I've been feeling conflicted about my blog lately. I think I'm trying to use it as a means for too many things: personal journal, photo scrapbook of the kids, venting ground, recipe notebook, self-publishing mechanism, soapbox, incredibly interesting documentation of my incredibly interesting life, and so forth. So what should it be? One of these? All of the above? Not all of the above uses easily dovetail with each other.
What about the question of privacy? If I'm using it as a photo scrapbook, personal journal or venting ground, there are some good reasons to go private. But if I'm using it as a self-publishing mechanism, soapbox, a certain kind of venting ground and fulfilling my personal vanity then I would want as many readers as possible. What to do?
What do all you other bloggers do and what is your reasoning? The floor is now yours.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
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8 comments:
Our blog is kind of my way of keeping a journal of the most important things during the year. I post lots of pictures so those family members and friends who want to see can know what is happening here (since we live so far away from everyone). Because of the pictures, ours is private. I have talked to Matt quite a bit about weird people who might view a public blog and use the pictures and info for all sorts of things, and having a friend who got creepy comments from a stranger just reinforced that keeping ours private is right for me. Of course, that requires people to sign in which is a hassle, but I feel if they are truly interested in our lives, they'll make the effort... But everything is different for everyone. I guess you could have two blogs - one for photos/personal info and one for the venting etc...
Either way, I want to let you know that I enjoy reading your blog! It is so honest, funny and cleverly written!
I kind of journal, but then again, I also vent. I hate that women try to white wash their lives, I understand the idea, but then it makes the rest of us feel like we are awful. I enjoy bonding with other moms over the internet this way.
As for the privacy thing, I don't say our real names, I don't give out any concrete information about where we live and when we are gone. I like to have a lot of people commenting and/or reading. And if you get a few haters, just ignore them! And I like the variety.
I have one for a very personal journal, one just for recipes because they are easier to look up that way and then I vent, laugh, cry, post photos on the main one. Some things you want to vent, you don't necessarily want others to see. And then there are times you really want them to see. Seeing the grim reality of my post on WWW made Patrick realize that he is affecting his whole family so venting is ok in my book...I hate fluff! Don't tell me how special and wonderful your family is all the time. I want real.
My blog got started because I had a few people tell me I should start one. I use it mostly to record the quirky things that I think most moms go through, without any sugar coating. I wish I could be famous with a million readers. But because it contains pictures of my kids, I keep it private. I really enjoy reading yours, it reminds me that other mothers go through the same things that I do.
from
Your cousin Katie
Mine is of the variety variety. Sometimes I wonder about making the family stuff and pictures be private, and having my own public site to vent/write/make observations/etc. I don't know if I have that many observations in me, though. ;)
I've been upfront about our unemployment situation and the difficulties of motherhood, but there are other things going on that I don't discuss. Too personal. I also try not to put up anything that would unduly embarrass the kids--especially now that they are getting older.
I don't know if that answers any of your questions. If you do go private, please send me an invite!
Hey! I have my personal blog where it is only my family/journal stuff so I want it private and only those I approve can read it to protect my family. THen when I finish a year I can make it into a book and have it be a scrapbook. Then I have my Savvy Moms Save blog for my ideas, recipes and everything else that I want to share and have feedback on. It makes it fun. Anyways- thats what works for me!
I blog to remember my days of Aria for when she's older. That way I can look back and remember that she wasn't a cranky teenager (someday). I also use it for personal thoughts and interesting things that happen in my family's life. Because of that, my blog is private.
I don't like thinking that strangers could be looking at my daughter's photos. It's scary.
Good luck in deciding! If you go private, make sure to add me. :) I love reading your blog!
I try to make sure each post has just one real topic, but it's really not a topical blog, I don't think. Just your typical Mommy Blog I guess.
I talk about my thoughts on the Gospel, my children, music, my life, photography/photos, and whatever else comes to mind.
I don't mind my blog being public...I have made a lot of friends that way, and in the long run, I don't think there's much to be afraid of. I've gotten some weird spam comments, but that's all they are.
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