really writing, it was preening. I’m so sorry she passed. However, and her lunatic fans will freak — none of her shtick would have worked but for her initial happy life, thinness, prettiness. The writing was never there, she is not Mary Carr or Leslie Jamison. It always required pictures and cool-girl blasé bullshit balanced with meltdowns. It was always stupid and squawking and without much to it, all hat and no cattle. But it gave a lot of ugly comfort to some women, as they were less divorced. Less f’ed up. Less drunk. Less scrutinized. And so forth. It was always gross, but it netted Armstrong a lot of money. I wish she’d found some medication and therapeutic plan that actually worked for her. I don’t actually think she’s more gifted than the banal, stupid Jo from Cup of Jo. But Jo was luckier.

Exactly. But Jo also made her own luck!!! She works on her mental health, controls her drinking, writes openly but is not overexposed. Joanna has struck a really good balance and is running a business where the product is women’s interest in each other, not just in HER.

Heather was a prisoner of her attachment to her own physical attractiveness, her wit, her counterculture iconoclast vibe. A mentally ill narcissist who wrought fury and hellfire on her own ex husband, partner and daughters.

What someone else wrote is true. Dooce was a shallow, sick addict who preened for attention, who virtually gagged for it and lived and died for it. She was a grotesque example of the worst of influencer culture and to dislike her is not to be a GOMI troll, it’s to be an adult with one’s own opinion. Quit bringing Alice and GOMI into it! Your obsession with GOMI says more about YOU than GOMI itself. Alice is NOT responsible for these narcissists that overexpose their lives for likes and affiliate link $$!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So on top of all the time spent here, you all really spend a lot of time reading poorly written half truths about women’s lives. I cannot believe how seriously people take bloggers like this. I can’t believe it is therapeutic or helpful in any way.

What she did wasn’t really writing, it was preening. I’m so sorry she passed. However, and her lunatic fans will freak — none of her shtick would have worked but for her initial happy life, thinness, prettiness. The writing was never there, she is not Mary Carr or Leslie Jamison. It always required pictures and cool-girl blasé bullshit balanced with meltdowns. It was always stupid and squawking and without much to it, all hat and no cattle. But it gave a lot of ugly comfort to some women, as they were less divorced. Less f’ed up. Less drunk. Less scrutinized. And so forth. It was always gross, but it netted Armstrong a lot of money. I wish she’d found some medication and therapeutic plan that actually worked for her. I don’t actually think she’s more gifted than the banal, stupid Jo from Cup of Jo. But Jo was luckier.

Exactly. But Jo also made her own luck!!! She works on her mental health, controls her drinking, writes openly but is not overexposed. Joanna has struck a really good balance and is running a business where the product is women’s interest in each other, not just in HER.

Heather was a prisoner of her attachment to her own physical attractiveness, her wit, her counterculture iconoclast vibe. A mentally ill narcissist who wrought fury and hellfire on her own ex husband, partner and daughters.

What someone else wrote is true. Dooce was a shallow, sick addict who preened for attention, who virtually gagged for it and lived and died for it. She was a grotesque example of the worst of influencer culture and to dislike her is not to be a GOMI troll, it’s to be an adult with one’s own opinion. Quit bringing Alice and GOMI into it! Your obsession with GOMI says more about YOU than GOMI itself. Alice is NOT responsible for these narcissists that overexpose their lives for likes and affiliate link $$!!!

Ok, Alice. You can head back to your own corner of the internets now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So on top of all the time spent here, you all really spend a lot of time reading poorly written half truths about women’s lives. I cannot believe how seriously people take bloggers like this. I can’t believe it is therapeutic or helpful in any way.

What she did wasn’t really writing, it was preening. I’m so sorry she passed. However, and her lunatic fans will freak — none of her shtick would have worked but for her initial happy life, thinness, prettiness. The writing was never there, she is not Mary Carr or Leslie Jamison. It always required pictures and cool-girl blasé bullshit balanced with meltdowns. It was always stupid and squawking and without much to it, all hat and no cattle. But it gave a lot of ugly comfort to some women, as they were less divorced. Less f’ed up. Less drunk. Less scrutinized. And so forth. It was always gross, but it netted Armstrong a lot of money. I wish she’d found some medication and therapeutic plan that actually worked for her. I don’t actually think she’s more gifted than the banal, stupid Jo from Cup of Jo. But Jo was luckier.

