There was a look of barely disguised horror on their faces when I talked about it. Clearly they were wondering, why would I reveal myself on the Internet this way, when there's so much evil, avaricious intent—hackers, viruses, ID thieves—out there? Why would I open myself up to strangers? Do I actually make friends with people I've never met face to face?
My answers at the time were inadequate. There was no way I was going to budge them from the belief that I'm some kind of nut for exposing myself online as I do, as though I'd done a striptease on American Idol. I woke up at 3am thinking of what I might have said, but alas, much too late.
At the time I simply explained that writing is something I do and I wouldn't be happy not doing it. A writer is happiest when there's an audience, however small, to respond, however briefly. Otherwise writing becomes a very lonely pasttime. I have thoughts and ideas to share, and no amount of fear inhibits that urge to speak up. It goes beyond ego, beyond wanting to toot my horn. (Unless I'm doing a magnificent job of self-deception.)
Trying to explain to some people what it's like to be part of a blogging community is like trying to describe what the wind looks like, or what the color red sounds like. They all do e-mail, but only with people they know—family, friends and neighbors back home. Maybe they never had pen pals, I didn't ask.
All I know is so far I've now been blogging for four years as of January when I first started writing about our sailing adventures, and so far have no regrets. It's more likely I'll think back someday and regret times in my life when I didn't write a post, when some really stupendous event took place.
Speaking of stupendous events, today I'm remembering a morning 42 years ago when I woke up in a San Francisco hospital after giving birth to a baby boy. Couldn't have blogged that one, didn't even have a computer then.
¡Feliz cumpleanos, m'hijo!
13 comments:
A blog is a window into the mind of the blogger. I can understand some people being reticent about having total strangers peering into those hidden depths, but so what? That's childish fear. Those who don't share their thoughts live in a tiny world of fear and darkness. The more I share, the bigger and brighter my world is. Open up, live!
Blogging is like beating my head against the wall. I do it because it feels so good when I stop :)
Happy birthday to the yungin' or is that Jung-in?
Anyway we out here on the SUPER Internet highway are glad you Blog for whatever reasons.
Don't let anyone talk you out of it. Hang-in there amiga.
and you made fe happen for us.
your blog made it happen, and we are grateful every single day to have her share our life.
tineke
And there is the exhibitionist aspect to some of our lives, isn't there? I know there is for me. This is just another opportunity to perform. And the nice thing is that we own the stage. We hope that others enjoy our dance, but for the moment, the spotlight is ours.
Fiction and non-fiction. The blogosphere is rampant with creative writers and thier license.
Who's to know?
Amen! I've been looking for a good answer to that question too.
Funny thing is, prior to blogging, I thought everyone who blogged was nuts.
Fortunately, that's true!
Interesting comments. Honestly, I don't think about anyone reading the blog. I remember how startled the first time I received a comment. It's a selfish thing for me and the fact that others read it astounds me daily.
Your writing, as always, is superlative, my dear.
I find blogging to be a great way to express myself as well as helping me to understand my own journey.
I've seen those looks of barely disguised horror, I don't think there is any way to really explain it. Some people stay with what is comfortable and secure, others venture out more... kind of like moving out of your home culture. I'm with the capt. - the more I share the brighter my world.
I agree with you about the pen pal part of it. I acquired my first (and only) pen pal in the 7th grade. He was from Seoul So. Korea. We continued to write until I was a Senior in high school and he revealed to me that we were to be married as soon as I finished school and my family paid his way to the US. We know that didn't happen. Blogging satisfies that writing urge in me that my English teacher in the 7th grade started way back in the day. But also, I'm a people person, I like to read about people and their lives and especially interesting people living in far off places.
I started it when Jim was doing a delivery from SoCal to Puerto Rico (but got off the boat in Costa Rica) as a way of sharing the trip without the endless entering of email addresses and the way slow downloading of pics on the other end.
When we cruised from 1997-2000, I emailed. What a pain in the arse. Do you know how often people change their email addresses? And if they want to look at it, then can. If not, don't ask me what I have been up to...
Mine was pretty much the same as Heather, if you want to know about Hubby's treatment keep up with the blog, I don't have time at work to update 80 people one at a time.
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