blogs

[Alexsy]

i just want to post a brief warning about using blogs to express yourself. they are great things, until targets of barbed posts read said barbed posts. then you have a world of trouble. that happened to me tonight. it involved a girl. i'll say no more. anyway, i never really thought it would happen to me (god i sound like an advertisement) but then i wrote a post in extreme anger, and lo and behold, i fucked up.

so anyhoo, just be careful, bloggers. don't unecessarily torch relationships. :(

[winneythepooh7]

I have a blog but it is PRIVATE for this exact reason. I think some of the losers on a certain other thread website I frequent find out about people's online journals and blogs and then make fun of them and do exactly what you are posting about. You gotta have no life to do stuff like this. Losers!!!

[chrisp]

I keep mine private as well for that same reason.

[cheshrcarol]

Isn't the point of a blog to be public? Otherwise, why post it online? You could just save journals on your computer. But then, I don't get the whole blog appeal anyways.

[wordsmith]

Can somebody explain blogs to me?

No, I know what they are...I write for a living as well as for recreation, and I've got one set up, but haven't used it, yet. When I do, it will be like a freewrite place, to work on my writing, maybe do some brainstorming for columns for work. I understand them being used in this context, or as a public update for people you wanna keep in touch with but don't wanna e-mail everyone the same thing.

What I don't understand is the public confessional aspect that so many people seem to use them for. I know so many people who have started unnecessary drama by what they wrote in their blog or livejournal about somebody, that somebody saw it, and took offense. I don't get it. It seems crazy to me that you wouldn't be private about what you vent. There's a reason that real journals, pen and paper journals, often come with locks. I don't identify with the need to put all your stuff out there like that for everybody to read, I guess. I'm not a super private person, but I don't feel any need to post my innermost thoughts publicly in that way. It also seems pretty passive-aggressive to talk about an acquaintance on one of these things, all the while knowing/hoping that they'll see it, rather than just talking to that person about whatever it is that's on your mind. If you just wanted to bitch about somebody, you'd do so privately.

[cheshrcarol]

Can somebody explain blogs to me?

No, I know what they are...I write for a living as well as for recreation, and I've got one set up, but haven't used it, yet. When I do, it will be like a freewrite place, to work on my writing, maybe do some brainstorming for columns for work. I understand them being used in this context, or as a public update for people you wanna keep in touch with but don't wanna e-mail everyone the same thing.

What I don't understand is the public confessional aspect that so many people seem to use them for. I know so many people who have started unnecessary drama by what they wrote in their blog or livejournal about somebody, that somebody saw it, and took offense. I don't get it. It seems crazy to me that you wouldn't be private about what you vent. There's a reason that real journals, pen and paper journals, often come with locks. I don't identify with the need to put all your stuff out there like that for everybody to read, I guess. I'm not a super private person, but I don't feel any need to post my innermost thoughts publicly in that way. It also seems pretty passive-aggressive to talk about an acquaintance on one of these things, all the while knowing/hoping that they'll see it, rather than just talking to that person about whatever it is that's on your mind. If you just wanted to bitch about somebody, you'd do so privately.I 2nd that. I'd like for someone to explain it too.

[wordsmith]

See, carol, I know people who do livejournal, and it seems there is always this crazy-ass drama of "so and so said blah blah blah in her livejournal..." or, "I checked the guy I've been seeing's blog and saw that he blah ditty blah, what does this mean, how should I interpret this, did he mean for me to see it and if so what does that mean?" When my sister wanted to break up with her bf, and didn't know how to go about it, she instead left cryptic things in her livejournal, hoping he'd see it and take the lead, since she didn't know how to start. But she was just out of high school at the time!

These are adult people, and it all comes out in the wash like high school note-passing and gossip. It just seems utterly ridiculous to me. Like we don't all already have enough crap to obsess over, let's go through each other's so-called "innermost" thoughts. Not getting it.

[WeirdBrake]

I don't keep a blog and have no intention of starting one, but I can sorta understand the mindset of those who do. I think it's sorta like: "I need some place where I can vent and talk about my life in a journal-type way, but I also like the idea of strangers reading it." Many people LIKE the idea of people reading their thoughts.

But yeah, it's always safe to begin with the assumption that when you post something on the internet, it will get read by people in your life. Even someone you know in real life-- someone you think would never find out about your blog because you've never told that person about it-- might easily find it by googling some personal information about you.

[Skyblade]

My blog isn't really that personal in a way where I talk about my emotions necessarily or other people really. My blog is actually a question and answer blog where I take a question and answer it. Its more of a free write type thing to get me writing. I have a journal that I write in at home that is for all the personal emotion/relationship/how I'm feeling type thing.

[wordsmith]

Many people LIKE the idea of people reading their thoughts.


Right, or messageboards like this wouldn't be so heavily used. But I guess where I don't identify is when people use it as an (in my opinion) kind of immature means to clue people into what they think about them without actually bothering to tell them. It just seems so passive-aggressive to me. Every blog I've known of that's used this way has caused trouble, and understandably so.

