"Conversation should be pleasant without scurrility, witty without affectation, free without indecency, learned without conceitedness, novel without falsehood."
Is there any?
Published on September 7, 2004 By Sally jacobs In Blogging
Blogging isn't a huge thing here in England, it's a pretty new concept that is slowly but surely catching on. Before joeuser, I'd not really came across the whole blogging experience. I'd seen these online diary things, and If I'm honest I didn't see the point in them. Ok it was somewhere to write down your thoughts, private thoughts, but why on the internet where billions of people have the ability to read them? Well really it is embracing the greatness of the internet, that you still remain faceless while sharing your inner most thoughts. You can cry openly on a page, tell your fears and worries, and the chance that one person may just read that, and give you some kind words is a great one. Now blogs are different to online diaries. I know. Though they can be used as diaries. People can talk about their day, and they life, they can discuss what they are thinking, what is bothering them, and they can share it with people. Strangers, who become friends, though remain strangers. Strange, I know, hehe!

I was listening to the radio this morning, and one of the presenters was discussing his American boyfriend, who had an online diary. He was upset that first of all his boyfriend wouldn't tell him where to find this online diary, and secondly that all these people had the chance to read his thoughts, but him, his boyfriend was left out in the cold. He was hurt, that he couldn't see this. I can understand what he means. We aren't supposed to have secrets from those we love, in a perfect world at least. We don't live in a perfect world though, we protect our feelings, we don't always share our fears, and thoughts, and feelings. We keep some of them inside. Some of them we even feel silly for. This radio presenter, had never heard of online diaries, or blogs, and was really surprised to see how popular they were. They had a phone in on how he could find his boyfriends diary. That is when the debate started on whether he wasn't respecting his boyfriends privacy. His argument was that this diary was public access, so therefore if he found it, it was fair game. Other people phoned in and said that his boyfriend had not told him where it was for a reason, and it was still a diary, so his privacy should be respected.

I don't write about things that are to personal on here. I did at the start, but it's only on the odd occasion I do that now. My sister knows I write this blog, and I told her I didn't want her to read it. I told her it was like a diary, and she shouldn't go away and look for it, but she did. She didn't like what she read either, but she learnt from that. Anything I write in here, I am more than willing to say to people I know in the real world. I'd prefer not to though, because these are my private thoughts, but they are for public viewing. I know that, and just as I don't have a problem with her looking it up, and finding it, she doesn't have a problem with reading things she didn't like, because I warned her she might not. If I write something awful about someone I know here, and they read it, I have to live with the consequences. So I can either choose to not have it be personal at all, or take that risk. Unfortunately, the only way I can write is to be totally open honest about my thoughts and feelings, if people don't like that, then it's tough. I will remain true to myself, and my honesty will see me through the good and bad. My opinions will remain open and honest, and I will remain open about my personal life, if people don't like it, it's simple, don't read it. Privacy should be respected for a reason.

Comments
on Sep 07, 2004
Sally! I get your point and I can kinda see it. but I can see a little break down in the logic. It's like publishing a book and then telling people they can't read it. Internet is publishing. You're putting it out there. What else is there to do with it? And there is the button that allows you to keep stuff private and not "put it out there" in a sense. No one has access to that sort of thing. Obviously, we're not making money off our publishing like an author might, but we still may receive acolades or cheers or whatever much as an author would. Words are just so powerful and mighty... I think one has to approach them with the kind of awe and respect they deserve... I too often don't. Just my nothing on the subject.... But as always, a really great, thought-provoking article.
on Sep 07, 2004
I like your approach. Best to keep things up front and honest, and if other people don't like it, that's their problem.

The only thing I don't like about blogging is the way that some people (and I've fallen into this trap too) take the anonimity and become abusive, saying things they'd never say to your face. Well, they might say it, but they'd find a polite way. Sometimes here, people can be rude ******s, completely gratuitiously.

In any case, blog on - I enjoy yours.

JW
on Sep 08, 2004
It's like publishing a book and then telling people they can't read it.


Good point. People I know can and do read it, but they are just warned that I treat it as a diary and they might not always like what they read, that is the risk they take when they read it, of course I know I can't stop them!

Words are just so powerful and mighty... I think one has to approach them with the kind of awe and respect they deserve...


So many people don't though, and they do have a lot of power. We should treat them with respect.

I like your approach. Best to keep things up front and honest, and if other people don't like it, that's their problem.


That's the only way I can be. i refuse to be fake, or not true to myself.

take the anonimity and become abusive, saying things they'd never say to your face.


There certainly is a fine line, no doubt. There is no excuse for bad manners, and I try my best to treat people the way I would like to be treated myself. People like that I avoid, I want nothing to do with them, and I refuse to give them the reaction they are after.

Thanks for the comments guys xxx
on Sep 09, 2004
Sally,

I actually haven't mentioned to anyone in my life about JU......I just haven't really thought about it. I think I just want to do it without having to explain myself...maybe.
I feel that I am being open and honest about everything I write here.....though I guess I wouldn't divulge any dark secrets.....but it's not about what I don't say ...as long as I am honest with what I do say.
What I am enjoying about being here is getting to know people I otherwise may never had met....people who's opinions and thoughts I have the privilige to share and which can help me form my thoughts and perspectives..........I am like a big sponge in the bucket of water that is the people from JU!!
I think such a medium as this goes to show the need we have to communicate with each other.......I mean...I can't see you....I can't hear your voice....I have no absolute knowledge of who you are.....yet I still want to talk and share and learn from you.......
I think it's as important to practice respect, tolerance and consideration here as it is with the people in our physical lives........and I think most people here are doing just that.
on Sep 09, 2004
What I am enjoying about being here is getting to know people I otherwise may never had met....people who's opinions and thoughts I have the privilige to share and which can help me form my thoughts and perspectives..........I am like a big sponge in the bucket of water that is the people from JU!!


I totally agree with you, there are so many amazing people here to learn from, how can we not listen to them. There are people from all walks of life, and we should respect what they have to say, whether we agree or not. You can also build friendships with people, something when I started I didn't think would be possible, I am glad to be proved wrong thoough!


I think it's as important to practice respect, tolerance and consideration here as it is with the people in our physical lives........and I think most people here are doing just that.


Yup, and you're right again. People here are in general very nice people, and that is what makes this community so great.

Thanks for the comment, and you are a very welcome addition to JU