Early in the conference, a relative of a friend who occasionally reads my blog but isn't connected to my profession, was a guest for an event we held. He approached me to say hello and in the course of our chat, outed me as a blogger. In front of a friend from college... who then said repeatedly over the next four days, "You have a blog? Where is it? I want to read it! Tell me. Tell. Tell. Tell. Tell. Tell!"
I successfully dodged her question over and over because I knew I'd been complaining about this conference and all week and I can't have people who attended reading THAT. I'm already nervous that I've revealed too much about what I do and someone, somewhere will somehow google the correct sequence of random words to bring them here... and then even though I don't have my name or what I really do anywhere on this website and I never talk about anyone specifically and seldom talk about work and I wouldn't ever write anything purposely offensive or untrue, I've had little self-control this week and that person will put two and two together to figure it out, be offended, and I'll be Dooced.
And so I ask, what's the point of having a blog if you can't bitch about your life? But then what's the point of having a blog if no one you know ever reads it?
These kinds of existential questions make my head hurt.
I successfully dodged her question over and over because I knew I'd been complaining about this conference and all week and I can't have people who attended reading THAT. I'm already nervous that I've revealed too much about what I do and someone, somewhere will somehow google the correct sequence of random words to bring them here... and then even though I don't have my name or what I really do anywhere on this website and I never talk about anyone specifically and seldom talk about work and I wouldn't ever write anything purposely offensive or untrue, I've had little self-control this week and that person will put two and two together to figure it out, be offended, and I'll be Dooced.
And so I ask, what's the point of having a blog if you can't bitch about your life? But then what's the point of having a blog if no one you know ever reads it?
These kinds of existential questions make my head hurt.
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November 21, 2006 at 8:11 AM
Hi there. I came across your blog yesterday while surfing around, and I've enjoyed reading it. Don't worry, I don't know anyone you work with! Just thought I'd let you know you have a crazed stalker -- er, I mean a fan -- up in Canada.
November 21, 2006 at 8:29 AM
I say, "Offend them all, let God sort them out, or something."
November 21, 2006 at 11:31 AM
I find blogging to be an excellent place to intentionally offend specific people, without actually mentioning them directly.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean YOU! But if you were offended, perhaps it hit a little too close to home?" La la la
November 22, 2006 at 2:15 PM
I find blogging as a release - sort of a diary and I hope to God not many people I know read my blog. They would be surprised of the things I write about or think about or have even gone through.
I enjoyed your blog (found you from NaBloPoMo) and especially your list of people you "stalk". I love that phrase for lurking on websites. I'm gonna have to remember that.