I’ve been blogging for a couple of years now and I have been lucky enough to attract a lovely group of readers! Unfortunately, it’s a sad fact that anyone who decides to ‘put themselves out there’, at some point or another, will face the wrath of the Internet trolls. According to these Internet bullies I am a white sl*t, a race traitor, I deserve a slow and painful death, and I have even been accused of being a spy for MI6. There have also been comments and emails I would never share the details of because they are just too vile and would upset some people.
After several months of attacks, I got to the point where it was too much. I tried several times to start blogging again but I had lost my drive to create.
I started blogging because during a really rough and hopeless period in my life, I found love in the most unexpected of places and I wanted to document my journey. I wanted to connect with people who could relate to me and share what I have learnt about myself through the new culture I was catapulted into. I’ve always been a creative person interested in the world, so when fell in love with an Indian and decided to move here, I just had to write about it!
I was completely overwhelmed by the support I received, the support I was able to offer to others and the amount of times people told me that my writing was an inspiration. I felt honoured and blessed, but there was always this dark shadow cast by the Internet bullies…
Criticism I can deal with, especially if it has the right intention. When I talk about Internet trolls, I am talking about people who don’t read what I write, they just attack me for being in an intercultural marriage, for being British, for living in India or simply for being a woman. After realising that these bullies were not looking beyond my photograph, I started to feel that it was nothing personal, these people are just compelled to hate and their hatred happens to be towards the labels that have been given to me. This was an epiphany for me.
Suddenly, I was a little angry at myself for letting those trolls overshadow the beautiful and positive things that have come from this blog! So, after deciding to stop blogging, I changed my mind.
Thank you to all who have stuck with English Wife, Indian Life through the unexplained silences. I know I am seriously behind on comments and emails so please accept my apologies. From the bottom of my heart, I am truly grateful to you all (except you, trolls!).
You’ll be hearing from me soon…
Lots of love,
Lauren xx
