It’s that time of year again guys! Get excited! I’m about to drop all the best hate comments I’ve gotten over the past 12 months. Prepare to be entertained. Are you not entertained? (Gladiator reference) because I know I sure am.
I feel like every year that I do my hater round-up posts, I’m in a totally different mindset. Back in 2012 I first wrote this post as a way to confront all the mean comments I was getting and to use it as an opportunity to learn to deal with negativity online. I was upset. My feelings were hurt. It never feels good when people are mean to you, right?
The next year I was starting to own it a bit more. In 2013 I learned to laugh. But I also quickly realized very few people took my approach to dealing with negativity, and that bothered me. Isn’t it better to just laugh it off?
2014 was the year I developed some kind of empathy and began to think about my trolls, and you know what? I started to feel sorry for them.
Pity party parade over here.
And what does 2015 have in store? Honestly, I’m just over it, and basically I want to tell everyone to fuck off. Can I do that?
Is this a sign I’m getting bitter? Wait, don’t answer that.
I don’t try and be controversial but I do believe in honesty, authenticity, and saying what you think and mean. Trust me, there is NOT enough of that on the internet, and for some silly reason, it can rub people the wrong way.
I’d rather inspire a negative reaction in people than no reaction at all. I like to provoke people to think and question things. Sometimes I think I get a lot of shit because when people bash me I don’t take it lying down. Who knows.
Anywho, now I easily laugh most of them off for now (after sharing and shaming on my Snapchat of course – YoungAdventures) because I’ve finally come to the point where I pretty much just don’t care anymore. I’ve reached my optimal level of just not giving a crap.
You hate my blog? You hate my face? You think I must live off my daddy’s money to live this life or that I’m not authentic? Well, just remember I am laughing at you when I’m flying around New Zealand in a helicopter or when I’m sleeping on a yacht on the Great Barrier Reef or when my face is on the front page of the BBC.
(Yikes that sounds spectacularly douche-y but I can’t help it).
And you know why I just don’t care anymore? Because I made it. How many people can say that? Because I’m happy in the knowledge that over the past 6 years of blogging I have been able to turn my wildest dreams into reality. I’ve learned that there are no limits whatsoever when you set your mind to something, and the bigger the risks you take, the bigger the reward.
This is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever written because I’ve struggled my whole life with feeling inferior, not good enough, not pretty enough, not cool enough. I’ve never been proud of myself until now.
And I am really happy about is that I have worked incredibly hard to maintain my authenticity on my blog and my channels. I’ve turned down tens of thousands of dollars over the years to try and stay true to myself on here, which trust me, wasn’t easy when you couldn’t afford rent and you have over $100 grand in loan debt.
Putting people down who have big dreams is just fucked up. Putting people down who have been successful or who are happy is even worse and just goes to show how messed up you actually are. Can’t we all just support each other instead of dragging people down?
And putting down people who have a sense of humor that you just don’t get IS WRONG PEOPLE. STOP.
In fact, I care so little now I was almost not going to write this. There are so many other positive projects I want to work on and I didn’t want to focus on the negative more than I had to.
But lucky for you guys there were some spectacularly awesome hate comments on my blog this year, and I wouldn’t dream of NOT sharing them here in the hopes of inspiring some of you guys to shake it off and to make you laugh.
Because that’s all you can do right?
Year four of trolling. Get ready. And don’t worry, I’d only share the best of the best with you guys. And just remember before you think about trolling me, I share your hate with millions of followers
And here are my hater posts from the past 3 years for those that want to catch up. You’re welcome.
1. Apparently I’m a tall poppy (if you are asking yourself WTF is a tall poppy, its an annoying cultural phenomenon here in New Zealand)
So by calling me a tall poppy you are calling me wildly successful and talented? Thanks!
Found on Volcanoes in Australia
2. Falcon displays are bad
Damn I hate people who are high and mighty. I’m all about animal conservation but falconry? One of the most prestigious and oldest traditions in the Middle East? They treat falcons better than people over there. Whinge about that.
3. Problem with sponsors
Your fucking lipton ads ruined the entire blog post. you are not a travel blogger you are a advertising agency helping pay for your luxe life. infecting 100000 minds with brands to benefit for yourself. Awful. You don’t even reference where you stay.
