I’ve been struggling with how personal I wanted to be with this blog for the last few months. It started out as a Chicago news “here’s what’s happening & here’s what I think” type of blog. It quickly evolved into a personal blog where I was very raw and open about relationships and the emotional rollercoaster my breakup sent me on.
Now, F&F has become a cork board of sorts where I hang up funny pictures, helpful tips and completely random ramblings. I don’t feel as comfortable as I used to about sharing personal details, especially since everyone knows about this blog: friends, family, employers, etc.
If I had an anonymous blog I could:
- Spill the details about my crush & why it will never happen.
- Vent my frustrations.
- Share why I just can’t get over it & still wonder if every guy with a shaved head could be him.
- Really explain what’s going on with my dad.
- Post pictures with that little black bar over my eyes.
I’ve thought about creating another blog where I could do some of these things. I wouldn’t be as open as I’d like because it would be impossible to be anonymous at this point, but it wouldn’t be something I pass out at tweetups, meetups or interviews. I’ll see what happens.
How open is too open? Do you ever wish you could go back and change the privacy of your blog? Do any of you have secret blogs?
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Do it!
Brandon´s last blog ..Ch-ch-changes
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I don’t think there is such a thing as “too open.” My blog is anonymous in the sense that people don’t know it is me blogging unless they already know me and I have invited them to it.
When it comes to personal blogs, I think you should use a pen name. That way you can write about whatever you want.
There is only a small handful of things I don’t write about on my blog… And it is only because The Husband asks me not to. Like the fact that we bought a kick ass house… Or the fertility stuff…
Men are so sensitive!
The Missus´s last blog ..Bikram Yoga Challenge: 38/60.
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As you know, my completely open, honest, pictures of me everywhere blog bit me in the ass HARD. We should start an anonymous blog that we can go on and just VENT VENT VENT.
Rachel M.´s last blog ..Day 3 of the 20sb ultimate meetup
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Oh i know just what you mean. i have censored back mine knowing my family reads it…i know a few people who have a totally anonymous blog where they just vent and tell no-one about it. Depends on why you would be creating one, if it’s just for you then do it, but if you want the commenters and friends you have in blogworld here to comment there then what’s the point?
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I would be a blisteringly sarcastic social observer. My first blog a few years ago was that way. It became so popular that, of course, clients and coworkers discovered it. They were like, WOW. But writing that way is my most fun and what I’m best at. I just can’t find a place in which it would be appropriate. But if I were ANONYMOUS!!?? I’d be all over it…
Shane Kinkennon´s last blog ..Social media for the organization: a few good resources
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I have always been open in my blog because I want people to get to know me as a person, not just a name on a webpage. I feel that if I became anonymous, I would be more hesitant to meet people in real life, I would always be stressed out if someone would recognize themselves, and I would be hesistant to use my blog as a platform to display my writing skills, share information with my friends and family, that sort of thing.
I am personal as far as I talk about my thoughts and feelings about moving across the country, my frustrations with my chronic illness, and sometimes my thoughts on religion, politics or other “this is just what I think” posts.
I do NOT post about fights with my parents or my boyfriend. I do NOT post negative things about my friends, whether I know they read my blog or not. Personally, my blog is my ability to establish relationships with people, and once I’m comfortable with certain people, I can open up to them on a one-on-one basis off-line or through AIM. Sure, I’m not able to blast out my thoughts and feelings via my blog, but I still have a wide network of people whom I can reach out to independently. Thus, my blog serves a dual purpose, both connecting me to people I want to share intimate details with but also connecting me to people who will enhance my marketability as a writer and diabetes and health advocate.
Allison Blass´s last blog ..On Your Own Now (a guest blog at DiabetesMine.com)
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I’ve thought the same thing. I’ve wanted to write about what’s going on with my brother and why I’ve been in Baltimore so much the past month, but when I do, I end up having to take the posts down because the alarm is sounded in my family and my mom starts getting emails/calls about my blog.
You should be able to talk about whatever you want on your blog, but you just can’t, unless you’re Tova. But then if your blog is anonymous, how do you get people to read it?
Let’s start an anonymous one together. Then no one will know whose problems each post is actually about!
Leahchristine´s last blog ..All in the family
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I’m completely anonymous on my blog. Nobody I know in “real life” knows that I write the blog and that’s the way I want it to be. I can blog about everything and anything that happens to me or the people around me and not stress about them reading it. It’s like an online diary.
Taylor´s last blog ..I can and I will
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Post pictures with that little black bar over my eyes.
