AFF recently wrote a very personal post, and I loved it. I was glad she shared it. It was nice to know that people out there go through these weird things just like me! But would I have written it? I'm not sure. Would I have had the
I have another confession to make. I have another blog. One where I do use my real name. It's for family and friends, and I keep it private. Yup, I have it password protected. I bring all of this up because recently a person who knows me in "real life" told some people about this family blog. Now they are reading it. This person actually gave these "friends" her username and password to get onto my site. I love having readers - usually. But now they know it's me. That when I talk about something it's about me. I am feeling really violated. Maybe I shouldn't. I never told this person not to tell people I wrote that blog. (Although I would think the fact that I had to personally email and invite each person would suggest that it wasn't intended for the public.) But I still feel as if someone has . . . as if I have . . . it just feels weird. I want to curl up. I want to go home. I want to stop writing.
So dear bloggers - I have a theory that anonymity is a good thing (at least for me) when it comes to the internet. Oh and that some people don't keep private things very private.
10 I thought that...:
I'm so sorry that you have such a beasty "friend." My blog is relatively known among my family, but I try not to write disparagingly about my ILs (believe me, sometimes I really want to).
I share personal stuff, but not quite as personal as AFFs today. That was hilarious.
I think that you were walking the right line - a private and a personal blog was what made you comfortable. I have a separate photo blog that is by invitation only / password protected and I can be less careful about what I post there. I would feel betrayed if someone who I invited shared her credentials. I will include a note to that effect the next time I tell them that I've uploaded pics. Thanks for letting me learn from your life.
New to your blog and wanted to say hello! Did you enjoy teaching high school?
I've been blogging for many years and my take on the whole thing is this:
While you can do your best to keep things private, don't ever think that just because you password protect or ask people to not share your link with others, that that means you will stay 'private'.
Just assume people are gonna find out, and while that may affect what you write about, just take it in stride.
If you ever want to truly stay anonymous, don't ever tell family that you have a blog, don't blog at work, don't blog in front of family...etc. That is too hard for me! :) I just have accepted that my family knows and there is nothing I can do about it now. :)
Public vs. Private? I think it all depends on what you're comfortable with. I totally get the viloated feeling though. My dad stumbled upon my blog quite by accident. He googled the elf thingy at Christmas and since I'd posted ours, voila! Now I feel I have to be very guarded in my posts because he's reading.
As for the friend who gave out the info? Tacky! I hope you let her know how you feel about it.
I am not sorry that I use my real name. But I am wondering if I should have just kept this blog for myself instead of telling family and friends about it. Now I really have to edit my stories. Not that I have a ton of negative stories sitting in my head, ready to write, but still. It would be a good release if I ever had something bothering me, on that front.
I would be pretty upset if someone gave out the password without asking my permission. I think you should gently ask that person not to do that again and why.
When I started out my blog everyone in my family knew I was starting it. My mother not only knows abou it bu commens daily. Yah, you could say my posts don't get to be diary or personal. One time I had a good story about a sex life type of post to put up on my blog but I could never post things like that knowing my mother brother and father are going to read it. Kinda sucks sometimes. I feel for you!
My parents do not know about my blog, but other friends and family do. I have thought about what would happen if they found out about it, and nothing really bad would come of it.. I just think they would feel a little jealous that I'm able to write so freely about life, as opposed to talking about it.. I dunno. Ya know?
I guess I just make sure that I don't blog what I don't want read. For my blog, it's all fair game.
When I started out, nobody ready any of the crap that spewed from my mouth...so I made the mistake of telling a BIL & a SIL about it. Boy, I wish I could've taken back that one. That post was the first time I think I've really just put it all out there since that point. I did one post about my FIL and MIL that made Pup's brother livid...and I had it VERY toned down. You guys know my name..and I'm okay with that. As for my son? Nope. He's private. It's such a tightrope to walk. I totally understand. And, that friend had NO right to share that information. I would be furious.
My family doesn't know I blog. I have 2 friends and 1 acquaintance that know. They are scattered hither and thither but I still feel I must be careful. I use pics of my kids and husband and so there are things I just don't write about even though it would probably be a better blog if I did.
Sorry this happened to you. It sucks. I was here for Haiku Friday and had to look around. Great site !
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