You are the judge of what constitutes great literature? This made me laugh.

Before yesterday, I was vaguely aware of this woman’s existence, but had never read anything she had written. Now I have, I can say that the impact of her mental illness is clear is clear, but she is a far more naturally talented writer than you will ever be, and definitely a better human being.

I have been scanning this thread here and there, amazed at the people who continue to hold this blogger up as a literary hero. How can you know about her tirades against her own daughter, after sharing their entire life for the world to dissect, and then come here defending her as a better "human being" then anybody? There was a poster above who claimed those of us who don't adore her and lack empathy for this woman who raised her children while addicted to meth must "not be very bright." I cannot fathom how low intelligence you all, who cannot understand what was wrong not just with "Dooce," but with the entire culture of "mommy bloggers," must actually be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So on top of all the time spent here, you all really spend a lot of time reading poorly written half truths about women’s lives. I cannot believe how seriously people take bloggers like this. I can’t believe it is therapeutic or helpful in any way.

What she did wasn’t really writing, it was preening. I’m so sorry she passed. However, and her lunatic fans will freak — none of her shtick would have worked but for her initial happy life, thinness, prettiness. The writing was never there, she is not Mary Carr or Leslie Jamison. It always required pictures and cool-girl blasé bullshit balanced with meltdowns. It was always stupid and squawking and without much to it, all hat and no cattle. But it gave a lot of ugly comfort to some women, as they were less divorced. Less f’ed up. Less drunk. Less scrutinized. And so forth. It was always gross, but it netted Armstrong a lot of money. I wish she’d found some medication and therapeutic plan that actually worked for her. I don’t actually think she’s more gifted than the banal, stupid Jo from Cup of Jo. But Jo was luckier.

Exactly. But Jo also made her own luck!!! She works on her mental health, controls her drinking, writes openly but is not overexposed. Joanna has struck a really good balance and is running a business where the product is women’s interest in each other, not just in HER.

Heather was a prisoner of her attachment to her own physical attractiveness, her wit, her counterculture iconoclast vibe. A mentally ill narcissist who wrought fury and hellfire on her own ex husband, partner and daughters.

What someone else wrote is true. Dooce was a shallow, sick addict who preened for attention, who virtually gagged for it and lived and died for it. She was a grotesque example of the worst of influencer culture and to dislike her is not to be a GOMI troll, it’s to be an adult with one’s own opinion. Quit bringing Alice and GOMI into it! Your obsession with GOMI says more about YOU than GOMI itself. Alice is NOT responsible for these narcissists that overexpose their lives for likes and affiliate link $$!!!

Ok, Alice. You can head back to your own corner of the internets now.

I'm a different poster who had never heard of GOMI, but the PP is dead on about this Dooce. Why do so many posters here defend these narcissistic, drug-addicted, dilettantes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So on top of all the time spent here, you all really spend a lot of time reading poorly written half truths about women’s lives. I cannot believe how seriously people take bloggers like this. I can’t believe it is therapeutic or helpful in any way.

What she did wasn’t really writing, it was preening. I’m so sorry she passed. However, and her lunatic fans will freak — none of her shtick would have worked but for her initial happy life, thinness, prettiness. The writing was never there, she is not Mary Carr or Leslie Jamison. It always required pictures and cool-girl blasé bullshit balanced with meltdowns. It was always stupid and squawking and without much to it, all hat and no cattle. But it gave a lot of ugly comfort to some women, as they were less divorced. Less f’ed up. Less drunk. Less scrutinized. And so forth. It was always gross, but it netted Armstrong a lot of money. I wish she’d found some medication and therapeutic plan that actually worked for her. I don’t actually think she’s more gifted than the banal, stupid Jo from Cup of Jo. But Jo was luckier.

Exactly. But Jo also made her own luck!!! She works on her mental health, controls her drinking, writes openly but is not overexposed. Joanna has struck a really good balance and is running a business where the product is women’s interest in each other, not just in HER.

Heather was a prisoner of her attachment to her own physical attractiveness, her wit, her counterculture iconoclast vibe. A mentally ill narcissist who wrought fury and hellfire on her own ex husband, partner and daughters.

What someone else wrote is true. Dooce was a shallow, sick addict who preened for attention, who virtually gagged for it and lived and died for it. She was a grotesque example of the worst of influencer culture and to dislike her is not to be a GOMI troll, it’s to be an adult with one’s own opinion. Quit bringing Alice and GOMI into it! Your obsession with GOMI says more about YOU than GOMI itself. Alice is NOT responsible for these narcissists that overexpose their lives for likes and affiliate link $$!!!

