Friday, April 30, 2010

Shh.. It's a secret!


I've had this blog since 2008. I'm sure many of you know (if you've followed for awhile) or have heard this story before but I started blogging near the end of 2008. In the beginnings of this blog, I was completely anonymous. Obviously, not so much anymore. I'm fairly sure that anyone could figure out who I am, where I live, where I work etc and I'm basically ok with that. However, I do keep a few things private (ie, my love life). If you hadn't noticed... I barely if rarely talk about it here. Maybe one day I will. 

Anyways so where is this going? When I first started blogging I didn't go out and scream it from the hills. Only a handful of people knew. I mean it's not like the first thing you're going to do when you see people is say, "Oh guess what I'm blogging now, go visit my blog!" No. At least that's not how it happened for me. After a few months, I started slowly letting my close friends know that I was blogging. A few of them are actually now bloggers themselves. Over time I've started letting more and more people in my real life know about my blog. It's a part of who I am, why would I not? But maybe that's just me.

So... the question is, Do people in your real life know that you blog? Or have you kept it a secret and if so why?

37 comments:

Tamara said...

I just recently started my blog and have it linked to my facebook account, so I'm not keeping it a secret. Although, it's not something that I've yet brought up in conversations with just anyone.

I've been a part of social networking sites for years and have met some of my best friends that way. I have a lot of IRL friends that are bloggers themselves and understand about the blogging community/world (and social networking in general) but there are also people very near and dear to me IRL that don't "get" any social networking and are very vocal about how they think it's ridiculous and stupid, whatever.

I figure to each their own, if my friends/family IRL want to read my blog they can, but if they don't I hope they follow the rule "if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all".

Thanks for this interesting post, I'm very curious to read other peoples responses and find some more blogs to follow that way, lol.

www.tamara-camera.blogspot.com

krystal said...

I have my blog link on my FB, but I don't think anyone I really know reads my blog regularly. I will mention things to my friends that I've blogged about, and they have no idea. I guess my circle of friends don't get "blogging" like we all do. I kind of prefer it that way anyway... but the invitation for them to read is always there!

Carrie said...

I've told the people I'm close too, and I keep a link on my facebook profile, but I don't exactly advertise other than that. lol. I like that the only people that know are the ones who care enough to click the link. ;)

Brandi said...

Oh yes, the whole real world knows I blog. I've been blogging since I was eighteen (I'll be 26 this year). At that age I wanted everyone to know, now at times it's hard to share my inner most secrets (or dirty thoughts) but it's ok. I love knowing no matter whats going on in my world my entire family can see. I easily express my feelings through my blog when it's hard to do so in person.

When Tony found out ... o. m. g. he read and read and read. He loved reading the things I wrote about him, he loved knowing other people were in on it.

He still loves it. : )

Unknown said...

Yes, my family and friends know I blog and have from the beginning.

Nicole said...

I linked my feed to my twitter which linked to FB so people eventually people found out. I get a hard time for it but Whatevs. I am totally searchable and stalk-able (Not a word lol) I am pretty sure my boss reads too! aaahhhh Anyway oh and I have converted a few people to blogging too =D

Rachel said...

Some of my friends and family know but they don't read it. I only know one other person in real life that blogs, so it's not really their thing I guess.

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

I actually did notice you stopped talking about your love life on here!
Although, I understand why you did. I really wish I hadn't gushed so much about my relationship and I don't think I will ever do it again. I'm okay about it though, you live and you learn.

AmberDenae said...

I started blogging in 2008 as well. The only people who know about my blog in my "real life" are my family and my boyfriend. That's it. I kinda feel like I'm a little too open on here for people I know in real life to see. Kinda strange, I know. I like it that way though :)

Allison said...

I like your new layout, by the way :)

I used to tell everyone about my blog because it was a way to share pictures and keep people updated about our living overseas.

Now that it is more personal, I don't really tell people I know about it. I don't hide it, but I don't publicize it. I've taken the link off my FB page...used to have it up there.

Mrs. Mootz said...

Most of my family and friends know about my blog and several of them read it. I'm not super annonymous when it comes to blog friends, but I don't put my Facebook page out there for everyone to see. I like to maintain some sort of seperation.

There are times I wish my family and friends didn't know about my blog because there are day I just want to bitch about them! Hahaha!

Jayme said...

There is no anonymity on my blog - it's obvious right from the title. I started it for my family, so they could keep up with us while we're living far away. I guess I just don't think my life is interesting enough to hide anything. The only thing I DON'T share is when I am going to be away from home (for safety reasons). I always blog about trips AFTER I return.

SS said...

With the exception of one close friend who also blogs... mine is a secret. I saw some weirdo blowback she went thru with a mutual friend of ours but that wasn't the only reason.

I started it as a way to release some anger and hurt. I wanted to say some things "out loud" but nescessarily have to edit or worry about what I was saying because people know me... I didn't want to have to ever feel the need to try and take back or correct hurt feelings etc.

Unknown said...

As Tamara said, I've posted my blog on facebook so every time I write a post it pops up on everyones wall. I've also written about blogging as part of my classwork so everyone knows that I blog. Other than that, I think it would be quite hard to track me down if you didn't already know me, via my blog as there are no personal details or real names on there and I don't talk about where I live, more how I react to it and the people in my life (and only a few make it into my blogs)

Krysten @ Why Girls Are Weird said...