How do people expect me to make money? Christ. Either they hate me for doing sponsored posts or they hate me because they think I’m independently wealthy and must live off my parent’s money. WHICH IS IT? Why you so hard to please?!
Found on Sailing the Whitsundays
4. Problem with Dubai
When I ran out of countries to visit, I will veeeeryyyy slowly make my way to the fake, overrated, shallow, silicon gold-digger filled, Dubai. Only way to get me here before that, would have to be some kind of layover or if I’m offered a minimum of 10k for a couple days Modeling or film work…It will be the last country I would visit. Afghanistan… now that’s what I call an adventure… will be going there as a solo woman next year or so. Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Uganda, Tanzania etc, have rich history and beyond. I have been in entertainment industry for many years and I know what Dubai does … Tries to bribe big “names” so that they promote their obviously small manhood.. Only small size manhood builds places such as Dubai on the backs of slaves, who get their documents stolen and who are forced to work for laughable amounts. That’s the REAL Dubai… that nobody who is paid will ever talk about. (Story of Slavery and Abuse of slave-workers for those billionaires in Dubai is not a secret, I hope you know that). You once told me that me walking with Lions was unethical. Giving my money to Dubai is unethical to me…thanks for the laugh… a person who calls a woman “dude”, should be about 16-year-old, American idiot, who wouldn’t be able to point out Turkey or Egypt on a map. When you have over 25k readers in 190+ countries, worked in Hollywood films, modelled for legendary photographers, lived in 10 countries, traveled to over 40 and was granted and have dual citizenship, and have more than at least 100k google search results, get back to me… Dude.. until then.. take a f*ing hike.
God, gag me. I’m choking on the condescension here. Also I have zero respect for people who bash places they’ve never been to. ZERO.
Found on 25 photos that will inspire you to visit Dubai
5. Email haters
RE: You Need to Stop
Lillian Winters <[email protected]>
Honestly, your “blog” does nothing but encourage people to make poor travel choices and spend unnecessary money traveling to ghettos. This is harmful and wrong. You need to stop. Take down the blog.
What is with people putting my blog in quotes? Are you implying it’s not a blog? I WILL NEVER TAKE DOWN THE BLOG! YOU CAN’T MAKE ME!
6. Withholding information
Why don’t you put the locations on your pics ion each entry so people can visit the places that loo so beautiful DUH? Or do you not want people to now about them?
Because I didn’t fucking feel like it, that’s why. Use your words and if you want to know where I took a photo, ask me like a grown up.
Found on Getting paid to travel
7. I should stop flying
I suggest if you find flying so offensive. Then cease doing so. You obviously have very little experience of life. I suggest you go home to mummy and daddy, as they are probably paying for you to blog this rubbish. And then demand then send you first class so you would not be bothered by all these horrendous people.
Might be a good idea if you were asked to be placed on a seat with no-one next to you.
I very much doubt if you converse with these horrible people and also doubt they would wish to bother talking or sitting next to such a stupidly opinionated little girl.
Cheers worthier travellers
God, if only my parents would fly me first class around the world, all my problems with buffoons on airplane would be solved. But considering I can’t even get them to buy me a coffee, I doubt that will happen anytime soon.
Found on Things I wish people would stop doing on airplanes (seriously this post is just packed with hate comments towards me)
8. I’m not allowed to dislike a teaching program in Spain
Look, I get it. Liz want a high SEO and lots of clicks, which I gave her myself.
To anyone who wants to do the program, go for it. You’ll learn, you’ll grow, you’ll start appreciating things more and you’ll have the opportunity to live and see life in a great country. Bureaucracy kinda sucks everywhere you go, and Spain will be no exception, but you have to respect whatever rules they have in place in order for you to be allowed to temporarily be part of their society. It’s just how it goes.
I think Liz does the program a great disservice by whining so much on her forum while basically ignoring how great it is. Hate is a very strong word, so readers, be not afraid, life can get challenging everywhere you go. Sure, if you are like Liz and need to be spoon fed everything in your life, have second thoughts, but if you are like the vast majority of young people; smart, energetic, curious, spontaneous and fun loving, do the program. The two years I spent in Spain because of the program were some of the best times of my life.