Ok, Alice. You can head back to your own corner of the internets now.

I'm a different poster who had never heard of GOMI, but the PP is dead on about this Dooce. Why do so many posters here defend these narcissistic, drug-addicted, dilettantes?

The continued pile-on of Heather is unnecessary. She dealt with it her whole life. Now she's dead. You don't have to like her, but to come onto this post to bash her is petty and vindictive. We're all complicated, flawed humans. Some of us just hide it better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So on top of all the time spent here, you all really spend a lot of time reading poorly written half truths about women’s lives. I cannot believe how seriously people take bloggers like this. I can’t believe it is therapeutic or helpful in any way.

What she did wasn’t really writing, it was preening. I’m so sorry she passed. However, and her lunatic fans will freak — none of her shtick would have worked but for her initial happy life, thinness, prettiness. The writing was never there, she is not Mary Carr or Leslie Jamison. It always required pictures and cool-girl blasé bullshit balanced with meltdowns. It was always stupid and squawking and without much to it, all hat and no cattle. But it gave a lot of ugly comfort to some women, as they were less divorced. Less f’ed up. Less drunk. Less scrutinized. And so forth. It was always gross, but it netted Armstrong a lot of money. I wish she’d found some medication and therapeutic plan that actually worked for her. I don’t actually think she’s more gifted than the banal, stupid Jo from Cup of Jo. But Jo was luckier.

You are the judge of what constitutes great literature? This made me laugh.

Before yesterday, I was vaguely aware of this woman’s existence, but had never read anything she had written. Now I have, I can say that the impact of her mental illness is clear is clear, but she is a far more naturally talented writer than you will ever be, and definitely a better human being.

I have been scanning this thread here and there, amazed at the people who continue to hold this blogger up as a literary hero. How can you know about her tirades against her own daughter, after sharing their entire life for the world to dissect, and then come here defending her as a better "human being" then anybody? There was a poster above who claimed those of us who don't adore her and lack empathy for this woman who raised her children while addicted to meth must "not be very bright." I cannot fathom how low intelligence you all, who cannot understand what was wrong not just with "Dooce," but with the entire culture of "mommy bloggers," must actually be.

How do you know she was addicted to meth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So on top of all the time spent here, you all really spend a lot of time reading poorly written half truths about women’s lives. I cannot believe how seriously people take bloggers like this. I can’t believe it is therapeutic or helpful in any way.

What she did wasn’t really writing, it was preening. I’m so sorry she passed. However, and her lunatic fans will freak — none of her shtick would have worked but for her initial happy life, thinness, prettiness. The writing was never there, she is not Mary Carr or Leslie Jamison. It always required pictures and cool-girl blasé bullshit balanced with meltdowns. It was always stupid and squawking and without much to it, all hat and no cattle. But it gave a lot of ugly comfort to some women, as they were less divorced. Less f’ed up. Less drunk. Less scrutinized. And so forth. It was always gross, but it netted Armstrong a lot of money. I wish she’d found some medication and therapeutic plan that actually worked for her. I don’t actually think she’s more gifted than the banal, stupid Jo from Cup of Jo. But Jo was luckier.

Exactly. But Jo also made her own luck!!! She works on her mental health, controls her drinking, writes openly but is not overexposed. Joanna has struck a really good balance and is running a business where the product is women’s interest in each other, not just in HER.

Heather was a prisoner of her attachment to her own physical attractiveness, her wit, her counterculture iconoclast vibe. A mentally ill narcissist who wrought fury and hellfire on her own ex husband, partner and daughters.

What someone else wrote is true. Dooce was a shallow, sick addict who preened for attention, who virtually gagged for it and lived and died for it. She was a grotesque example of the worst of influencer culture and to dislike her is not to be a GOMI troll, it’s to be an adult with one’s own opinion. Quit bringing Alice and GOMI into it! Your obsession with GOMI says more about YOU than GOMI itself. Alice is NOT responsible for these narcissists that overexpose their lives for likes and affiliate link $$!!!

Ok, Alice. You can head back to your own corner of the internets now.

