A few weeks ago we had some friends over for some drinks. During the course of the evening the subject of blogs came up. My Dear Nathan mentioned that I have one. He was very gracious and extolled our friends about how talented a writer I am (he must really love me and not read my blog very often). He told them about how funny (again....being a dutiful husband and one who doesn't read very often) some of my posts are. I didn't really think that much of it that night but the next few days I did.
I know that there are 2 people who read my blog that know me personally. I believe that most other people that read have never met me in real life. The people that do know me in real life are, outside of My Dear Nathan, the people that know me best. They have been there for, or heard about, the best and worst times of my life. They know my sense of humor, eccentricities, inherent flaws, and well....pretty much everything else.
I asked My Dear Nathan not to tell people about my blog. I think that having people that know me but not KNOW me reading my blog would adversely affect how and what I blog about. Don't get me wrong, the friends that we were talking about are quickly becoming good friends but will never be on the same level as those who read here. I am really a very open person. Most times if you ask me a question I will answer it honestly and openly. This has on more than one occasion and very recently bitten me in the ass but hey....it is just how I am.
Do you think that I am being crazy? Would having someone read your blog make you feel uncomfortable or change how and what you write? I know that there is no guarantee that someone I know won't stumble across this blog and I know that there may very well be more people that know me reading. For right now I guess I am just not comfortable inviting new people (that I deal with in real life) into my little piece of bloggyland.
7 comments:
I had to think about the same sorts of things when I started blogging - my husband reads my blog, and a number of my earlier, more bitchy posts were about him. Did I want him reading that? Did I want to deal with the aftermath, the wounded looks, the hangdog posturing? Did I want the inevitable conversation about what I'd written? I finally told him that he would have to suck it up and deal with it. If he insisted on reading what I wrote, he could, but I didn't want to talk about it or go through the wringer over it, and I was NOT going to sensor myself just to save him a few hurt feelings.
Ahem.
That said, I am a little more careful about what I write, but I'm not going to pretend I'm not irked at him or anyone else when I write. A blog is a place for you to vent, to share, to reach out to a broader community and find friends, empathy, advice, and maybe some laughs. It's yours to share, or not, as you see fit.
I figure, if someone I know stumbles into my blog from the mean streets of blogopolis, they're welcome to it.
I think when you're a relative newbie like us it does inhibit you. I talked to one of my favourite bloggers in person (it was totally embarassing as I gushed about how awesome she is - I should blog about it some day but commenting is SO much easier) and she told me that over time it's something you get over. Lately, I'm thinking the Dr. Seuss wisdom is in order - "Be who you are and say what you feel because those that matter don't mind and those that mind don't matter." That said, you may note that I haven't been blogging all that much lately (though some of this, in truth, may be attributed to facebook and laziness as much as anything).
That reminds me...
http://www.schmutzie.com/
Enjoy :)
I totally agree, there's only one person I actually know that reads my blog, or at least knows that it's me, and there is a sort of security in that. I would have to censor myself if I had to worry about people reading it and being offended and hurt!
I don't think that you should worry about "those people" reading your blog. However it is not unreasonable to be worried about not being able say what you want to say on your own blog, that's the great thing about blogging, but I agree with what cammy said it doesn't matter what other people think.
Rachelle, you officially have permission to keep reading. You left a comment !!!! YAY!!!
I was worried about to although as far as I know none of my friends read it and the people that do read it, I've never met in person just on LP and since I don't post much on there I figure it's a way for people to get to know me and if they want to meet me well maybe cause I'm kinda shy!! lol
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