We all write for different reasons. Each of us that put out a blog with no boundaries or limitations on who can read it, and in a lot of cases who can comment do so because we feel we have something to say. Some of us feel we have something to share, others because they want someone to make them feel good about their lives. I will be honest in the fact that some of my favorite blogs are those that at times make me feel better about my own life. What is it they say about watching a train wreck?
Some bloggers are able to be brutally honest about their lives no matter what might be going on. Dooce happens to be a perfect example of a no bars hold kind of blog and some of us chose to only talk about topics where we feel we might be an expert. Then others like me stick to general life as we see it.
That’s the thing about my blog; when I tell a Smitten, Lust, or MoodyBitch story you only get my side. You get what I thought, what I felt and you either have to believe that is exactly how it happened, or you have to believe that I’m a fucking nut. I can accept both. The truth is that there are times I go back and read posts that I wrote raw in emotion and can see how I swayed it in my favor although not intentional. I think I do a good job of calling myself out, but I can see how one of the people I might write about could totally disagree. The fact is however it’s my blog and my truth is the only truth as far as these pages are concerned.
I think bloggers forget that. I think they get so wrapped up in their blog, the story they are trying to tell, they forget that they paint the picture of what every reader sees. If someone thinks I’m crazy, I’ve probably given them something in which to draw that conclusion. Does it mean I am? No. Does it mean that their opinion isn’t valid? No. The truth is, if they think it then I didn’t do a good job of painting the picture I intended, unless crazy is exactly what I was going for.
As far as being defensive and pulling the you don’t know me comment in a response to something less than positive; well you are 100% correct. A lot of times you don’t know the person whose blog you choose to read so pointing that out doesn’t really make a huge impact on any point trying to be proven. Actually it’s pretty obvious that we don’t know each other, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know what you write and how you see yourself. The same can be said in your personal knowledge of me as well.
The fact is we all blog for a reason, but the end result it is because we want someone else to read it; even when we claim over and over again it’s really only for ourselves.
"I didn’t do a good job of painting the picture I intended, unless crazy is exactly what I was going for"
That fits in with what I said earlier, that we don't really need to "know" the person who is writing, because they give themselves away by how they choose to tell a story, what parts they include (and emphasize, and repeat), how they respond to their commenters (defensively?), etc.
If there were other pieces of the story or insights into their personality which would be important enough to change the tone or impression of what they were saying, then it's unlikely they just "forgot" to leave those things out.
If someone is writing publicly yet anonymously, they have full control over their own image. If that impression is inaccurate, then maybe the person who doesn't really "know" them isn't a commenter, but rather, the person who stares back at them when they look in the mirror.
Ya know I have lots and lots more bottled up about this subject, but that's just what I had off the top of my head. :p
Posted by: moody.bitch | January 05, 2009 at 08:52 PM
I've never done a blog before and I'm enjoying reading both the author and moody bitch's comment because I think you say what you believe and of course it's also because I believe what you say, so far.
Posted by: XX | September 30, 2009 at 05:47 PM