Seriously you have to ease up on GOMI. Heather had her demons and you help no one by lionizing her. Have you read the general comments on DCUM on any given subject?? It’s an innate part of online interactions. Heather made her own bed and now she lies in the grave she dug, of course it is sad but my only thoughts now are with her daughters, I hope they rebuild their lives and can battle off the demons that may be lurking in their own DNA since mental illness is so often genetic. All of it is sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I feel no shame, because I bear no responsibility. Firstly, we're all assuming Heather killed herself. For all we know, she got hit by a car or something. Secondly, adults are responsible for themselves. Heather had health insurance, family and friends - she had access to all the resources for blocking any site that talked about her online. Again, if you don't want to read things about yourself, you make a choice to avoid them.

With regard to the underlined:

Of course you don't.
Heartless, apathetic people rarely do.

I seriously hope you don't have children, because one day, your child may come home and tell you that other girls are posting lies about her on Snapchat & Instagram, and she's hysterical crying because EVERYONE she knows is gossiping & laughing at her.

Are you going to tell your daughter to just delete Snapchat, block everyone in her school, and avoid all of the whispers, pointing and taunts that she hears in the hallways -- because avoiding them is her choice?

I wonder if you'd be this heartless & direct to your own child?

If your answer is "Yes, I would be", then you're a calous, compasionless, pitiful excuse for a parent.

If the answer is "No, of course I wouldn't" then you're a pathetic, inauthentic hypocrite.

Either way, you seem to have a deeply flawed character defect.

You know what, don’t get me started on all the parents that allow their kids on Snapchat, group chats, tik tok, and social media in general. It is a cesspool and I would never let my children on it no matter what. If you open the door to that you deserve whatever comes in. Protect your kids, protect your home. Hold on to your sanity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So on top of all the time spent here, you all really spend a lot of time reading poorly written half truths about women’s lives. I cannot believe how seriously people take bloggers like this. I can’t believe it is therapeutic or helpful in any way.

What she did wasn’t really writing, it was preening. I’m so sorry she passed. However, and her lunatic fans will freak — none of her shtick would have worked but for her initial happy life, thinness, prettiness. The writing was never there, she is not Mary Carr or Leslie Jamison. It always required pictures and cool-girl blasé bullshit balanced with meltdowns. It was always stupid and squawking and without much to it, all hat and no cattle. But it gave a lot of ugly comfort to some women, as they were less divorced. Less f’ed up. Less drunk. Less scrutinized. And so forth. It was always gross, but it netted Armstrong a lot of money. I wish she’d found some medication and therapeutic plan that actually worked for her. I don’t actually think she’s more gifted than the banal, stupid Jo from Cup of Jo. But Jo was luckier.

You are the judge of what constitutes great literature? This made me laugh.

Before yesterday, I was vaguely aware of this woman’s existence, but had never read anything she had written. Now I have, I can say that the impact of her mental illness is clear is clear, but she is a far more naturally talented writer than you will ever be, and definitely a better human being.

I don’t know about the “better human being” part because I think Dooce did a *lot* of bad things, but her writing was solid. It certainly wasnt universally good, but of all things to criticize about Dooce for, coming after her writing is an odd one.

And no, we weren’t fans of Dooce because her failures made us feel better. Maybe others’ failures make you feel better, but not everybody is like you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So on top of all the time spent here, you all really spend a lot of time reading poorly written half truths about women’s lives. I cannot believe how seriously people take bloggers like this. I can’t believe it is therapeutic or helpful in any way.

What she did wasn’t really writing, it was preening. I’m so sorry she passed. However, and her lunatic fans will freak — none of her shtick would have worked but for her initial happy life, thinness, prettiness. The writing was never there, she is not Mary Carr or Leslie Jamison. It always required pictures and cool-girl blasé bullshit balanced with meltdowns. It was always stupid and squawking and without much to it, all hat and no cattle. But it gave a lot of ugly comfort to some women, as they were less divorced. Less f’ed up. Less drunk. Less scrutinized. And so forth. It was always gross, but it netted Armstrong a lot of money. I wish she’d found some medication and therapeutic plan that actually worked for her. I don’t actually think she’s more gifted than the banal, stupid Jo from Cup of Jo. But Jo was luckier.

You are the judge of what constitutes great literature? This made me laugh.

Before yesterday, I was vaguely aware of this woman’s existence, but had never read anything she had written. Now I have, I can say that the impact of her mental illness is clear is clear, but she is a far more naturally talented writer than you will ever be, and definitely a better human being.