[kitalyn414]

from time to time i will write about personal stuff in my blog, but i usually keep it pretty light. i don't write anything that i would be uncomfortable with other people knowing...because there is a good chance that someone could read it. most of the time i just write about random crap. like today, i am going to write about the sign that is in my apartment building's elevator... or maybe about how the light in the locker room at the gym makes me look like the palest person who ever lived.

anyway, i guess it is kind of a way for me to communicate with the few people i know who read it. some of my good friends also have blogspot blogs so we read eachothers, comment and make jokes. we mostly try and be funny and creative.

[cheshrcarol]

See, carol, I know people who do livejournal, and it seems there is always this crazy-ass drama of "so and so said blah blah blah in her livejournal..." or, "I checked the guy I've been seeing's blog and saw that he blah ditty blah, what does this mean, how should I interpret this, did he mean for me to see it and if so what does that mean?" When my sister wanted to break up with her bf, and didn't know how to go about it, she instead left cryptic things in her livejournal, hoping he'd see it and take the lead, since she didn't know how to start. But she was just out of high school at the time!Seriously?? I know some people that keep livejournals as a way to keep everyone updated because their friends are spread around the country. But I've never known anyone that was so passive-agressive about their feelings or even people that shared intimately personal stuff. That's the part I really don't get. I have absolutely NO desire to share my personal feelings with the world. I rarely even do it here. But then, maybe that's just my isse :rolleyes: .

[paiger81]

I have a blog, but it's about my whole weightloss journey. I started it simply because it's hard for me to rant & rave to my close friends and family because they don't quite understand how hard it is, not do they get the excitement that I feel when I can increase weight on my leg press or whatever. I like it cause I've had people right back to me saying they identify with me and have started their own weight loss program.

That said, I NEVER post personal family stuff. If I've had a fight with Kirk or something, I just say I had a fight and am grumpy, I don't bash him or anything, simply because I feel it is rude, and I would HATE it if he ever started a blog and bashed me on it.

[mishl982]

I have a blog, although I hate calling it that. I don't know why, but I guess it's more like a journal (if there's any difference). I got in trouble once for saying something about my uncle, but he totally read into in the wrong way... and then my aunt felt like now the whole world knew about this and got all pissy (she's a drama queen). I learned my lesson. Don't talk about anyone (especially my family) even if it's just one comment that wasn't meant to hurt anyone.

I write in my online journal like I am writing to an audience. I know a lot of people might not visit it, but I write knowing that someone out there is reading it whether I know them or not. With that, I make sure to not mention certain people's names if they don't want them mentioned or to protect them. Sometimes I give them nicknames like Guy Interest or Stupid Woman. Lately I've found that my writing online is more in a editorial/whatever type of way. I write like I am writing for a magazine or Sex in the City (without all the sex).

[ErLeCa]

My blog is about knitting (not exactly a drama producer) and just things that are going on in my life in general. I'm not the type to go venting things about people on my blog.

This whole subject is very similar to the whole whole instant messaging thing. For instance, the people who would leave up away messages that are meant for one person in a vindictive sort of way... I swear that always makes me laugh. If you're really upset about something, then talk to that person. Don't leave up cryptic away messages and assume they understand exactly what you're feeling. Plus, that's such a childish way to communicate.

[shimmer728]

I have a blog, but it's mainly just a way to keep my out-of-state college friends updated on my life. My entries are more light-hearted and funny than anything. I have a real journal for my private, more serious thoughts.

[Alexsy]

yeah, i don't know about the whole journaling thing either. my blog is rarely about other people. in fact, almost never. just two or three times, actually. i'm almost always writing about news or current events or something like that. i think that's great. actually i get a lot of news from blogs. but i never intended to have one to bitch about other people in it; i just made a slight error -- i entered something when i was really pissed off. THAT is a major mistake. there is something to be said for self-editing. oh well. live and learn eh.

[tina1979]

I have a blog on myspace. I have only posted a couple times on there, but its kinda fun. Its really nothing more than what I would put on here. although now that I think about it i may go make one of mine private.

[Skyblade]

I started a blog, because after looking at Skyblade's blog, I thought it might be fun.

Wow, I inspired someone, yay! :)

[ugarachel82]

I have a blog as well, and I find it fun and theraputic to provide commentary on my own life. Like the person who said they post funny, lighthearted stuff to theirs, I do the same. If I had a bad day at school I'll post that, but I will never mention names or post anything that could potentially come back to bite me in the ass. I've seen other people get burned with their blogs, so I'm really careful about what I post. I think its fun to post things about me and my favorites and cool websites I've found, maybe some pointless quizzes for people to take, etc. I started it when I started college as a way for my high school friends to keep up with what I was doing at the time, but it has since evolved. I enjoy reading other people's blogs just as I would enjoy reading a funny book.

[mishl982]

But yeah, it's always safe to begin with the assumption that when you post something on the internet, it will get read by people in your life. Even someone you know in real life-- someone you think would never find out about your blog because you've never told that person about it-- might easily find it by googling some personal information about you.

That, or someone who knows the person you are talking about takes their big mouth and tells on you.