I’ve been thinking alot again about blogging and the anonymity of it or rather non-anonymity of it all.
It started with a conversation with my step-mom about why I am blogging and “airing my dirty laundry” in public. It seems that some family members don’t understand why I would want to do this 
. And could I be sued by any parties that might be written about in my work.
All good questions.
It’s hard to explain why I am airing my “dirty laundry”. It goes against all I was taught by my parents as a child, and by society as a whole. So why do it?
It started off with a desire to share with family and friends and a blog format seemed easier to follow and keep track of than emails.
I could have made it a password protected blog, but that kind of seems pointless, because I doubt family and friends would want to actually log into a blog. I tried to make it as simple as I could.
I could also have tried the anonymity route, but really that’s pointless as well, as I already covered in this post. If anyone wants to find me, they will. It really is not hard at all. Please read….and you will see. Blog hopping, I found another example of why being who you really are actually provides a surprising level of protection.
So hear I am, blogging openly.
But you know….there is more…the illusive part.
I think it’s to do with the actual writing. I want to write. I want to express. I have developed enough skill at writing, that I think I’m ok at it. It does the job of expression pretty effectively. Some people talk, some people scream, some people dance, some people draw, some people paint….I write. I feel lighter and clearer once I’ve written. Once I’ve put words to almost nameless fleeting innermost feelings, it suddenly all makes sense. I get answers through the process.
So ok. I want to express. And writing is an effective medium for that. But why public? What is it about creativity that makes us want to show it? What is the reward? Why do we have galleries. Why do other people buy other people’s creativity?
Is it recognition? Yes, of course, it is. But again, it feels like more. I know I get tremendous satisfaction if and when my writing inspires someone else or better yet, helps someone else.
Is this it? The illusive key? The sense of satisfaction that I made a small difference?
This is a fantastic article about blogging and “keeping it real”. I guess I do that then .
What do you think? Let me know if you blog about this topic and I will include your post in mine with a link.
Hi!
I think we’re all learning a new way to communicate who we really are. If we do it with respect and don’t make ourselves the center of the universe, I’m thinking that most of it will turn out better than things were.
I’ve grown exponentially since I’ve started blogging, as a writer, as a market, but most of all as a human being. That’s saying something because I was a darn good writer and marketer when I got here, and on some days I was a pretty decent human too.
The folks who realize that we’re blogging for our grandchildren’s grandchildren and that the Internet has no eraser seem to know which laundry to leave at home.
Hi Liz!
. Very, very true.
Thanks for stopping by and for your awesome comments. I love what you say about knowing what laundry to leave at home
Hope to see you again and again.
Hello,
I’ve also improved as a writer since I began blogging, and in my opinion, it’s definitely a social way to better yourself.
Publishing your content for everyone to see opens you up to a world of criticism, no doubt, but more often than not, the remarks are incredibly positive, and I’ve found any criticism to be constructive. So all in all, it’s a great way to learn.
Best wishes in your future publishing efforts.
I wouldn’t call it airing dirty laundry. It is about engaging in a conversation.
Thank you David! A strange thing I’ve found is that the more open I am, the less someone can really hurt me. It’s the secrets which hurt.
Very good Emily! That’s a nice succinct description of why to blog.
Even though I do blog about a lot, I am tending to be more careful with what I say, especially about work.
The only problem with everyone reading your blog if you are frank, is that there’s not much to say to friends when you finally do see them. They know everything anyway. LOL!
[...] 20, 2008 by natzgal Following on from my previous post, my friend Mr David W. Boles has given me lots to think about again in terms of internet security [...]