I don’t know about the “better human being” part because I think Dooce did a *lot* of bad things, but her writing was solid. It certainly wasnt universally good, but of all things to criticize about Dooce for, coming after her writing is an odd one.

And no, we weren’t fans of Dooce because her failures made us feel better. Maybe others’ failures make you feel better, but not everybody is like you.

(To be clear I agree with the immediate PP)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So on top of all the time spent here, you all really spend a lot of time reading poorly written half truths about women’s lives. I cannot believe how seriously people take bloggers like this. I can’t believe it is therapeutic or helpful in any way.

What she did wasn’t really writing, it was preening. I’m so sorry she passed. However, and her lunatic fans will freak — none of her shtick would have worked but for her initial happy life, thinness, prettiness. The writing was never there, she is not Mary Carr or Leslie Jamison. It always required pictures and cool-girl blasé bullshit balanced with meltdowns. It was always stupid and squawking and without much to it, all hat and no cattle. But it gave a lot of ugly comfort to some women, as they were less divorced. Less f’ed up. Less drunk. Less scrutinized. And so forth. It was always gross, but it netted Armstrong a lot of money. I wish she’d found some medication and therapeutic plan that actually worked for her. I don’t actually think she’s more gifted than the banal, stupid Jo from Cup of Jo. But Jo was luckier.

Exactly. But Jo also made her own luck!!! She works on her mental health, controls her drinking, writes openly but is not overexposed. Joanna has struck a really good balance and is running a business where the product is women’s interest in each other, not just in HER.

Heather was a prisoner of her attachment to her own physical attractiveness, her wit, her counterculture iconoclast vibe. A mentally ill narcissist who wrought fury and hellfire on her own ex husband, partner and daughters.

What someone else wrote is true. Dooce was a shallow, sick addict who preened for attention, who virtually gagged for it and lived and died for it. She was a grotesque example of the worst of influencer culture and to dislike her is not to be a GOMI troll, it’s to be an adult with one’s own opinion. Quit bringing Alice and GOMI into it! Your obsession with GOMI says more about YOU than GOMI itself. Alice is NOT responsible for these narcissists that overexpose their lives for likes and affiliate link $$!!!

Ok, Alice. You can head back to your own corner of the internets now.

Seriously you have to ease up on GOMI. Heather had her demons and you help no one by lionizing her. Have you read the general comments on DCUM on any given subject?? It’s an innate part of online interactions. Heather made her own bed and now she lies in the grave she dug, of course it is sad but my only thoughts now are with her daughters, I hope they rebuild their lives and can battle off the demons that may be lurking in their own DNA since mental illness is so often genetic. All of it is sad.

Well, you help no one by defending Alice. As has been said before, GOMI and DCUM are different because Jeff does his best to shut down mean comments and Alice encourages them and contributes her own. If you’re going to compare the two websites, DCUM comes out on top. And just because something is innate doesn’t mean it’s okay. I’m sure you don’t approve of lots of things that are innate.

-DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give me vintage dooce any day over today's carefully curated influencers with staged photos that hide all the imperfections and make normal people feel inferior.

I remember thinking dooce was a little like the Erma Bombeck whose humor columns about homemaking and kids I grew up reading, except more sped up and modern and with a lot more cursing and dogs.

Girls Gone Child was another blog I used to follow. She wrote a Peter Pan movie, and her husband died of cancer, and she's raising her kids alone now. Mighty Girl was another one that's long since disappeared. Momversation. The Bloggie awards. I like the Cory Doctorow quote the PP above wrote. It started off really nice, as a community.

The Sound of Music kids grew up to write about how their nanny exploited them. Child actors get their money taken by their parents all the time. There really should be rules about what you are and aren't allowed to publish online or on social media. That said, at what point is the experience your kids and at what point is it your own, as a parent? There is value to writing about the ins-and-outs of raising children -- I know because I used to get good tips from some of those old blogs. Sure, you keep the most sensitive info to yourself or discuss with friends. But we're not, and shouldn't be, banning books with stories about raising kids in them.

I think now, 20 (?) years after it all started, some of those old time bloggers should get together and write a proposed set of standards for mommy and daddy blogging, based on the fallout from their own experiences. I think people would find it useful!

