When I first started my blog years ago it was completely anonymous. I didn't post any photos of myself and if I blogged about anyone I knew they had a nickname. No one that I knew, knew about my blog. It was like a secret diary on the internet that I only shared with strangers.
Over time I slowly started telling people I trusted the most about my blog but I begged them to keep it a secret too. I was still trying to find my blogging voice and I was writing about things that I didn't necessarily want to share with a lot of people.
I was also going through a lot of growing up and life changing moments and my blog was my place to let out all of my emotions.
Now my blog is what I call semi-anonymous. I still only tell some people about it. I don't promote it on facebook. I have photos of myself and people who approve of being posted about.
But I'm on the fence about crossing that line... I have pondered lately about taking the leap and putting it all out there.
I am still so undecided about it because sometimes blogging can be the BEST therapy and I don't want to censor what I say incase people I know may read it and be offended or insulted or know too much about me.
How do we know when it's okay to take that step??
9 comments:
I struggle with this all the time. Sometimes I wish I could start over again, and be completely anonymous, so I could be 100% candid and honest about my life, and posts, and issues I want to talk about. But I have family, and important people in my life who read, and I need to keep their thoughts, feelings, and lives in the back of my mind always. I try my best to censor myself, and have STILL 'gotten in trouble' in my personal like for writing certain things...
I just went through this. I was anonymous because I was afraid of my family. And I finally came to the point that I don't care what they don't think. So I came out, it's been tough. Some days are harder than others. I actually still have a private blog where I blog the worst things and no one can read that but in general it's be alright.
I'm a pretty open person, but I have rules for what I will and won't post on my blog. I've come across a RIDICULOUS number of surprising scenarios these past years where it surprises me who bothers to read my blogs — but I don't let that stop me from expressing myself.
Whenever family or friends get in my face about the stuff I share on my blog, I remind them of all the stuff I DON'T share. How my marriage is going. My financial status. Where I live. Really personal health details that only my doctor and family know. There's SO MUCH to share without feeling exposed, I think.
Just gotta find that line and straddle it.
I personally avoid putting too much out there. With images, I'm specially careful. You know how people warn you, that whatever pictures you put on the net, will be there forever. Well, i already have that worry on with Facebook, I think I would leave it all on there.
Anything else, as far as writing, I avoid the very personal.
When do you know is ok for you to take that step? I guess when you have noticed the pros and cons of doing it... and your comfort level.
I've been feeling the exact same way lately. I just keep thinking it will all unfold naturally...
I've been here in the past and learned big lessons... First, ask yourself: "Why?" Why do you want to go public and who are you going public to? If there's specific people you are concerned about, ask them. Ask if they think "you'd be crazy" to blog about such-and-such. If these are the people you blog about then you'll get a good idea of how they'll react to your sharing. Can you stand up for yourself if someone you care about confronts you over something on your blog? If you really like having this outlet, it might not be the same experience for you if you know your Mom and your neighbor are reading it. However, it could also bring you new and different benefits by getting feedback from these people in your life who might appreciate sharing this part of your life with you! :)
I've been back and forth about this. I posted links to my Twenties Hacker articles on facebook for everyone I know to see... maybe some found my blog from there, maybe some didn't, but I've never posted it there. If they find it, they find it, but... meh. I'm not going to advertise it. I tried to keep my last name off of it for a long time I gave up on that pretty quickly. Besides, if I ever end up writing as seriously as I hope to, someday, then people are going to figure out what my name is, anyway.
I've often thought about going through the archives and removing any touchy posts that might be problematic, and going forward from there. But those posts got me to where I am now, and that kind of feels like cheating.
I don't know. I really don't.
It's a tough step to take for sure, and one that's not to be taken lightly. I just decided that I'm me, I'm not breaking any rules or laws and so I might as well just put it out there, and I did. I was very, very nervous publicizing my blog on Facebook, especially because I'm friends with so many military people from work who might get judgey about my tree-hugging liberal viewpoints, but it's been really awesome. I'm gained followers, many of them people I know in real life, which has been really, really cool.
It all depends on what you blog for.
If you were promoting a book or tv show you'd be across all social media and reveal everything. If it's just for you and you don't want to, don't do it.
You don't need to reveal everything in a blog, you have every right to keep things private.
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