Amazing Comments From Daily Mail Readers To Us
On the one-year anniversary of the Daily Mail featuring us as their main story on the front page of their website, I thought it would be fun to have a browse back through some of the more interesting comments that the story received.
Patrick and I both remember the day well. I received a text from a friend: “you’re on the front page of the Daily Mail!” and over the next 24 hours we watched as outlets such as the Evening Standard, the Sun, CNN and more decided to tell the world about what we were doing. Over 2000 people jumped on board to slate everything that we were doing with and for our family. For the first few hours, it was horrible. We had people tell us we shouldn’t be parents, that we were ruining our own lives as well as our kids’, and that it was glaringly obvious that Patrick and Mum were having an affair (sorry for the mental image there).
Then we started to laugh. It quickly became obvious that the overwhelming majority of people were jealous of anyone getting more than an hour of sunshine a day, followed by a significant group of people who didn’t even read the article and just wanted to moan. Trailing up the rear were the vegan/homeschool haters and people obsessed with not letting others use the NHS. Some of the comments straddled the insulting and ridiculous, others indicated an absence of cognition completely.
So, our favourite comments? Here are the top 20 hate comments that we’ve received over the past year.
The Best Daily Mail Hate Comments
- In response to how much we lived on per month in Bali (from my paycheck, from my job).
“One thousand pounds a month? Where do they get that from?”
2. In response to photos of us snorkelling in the Indian Ocean and exploring Bali rice paddies and cocoa plantations:
“Looks boring.”
3. In response to us being in Bali:
“Isn’t that Indonesia? A mus-lim country?”
4. Because we wanted to move abroad:
“This sounds suspiciously like propaganda……all these tropical places are a nightmare of bad weather, humidity, disease and poverty…..not so sure – but guess someone wants to encourage folks to leave ‘civilisation’ to make room for immigrants.”
5. Because we travelled through Thailand and Sri Lanka:
“Asia is notorious for child sex abuse….they will have to watch their kids every minute.”
6. Because the Daily Mail didn’t mention when we.. um.. clean our house?!
“I would have thought one would have to do housework regardless of where one lives. Who does the housework? Sorry but I’ve lived in the tropics for 35 years and housework is the bane of my life!! The house gets much dirtier because of constantly open windows and the floors need mopping everyday in 35 degree heat and 86% humidity!!!!”
7. Because people don’t understand online jobs or veganism:
“Being unproductive and destroying the natural world isn’t the way to be.”
8. Because some people just have to:
“we dont want you here anyways”
9. Because some other people don’t know what a hammock is:
“Love the sex swing…..Lol”
10. Because we are part of a digital nomad… army?
“British people are doing that for 500 years already – millions of them. That’s how the planet got polluted with them everywhere (and they kill a lot)”
11. Because opinions are always right:
“Bali’s a dump, I’ve never been but I’m positive it is.”
12. Because people who usually hate headscarves also hate everyone else (and also don’t understand culture):
“How disgusting that they moved to Indonesia and disrespect their culture like this. Why aren’t these girls donning headscarves and exposing their hair like this?”
13. Because people forget the UK is an island, and also can’t read (I don’t like yoga):
“Stuck on an island with mother in law & yoga obsessed wife. Marvellous. What was he thinking?”
14. Because some people are actually quite funny:
“Great idea. I’ve always wanted to take my wife’s mother to Bali and leave her there.”
15. Because people read the wrong papers:
“just read the local english bali newspaper. the island is filled with middle aged australian meth addicts on every beach.”
16. Because people make extraordinarily tenuous links:
“My cousin took his children to newzeland when they were in the same age group , the children settled and made friends but the parents didn’t , 10 years down the line the parents have had enough and came home to the uk , the children refused and are still in newzeland , family split forever.”
17. Because some people have no imagination:
“I guessed where this was going as soon as I saw those kids’ names.”
18. Because not-hurting-animals is offensive:
“Got as far as vegan and stopped reading.”
19. Because Daily Mail readers in the UK are better placed to judge what Bali is like than us, living on the island:
“Please divest yourselves of this idyllic images of Bali,it is filthy polluted and congested it is certainly no island paradise.”
20. Because some people have to say something:
“Hey, this is not true. Indonesian man here.”
Reacting To Comments
Looking back on the comments (I’d guess there were around 1500 negative ones on that one article), it’s apparent how much thicker our skins have got over the past year. I think this is partly down to realising that the old cliche, “sticks and stones…” is actually very true. The opinion of hundreds of people who we don’t know and who, probably, we’ll never meet, actually had no real-life effects on us.
What did have an effect was the number of friends and family who came forward to say positive things about us and support us- something that we experienced yet again when Eira had her accident towards the end of our time in Bali. It really highlighted the power of positivity, and how much more powerful kindness is than bitterness or unkindness.
Blogging and social media are funny old things- there are so many fantastic things about them, and they are a truly enjoyable area to work in. But they can also expose you to far more criticism and hate than you would ever get in a ‘regular’ job, and this is part and parcel of the deal. We are very thankful for the genuine warmth and support of our readers and followers on social media- you are a fab bunch and the messages and comments we receive from you will always outweigh the rubbish. <3
Jo Quantrill says
What horrible people. Why cant they keep their views to themse
Alyson says
I had a comment from a reader last week telling me to stop doing the personal posts and get back to travel because she didn’t like them and I was constantly ” defending myself”. I never defend myself but I can sort of see where she was coming from. I told her the personal posts are the most popular to which she said ” well I suppose you have to go support the family”. I told her I was sole breadwinner and fully supported my family through the website and got..”. But you’re writing more and more like this and not writing about travel”. So I pointed out that the list she was commenting on was almost 2 years old… Guess she’s gone into the personal category and was just reading those because all our recent posts were Tibet and Nepal..Point being…ignore them. It’s your life, your website and they’re Daily Mail readers.
Anne says
Omg now evil, ignorant and uneducated can some people be!!! I Havent had tons but i find most negative comments are usually from people who just seem bitter that you are doing something that they AREN’T. Hope you have a wonderful christmas and that things return to normal soon x