That’s the best reason to create an anonymous blog I’ve ever heard. That would rule.
On a more serious note – my blog has never really been “anonymous”; I mean, for crying out loud, my domain name is my actual name. However, back in the years when my “blog” lived on LiveJournal, I made good use of private/friends-only posting…because there were just things that I didn’t think needed to get out there on the internets. And when I was planning a surprise marriage proposal…well, those posts needed privacy, naturally.
I suppose that since I am “out there” I don’t really post a lot of personal stuff (besides all the infertility junk)…and there are times when I wish I could blog about something personal…but since I know my family, co-workers, vendors, and real-life friends all read my blog…I have to hold things back.
Matt Stratton´s last blog ..Project 365 Update
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That post was not all supposed to be in italics…just the first line. I fail at HTML.
Matt Stratton´s last blog ..I’m on a boat…
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I’ve thought about this quite a few times.
But, honestly, I’m not sure I’d be any more open with details. It’s just not my style.
Peter´s last blog ..he wondered
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Its ok. You can tell everyone about your crush on me. I dont mind.
Matt´s last blog ..So fresh so clean
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Yep, I’ve been dealing with this too. On my old blog I wrote about anything I wanted since I was anonymous. Now that I’m not anymore I’m struggling to find that balance. I still don’t know how much is too much… I guess we’ll learn in time.
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I also wish sometimes I had an anonymous blog. kind of going on the idea of starting an anonymous blog with someone, what if your friends let you guest post anonymously? that way you can sort of air out your frustrations on their blog and maybe not worry about having your family/coworkers see it.
Maggie´s last blog ..The time I gave into a meme
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Eh. I don’t post pictures of myself or my family/friends and I don’t vent about my best friend (because she reads), but other than that, I’m pretty open.
I do have a private blog for pondering the too-close-to-home issues, simply because the maladjusted mental “stuff” was looming a little too heavily over the main blog and I wanted, to steal a line from you, to bottle up the crazy.
inkpuddle´s last blog ..Lists of loveliness
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As a semi-amusing sidenote, Maggie’s profile picture looks like it goes with my comment (at least on my screen), and me also being a redhead, it tooootally freaked me out for a second after I hit publish. You know, right after the whole “I don’t post pictures of myself” line…
inkpuddle´s last blog ..Lists of loveliness
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My husband started blogging, and he told his family about his blog, and he links to me. So I’ve not been able to be as honest or direct as I once was, and frankly, I resent the ever living hell out of it. I don’t want to start a new blog, I want my discretion back.
verybadcat´s last blog ..When I Lose My Words
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I love being able to write about whatever I want! I don’t think my blog would be nearly as funny or interesting if I couldn’t be constantly inappropriate.
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I sometimes wish I had an anonymous blog- Josh family and my family both read, and all our friends, which means we can’t share all the super swkward stories about them. Too bad.
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Man, being semi-anon is hard enough.
Joy @ Big Time Fancy´s last blog ..Thinner.
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I’ve considered a separate, anonymous blog in the past, but I honestly don’t feel my life is that interesting. I enjoy being as open as I want on my blog – and if my family and/or friends have a problem with who I am, they can take their judgment and shove it. I am who I am. They can always choose not to read.
Besides, another blog would be WAAAAY too much effort.
Jamie´s last blog ..In Which I Decide to Introduce My Dad to YouTube At the Risk of BLOWING HIS MIND
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I find it hard too, mainly because when I started it was a way to keep my family updated on my goings on, so hey everyone, here is my blog, READ IT!
I have thought about keeping an anon blog too, but don’t know how I’d go about it. I basically censor myself a lot on this one. Just in case.
Carrie´s last blog ..Face Off, Part Two
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That’s when yiou know you’re such a celeb blogger, Jenn. lol send me link if you ever decide to make anonymous blog.
andhari´s last blog ..Bounce Low, Bounce High
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When I started blogging this year I pretty much was doing it for myself and didn’t think people would even read it. And now, more people IRL are finding out and I find myself not wanting to spread my name everywhere. Def not anon by any means, but that is tempting. I’d totally post to anon blog!
Lollygagger´s last blog ..it sums me up.
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i cant change what i’ve said or done. i dont hand out my blog. but i do have a private one that i vent serious personal stuff onto.
which some of those have been moved to public now that its in the past and i dont care anymore on that subject…
i am afraid i might be too open sometimes if someone i don’t want to read it ends up finding it….
blaez´s last blog ..Dinner and a Movie… make that two
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