Do go on, please tell me more about myself. You clearly know me best, right??
Found on why I hate the auxiliar program in Spain
9. This entire hateful forum about how much my blog sucks
Why are people so awful? And when will I learn to never look at GOMI?
10. When did I ever say I was famous?
It’s funny that a few comments down you say you’ve worked with some of the most famous photographers and videographers and how popular you are……..but, who are you? I could ask a hundred photographers and none would know you. TV shows? Any worth anything? Where are your awards? If you’ve worked with the best videographers in the world?!?!?!?!? No one knows you. You act like you’re famous….there’s Twitter feminists more famous than you. More people know who Goth Lord is than Liz Carlson. honestly, your social media like Twitter is always dead, you think 55k instagram likes is “super famous”, you barely get 3k likes on your own posts, and you are relatively unknown among anyone worth a grain of salt….ever. You barely even get any comments here! You are an unknown except in a super small niche part of the internet (hell, I wouldn’t know who you were unless I was an expat who lived in Spain), and even there….you aren’t the most popular. I’m confused on how someone like you can be so cocky when you are honestly so small. You brag about so much but it’s so clear that that is just a facade for how minuscule you know you are. Your impact is tiny. Your work is mediocre. You’re so bitter, it’s actually rather amusing. You’re even more delusional, it’s more amusing.
Do you feel better know getting that off your chest?
Found on 25 photos that will inspire you visit Dubai
11. And the best hate comment of all time? Drumroll please….
God, I’m dying! This has to be the funniest thing I’ve ever read about myself. HA!
Found on – So you want to be a travel blogger, do you?
Have you ever had to deal with haters? On a blog, social media or in real life? How did you cope? And just remember, you should be proud of yourself no matter what and don’t let people put you down. Just laugh.
About the author
Goodness me! If people put all that negative energy into a worthy cause, the world would be a better place! I can’t believe people would be so boorish.
‘So sorry to hear this. It must be so upsetting sometimes when all you’re doing is minding your own business and writing your blog. YOUR blog if they’ve forgotten. Your safe place where you can write about how you feel and what issues mean to you. Honestly, they should just switch off if they’re so offended!
I’ve had one or two haters but mainly on two particular posts. One about Germany, one about Poland and one on a newspaper interview that had so many disgraceful opinions that they had to close the comment section!! Both posts were written tongue-in-cheek by myself, and the newspaper article was about Queen Elizabeth and I!
At first, I was upset and asked for advice from my FB feed. Then I manned up and realized that they’re inferior twats. I blocked the most offensive ones, let through the silly ones, and just carried on! I’m the one who gets to do fabulous things and they don’t lol!
RIGHT?
Damn, this is ridiculous. Do people have nothing better to do? I admire your no-bullshit style and your strength in yourself. I’ve been catching up on your blog and I’m using it as inspiration for my own impending solo female travels, which kick off this summer. I may or may not end up blogging about them, but you make it look like so much fun!
Anyway, I just wanted to say that I wanna fuckin’ be you, (wo)man. You’re an inspiration.
hahah awesome thanks!
My goodness! I´m not your biggest fan or anything (mainly because I´m so jealous of you!!!), but these people are out of control and out of place! I do have to agree on one thing though. Number six. I would love to see where you take certain photos! I might have actually posted a similar comment, but hopefully not a “hateful” one. I “might” have directly asked you where a photo was taken, but I don´t remember maybe you just didn´t reply. I definitely didn´t even bother with email. BUT, you do have a point. This is your blog and your photo and you get to do whatever you want!! In any case, I do think that what you´re doing is amazing and admirable and you deserve all the success and bragging rights and positivity. You SHOULD be proud and you do not have to answer to anyone. And like you said, these people can grump all they want because you´re the one living the life you want and living it GREAT. Keep writing!!!!!!
ahahahaha thanks!
Most people hate her, just because they are lazy enough to do be like her.