This is such a rube’s take. It was and is ALL garbage, and the curation by Dooce was as extreme as a Millenial-pink swathed latte-addict travel blogger. ALL of the OG bloggers eventually had their houses of cards fall down. It was all always bullshit to seem so rill like wine mom with mastitis really rill. It’s all so goddamned dumb, and that’s fine, but it’s not exactly writing. And the Cool Girl who was actually a rill mess is fundamentally boring, which is the saddest thing of all.

Heather built an empire. What more did the woman have to do to get credit? She pulled in millions of readers at times. She had 3 book deals. She’s a NYT bestseller.

But sure, because it didn’t resonate with YOU it’s all garbage. When by any opinion she was massively successful. I don’t like some authors, but I don’t go around yelling that they suck. I just don’t read them.

It's clear the pp has a major axe to grind with her. It's easy to see from this smug post (and the many others) that she was totally triggered by her.

Exactly. It would be fascinating to know the story. The most obvious answer is that this person studied literature and dreamed of writing the great American novel, but has never been paid a dime for anything they’ve ever written. They now work a clerical job and live in a third floor walk up with 5 cats.

But none of that is true. What is, is that she’s dead by her own hand and that’s her real legacy. There was never anything glorious in her content.

We all die and all glory is temporary and vain. What's your point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Suicide contagion is real and glamorizing and public compassion one-upsmanship likely does not decrease future suicide and very likely increases them. Seriously-if you knew them condolences and kindness would be the thing to do but truly the best thing you can all do is can it.

this is absolutely untrue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So on top of all the time spent here, you all really spend a lot of time reading poorly written half truths about women’s lives. I cannot believe how seriously people take bloggers like this. I can’t believe it is therapeutic or helpful in any way.

What she did wasn’t really writing, it was preening. I’m so sorry she passed. However, and her lunatic fans will freak — none of her shtick would have worked but for her initial happy life, thinness, prettiness. The writing was never there, she is not Mary Carr or Leslie Jamison. It always required pictures and cool-girl blasé bullshit balanced with meltdowns. It was always stupid and squawking and without much to it, all hat and no cattle. But it gave a lot of ugly comfort to some women, as they were less divorced. Less f’ed up. Less drunk. Less scrutinized. And so forth. It was always gross, but it netted Armstrong a lot of money. I wish she’d found some medication and therapeutic plan that actually worked for her. I don’t actually think she’s more gifted than the banal, stupid Jo from Cup of Jo. But Jo was luckier.

Exactly. But Jo also made her own luck!!! She works on her mental health, controls her drinking, writes openly but is not overexposed. Joanna has struck a really good balance and is running a business where the product is women’s interest in each other, not just in HER.

Heather was a prisoner of her attachment to her own physical attractiveness, her wit, her counterculture iconoclast vibe. A mentally ill narcissist who wrought fury and hellfire on her own ex husband, partner and daughters.

What someone else wrote is true. Dooce was a shallow, sick addict who preened for attention, who virtually gagged for it and lived and died for it. She was a grotesque example of the worst of influencer culture and to dislike her is not to be a GOMI troll, it’s to be an adult with one’s own opinion. Quit bringing Alice and GOMI into it! Your obsession with GOMI says more about YOU than GOMI itself. Alice is NOT responsible for these narcissists that overexpose their lives for likes and affiliate link $$!!!

Ok, Alice. You can head back to your own corner of the internets now.

I'm a different poster who had never heard of GOMI, but the PP is dead on about this Dooce. Why do so many posters here defend these narcissistic, drug-addicted, dilettantes?

This is an ugly sentiment and it resonated with me. I don't know a great deal about dooce, so why should I feel anything at all, let alone relate to a negative sentiment about her? Upon reflection, I think it has to do with the narcissism and dilettante description, coupled with the fact that she was famous and, for a time anyway, successful. It feels like an affront to the sacrifices most people make in the name of stability and love for others; particularly as parents and spouses. We stay at home or take grind-it-out jobs, we don't flit from thing to thing, we make the world better for friends and loved ones -- at least in a small way, we don't chase long shot dreams, and our sacrifices generally don't get recognized, let alone rewarded. Meanwhile, here is a woman who seemingly did none of that -- at least not on a sustained basis; and she was showered with riches and attention.

This is a very jaundiced view of the situation; but I think it's what is going through my head when I feel myself tempted to nod at hostile descriptions of a woman I didn't know and could easily avoid reading or reading about.

[Anonymous]

Good lord, 18 pages of gibberish about a dead addict.