One of the things that constantly does the rounds in the blogosphere is blogging and honesty.
Jenn from Mountains and Musings recently posted a post called Early Morning Ramble and it sang to me when usually this argument makes me yawn quite a lot. Perhaps you too?
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| Image found here |
I'm anonymous and I take offense to people who preach this. Yes some are trolls, but you know what trolls make up fake names and fake pictures too. There are so many reasons a blogger may choose to be anonymous, don't assume it's because they're a fake.
Anonymous bloggers aren't any less real than bloggers who have their face or their name or their address up everywhere.
2. Once you share an opinion on something that word is as good as gold.
I don't know about you but I change my mind all the time. One day I'm all about how wonderful broccoli is. The next I'm all "Yeah but these salty chips are way better." Same goes for the way I parent my children and any beliefs I have.
I am the first to admit I know jack shit about a lot of stuff so I will nod in agreeance on the smallest of statements and when I look into something further I may find my opinion *gasp* changes. I won't apologise for changing my opinion and it doesn't make me a liar or a fake, it makes me human. We all have the power to choose to change our opinion on something and we shouldn't have to refer to something that may have been said yonks ago.
3. I disagree with you so I must be a shit stirrer.
Blogging for me is about sharing thoughts and bouncing ideas off of a wide variety of people. Not everyone will agree with me and that's life, just as I won't always agree with you.
I am all for people being able to come here and say they disagree in a respectful way. I have no problem saying that I share a different opinion to other people. It's not to create a fight but usually because I like to be enlightened on another perspective, and at the very least have my own views challenged so I can feel surer of my opinion.
It's wonderful to share an opinion respectfully under whichever name you choose. It's also fine to change your opinion, your truth.
It's ok to be you. Miss Pink is me as much as the name my friends and family know me by. Don't let anyone tell you who you are or make you feel less you because of your words. You know who you are and if you're speaking your truth in the moment and that will show.
Stop expecting the worst in everyone and open your eyes to the good.
Do you share your truth? Is your guard permanently up?
Good points Miss Pink. I think the way you blog anonomously is different in that you don't hide away from meeting others at blogging conferences and meet ups - you show you're a real person. You just have your own reasons for staying anon in your online space. x
ReplyDeleteGreat post - I am always hearing people spout "authenticity" and judging anyone who doesn't have a 55 point laminated card of their 10 years of gratitude or some crap.
ReplyDeleteI change my mind and opinion like the wind, I shudder at the idea of being forever pinned down to a statement I made in my 20's..or 30's.. or 40's. We change, we grow, we adapt. It doesn't make us fake, it just means we are always evolving.
As for calling "troll", what a weird way to behave and interact? There's nothing wrong with keeping your blogging persona separate to your personal space... I think it's quite wise actually.
xxx
PS I'm grateful, I just don't need to wear it as a badge of honour
I'm anon. I thought being anon would be a good thing but I do get caught up in the not blogging authentically stuff that does the words. I blog guardedly because in person I'm guarded as well. I think about putting my 'stuff' out there but I'm not sure I can. I figure at the moment I'm authentic, I'm me, what you see is what you get. But I'm not only what you see, if that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteused to blog my truth until it bit me in the arse.
ReplyDeleteNow guard is up and behind a bullet proof wall.
I blog anonymously. But only because I don't want what I write to have a negative impact on my kids or partner at some point in time.
ReplyDeleteI only ever write what I think in my head....I'm not smart enough to make stuff up!
I'd love to start an anonymous blog. The things I'd say! I did a post yesterday that was all over the place because I couldn't speak the absolute truth because people know me and the person/situation I wanted to blog about so I did it all vague like and it was dumb.
ReplyDeletePS - I change my mind every 3 seconds. Or I can't decide to start with.
i blog without name and faces and even more so now, that i have a child with special needs. my comments are moderated, i don't fully trust facebook and although i tried, i am not really interested in meeting other bloggers.
ReplyDeletethis does not mean i can't befriend someone, i have in the past. there are people in my life i know from being emo on lj. i don't think you can be someone totally different online, or let's say, I can't. At the moment i am social. reading new blogs.. and stuff ..x good post. those bloggers with studio photos and a product to sell are no more or less authentic than those that have not even personalized their blog design. content is key.
Yes, Yes, Yes! This post resonates with me so much. Trolls ruin it for everyone. Anonymous is not all bad :)
ReplyDeleteI was anon and blogged a level of truth I felt comfortable with. I shared some things easily and there are still things I would never talk about, anon or not. That's how it is in real life for me too - I don't go broadcasting some of my deeper issues, but will happily skim the surface of them. Just because someone is anon doesn't mean their blog is a warts and all expose on their life. xx
ReplyDeleteThis is why I have integrated hypocrisy as a key part of my blog brand. That way, I'm totally covered.
ReplyDeleteThank you. And thank you for understanding. Sometimes, there are reasons to be anonymous, but it doesn't give you the right to be an asshole. You don't need to speak every thought you ever have to be "honest" or "real".
ReplyDeleteI started this blog in my early twenties and I am a hot headed person. I won't delete posts because my opinion changes, and I won't be checking myself if I blog a differing opinion. I am allowed to grow and I encourage it in others.
ReplyDeleteIn many ways my blog persona is a more personal me, and I see nothing wrong with this. I'm just too stubborn to say some things in person and I'm grateful to have a place where I can just say it and things be all weird but that it's out.
I completely understand this. I'm there too. I'm not just what you "see". Don't be afraid to put yourself out there, for the most part I have been met with such love and caring from the blogging community, and it's even forged friendships with people on an unspoken level.
ReplyDeleteYou know what I do to biters? Bite them back.
ReplyDeleteYou are such a beautiful person Kelley, don't hide yourself off from everyone. Especially me.
This is the main reason why I blog anonymously because of my partner and children. I have no problem standing behind my words but I don't think they should be forced to or judged because of my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteIt's really not as easy as people think to just be anonymous and write whatever you like. I still have rules and guidelines for myself. Places I will and will not go. I also won't name or talk about people on my blog if I feel they would be upset or hurt by it, even if I think they will never see it.
ReplyDeleteIn this day and age I don't think you physically need to know someone to consider them a friend or even a good friend. There are so many other ways to connect.
ReplyDeleteI've met up with some bloggers and been blown away with how much the same the bond between us is off line as it was online.
Just ask HollyHomemaker how long it took me to finally agree to meeting her in person and get the courage to walk up and say hi. We had known each other online for years before that.
I think there's a difference between a troll and an anonymous person, and that needs to be defined to everyone. A troll is an account made just to be nasty, and anonymous account isn't like that at all. It's a person with a persona instead of a real name.
ReplyDeleteExactly!
ReplyDeleteI had a lot of trouble with this in my life because there are things I will talk about unashamedly that others consider to be "private" or something that should be "secretive" and so they think I've put this deep level of trust in them and spill to me about EVERYTHING, and I sit there reeling thinking Wow we know each other that well?
It's just my secrets are different from others ;)
If only Social Anxiety were the worst of it eh?
Hope you're having a fabulous holiday but I really would have preferred you road trip to N.S.W. ;)
Bahahahaha XD
ReplyDelete