Hello. I found you today and I have read your adventures for the last three hours. The hate you receive is obnoxious and delivered out of jealousy. I find your directness enchanting and your as mother of 4 young adults I applaud your honesty and self-awareness. Keep doing what you love and when you stop loving it: stop.
thank you!
Honestly you’re never going to win as a travel blogger. Every single travel blog or article I see has vehement hate on it! I really want to understand why this happens? I think other people are jealous because their lives are boring and they did not accomplish any of their goals so they take it out on people who did.
I personally never post the location of places I take pictures because I’ve seen too many places become overcrowded and get trashed by people. Theres a beautiful hike in San Diego thats now closed to the public because people graffitied all over the rocks! Some places are secret for a reason and those who work really hard to find them are usually the ones who respect them. I don’t care if others post locations that’s just my belief and preference. If someone directly asks me off social media for the location I tell them.
I’m generally the same
I honestly believe that most of these ppl are unhappy with their lives and they haven’t had the courage to venture out of their comfort zones. Soo when they see you it reminds them of all the things they WISH they’ve done. All that time hating on you could’ve been spent planning out their miserable lives.
I applaud you for continuing your blog, despite these negative ppl trying to hold you down. But on the bright side, some say you’re not doing anything if you don’t have haters!!!
Hi YA,
I’m sorry that people have been so rude to you. Really, the people that say these things are idiots. They feel bad about themselves at a very deep level. Such a deep level that is somehow turns inside out into arrogant self-assuredness. They have mentally tricked themselves into thinking they are superior to other people and it is only when they are faced with someone who is making positive decisions for themselves and directing their own life on their own terms (like you do) that they realise what miserable failures they have made of their own lives. Instead of being inspired by you – which is surely how a normal person would react – they feel the need to put you down in order to prove to their pathetic selves that they are “okay, doing the right thing, not complete losers”, etc. But they are complete losers. It blows my brain to consider they take the time to read your blogs and then be rude. WTF. I worked all this out because I am naturally very ‘out there’ and happy. I can’t help being eccentric. I have tried to control my quirks and it doesn’t work. Morons have always disliked me because they can’t handle me being weird and happy and ‘taking up’ the space that they feel they should be in too, but actually shrink away from, get lost in and feel uncomfortable in (because they are gutless cowards). They want to take up space themselves, but have nothing to offer…so they fill the space with all they have got to offer. Their own shit. That’s all they have. They really have tall poppy syndrome. All of this finally made sense to me kind of recently when I started running outside in the new area I had moved to. I have always run, but in this new area I was getting heckled EVERY RUN by feckwits. It really put me off (sometimes I was concerned about my personal safety) but now I am okay with it. They are putting me down because they know, deep down inside, that they should be running, but they aren’t confident enough, motivated enough, STRONG ENOUGHT to do it. They resent me having the strength to be out there. They know they are making bad choices in their lives. And instead of joining me, they make themselves feel better about the fact that they know they are complete losers by trying to stop me from doing the very thing they should be doing – taking charge of their own destinies and looking after themselves. If they remove me from the side of the road and you from the internet they get to protect themselves from recognising that they are cowards. Don’t let them win. They suck.
If Armageddon does come and these people don’t have their electricity, flushing toilets, McDonalds, cars, whatever, who do you think is going struggle most and die first. People like us who try and learn about live, be our best selves and take responsibility for our own lives or…. them? They are F&@%#-ING going down! They won’t last a week!!! (Sorry, I’m not an aggressive person but I really enjoy imagining this).
LJG.
I live by the motto “SWSWSWN” – some will, some won’t, so what? Next!
I love your blog, and all of these super important, well-known people leaving hate comments on it, should be FAR too busy being more successful and better than you to leave a comment, right?! Yeah, clearly not, eh 🙂
You rock Liz, you keep doing you 🙂
hahahaha I love that!
Elizabeth Gilbert gets on this subject for awhile in Big Magic. On page 121 she quotes W.C. Fields saying …”It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to.” But even more importantly, and my personal favorite, on page 123 she says “Just smile sweetly and suggest – as politely as you possibly can – that they go make their own fucking art.” haha I think you have encompassed both of these ideals perfectly. Keep doing you, you’re a true inspiration!!
I loved that book!!!