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So, in writing content for this tiny blog, I have to keep a balance with how much I want to share all over the Internets. Some bloggers share everything, some go to great lengths to remain anonymous. Most are somewhere in between. I'm conflicted in how much I share for various reasons that most of you probably identify with: my job and employer, my friends and family, the husband, but also longevity - if I ever want something deleted, is it really deleted? Or will it lurk in virtual limbo forever?!
Not to mention that if you knew my name, you could find me in one Google 'I'm Feeling Lucky' search.
There are days, as I'm sure most of you identify with, that you wish you could write a funny story or gripe about something. The hilarity of real life is sometimes funnier than what you could dream up. Seriously. If you would go to the Wal Mart closest to my house I'm certain you'd agree. But almost all of those times I write something on the edge of being too personal, I end up hitting the backspace key because I'm just too on the fence about the consequences. I mean, there probably wouldn't be any but what if there would be?
So far, the worst consequence to speaking your mind on other blogs appears to be the negative comments that come along with putting yourself out there. I'm all for your right to an opinion and having a debate, but hiding behind 'anonymous' with nasty comments? Come on now. Certainly you're all familiar with Google Analytics by now, right? Anonymous is not ever really anonymous.
I think what it boils down to is that you shouldn't write anything you wouldn't say to someone in real life. That's probably a good rule to follow. Although if you heard me talk in real life, you'd probably be surprised at the amount of profanity I spew into conversation. I curse like a sailor. Maybe the internet is a good filter. Maybe.
7 comments:
i think about this sometimes to. Now that we all know employers look on Monster and FB etc to find what you're like outside of work, i'm cautious! about the negative feedback? I never undertand why people stick around to write mean things....get a move on, you're not forced to read!!
I have been thinking about this All. The. Time. lately.
First off, I don't understand negativity. If I see something I don't like, I usually just click out of it and pretend I never saw it. Is that SO hard?
Even though I share a LOT on my blog... I like to think I"m fairly anonymous. Googling my name and e-mail address doesn't point to my blog... but I don't know who is reading it.
And then people tell me I need to shut down my blog in order to find a job. Weep.
I grapple with this issue a lot, but find myself leaning towards the "less is more" side when it comes to sharing. I want to share more photos and personal details, but don't know where to start. I've been making tiny steps but then I get worried that it's too much to put out there. It's definitely a balancing act.
I also am always conscience of what I'm writing. I keep it pretty neutral with names and locations (you could find me so quickly if you knew my whole name too!) and the topics are middle of the road too. I just think, if [insert person/situation here] read this, would I be embarrassed? If so, I don't write about it.
I've been terrified of "nasty" comments. Quite honestly, I'm not sure why anyone would bother reading & commenting if they have something nasty to say, right?
People are hurtful. I've struggled with keeping a semi-anonymous profile for some time now.
It is kind of scary how easy it is to find out about things these days on the internet. I am probably one of those "on the fence-ers"...I try to keep my blog content pretty low key, but sometimes it's hard to mask locations, names, etc.
nasty comments are the worst. and my favorite blogs are the ones that aren't at all anonymous, and then the ones that are somewhere in the middle. i have a really hard time relating to someone that i can't see or that doesn't share one ounce of personal information. but that's just my opinion. i don't leave mean comments. i just don't read.
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