When I first started blogging I had a few friends that knew but otherwise no one really read it. I would say it was fairly anonymous. I never posted pics of myself and I didn't really talk about anything that could tell someone who I was.

These days, though, I'm sure it would be EASY to find me. Sometimes that's a scary thought but for the most part I don't really mind.

Katie said...

A few select people know that I blog,but Josh's parents don't and some of my friends don't.

there is this weird stigma I feel like, where people think we are weird if we blog. Another thing is I want to be able to write somewhat freely so I don't tell Josh's family. I feel like sometimes I need my own private space and I get that in the blog world.

Even though I don't post about super personal things, I feel like this is my little world with my blog friends. If that makes sense...

Jenn @ West Sac Honey said...

OMG hit my blog on the head.. I don't tell anyone that I blog, I told someone last night but told her to keep it on the DL.

Reason why is that I was trying to escape FB and Myspace I just wanted MY-SPACE, without people I know judging me or critiquing me and "checking" on me or spying. So if I tell someone about my blog I consider them a good friend or someone I don't mind reading it. There's just people out there I don't want to read it and people that I do.

I like being apart of a special blog community with you girls because it's another outlet to meet people virtually or in person some day and I like that because we all have the same similar interest in common. Where as some friends I've cut off in real life because we have nothing in common.

Stephanie said...

I guess I'm following in your footsteps. I have let about 4 friends know my URL and that's it. I don't link it to my facebook. The blog is public, but I don't think any other friends read it.

SurferWife said...

Hmm, was this post inspired by our conversation last night?! :)

Yeah, everyone and their mother knows. Literally.

Allison said...

Yep. Friends and family know I blog. Most of those who live close don't bother with it but my far away friends and family really enjoy reading it.

The negative of having your family read your blog is you get called out on things you say. For example, when I said Paul 'might possibly some day could potentially be deployed' I got a hysterical phone call from my father in law.

Sigh.

~Mrs. Guru~ said...

Only a few people know that I blog but that is it. I like to keep it private.

Q, La, and Gooner said...

My blog started as a way for people to stay connected to me while I lived over seas SO I guess yah, people know. I'm with you I don't just shout out, "Hey I have a blog!" BUT when people want to see pictures I generally send people there.

Ashley said...

I blogged for months without ever letting anyone know about it. And strangely, I blogged very infrequently then.
Now I have the accountability of people asking me when I am going to update. ;) Sometimes I wish fewer people I know in real life read it just because I could be more open and not have to censor myself... But I enjoy the additional connection.

JennyLee said...

Just about everyone knows about my blog since I have it linked through facebook. :)

Jessie said...

Some people know. I have my blog address listed on my facebook {although you know that I don't keep many people on facebook anymore..} So it's more of a "if they know, it's fine. But I'm not running around telling everyone." sort of thing.

Diane J. said...

I'm weird. My Facebook friends are comprised of all my friends and family and few people I don't know, but they wanted to be friends so I said OK. I'm kind of pathetic that way.

I have a Twitter account that I know no one of who is following me.

And, I have my blog. Which is comprised of a few people I know (but have never met) and a lot of people that I didn't know until they started following my blog. As for family and friends following or knowing only two people in my family know.

I love you blog, I just stumbled over from...well I can't remember where, but I'm glad I did.

Jax said...

Well, I think you might know some of my thoughts on this from my recent posts, but I'm kinda weird with too many peeps in my daily life having my blog. But, it's really only a small group of peeps-my roommate, the friends in that circle, etc-I dont want having it. SOmetimes I jsut want to vent and not have someone I see every day read it, ya know. But that's really it. I guess I just want to KNOW who's reading more than anything. I hate that whole "I know this person has it.. so if she forwarded it to her, then I cant say that b/c she'd be offended.." haha.. So random, I know. It's an interesting like to walk for sure!

Jax said...

Oh and I totally dont have my blog linked on fbook...

Kyla Makay said...

I keep my location and etcccc info seperate, but I do believe my blog is me, i say everything i am thinking on it. HOWEVER... I do have 3 friends that know i blog. other than that no. I keep it private. it is basically like a diary, in which i can receive support from my followers. i am going to keep it that way. :) good question btw.

-makay

The Adventures of Maverick & the Mrs. said...

Oh honey. I feel ya. I didn't tell many people, but have had my friends' exes inform me that they read ours, which is a little entertaining to me, I must say. Also, I've had a few people in our squadron and community who "found me," so I'm careful. You never know who is out there lurking! :)

e said...

this made me smile because I don't tell many people in my real life either. A few of my close friends know that i blog but i guess i like to keep it private

emily said...

only my immediate family and a couple friends know. it's so weird, im not afriad to tell others, but im not going to announce it like they have to read? altough, who doesnt like comments, right? haha who knows...maybe i could post it on my fb page? well see! ha

Carol {Everyday Delights} said...

I have my blog linked on fb and a lot of people know about it. Looking back though, I wish I did not tell people I work with about it. So at my next job (whenever that may be), it will be private from other people I work with.

Unknown said...

People in my real life know that I blog, but most of them don't really comment on my blog. My husband's family reads it, but they never comment...I wouldn't know if I didn't have a traffic thing on there.

Tina L. Hook said...

My first year of blogging was in the closet, and I only posted maybe once a month. It has been in the last year that I have been letting it all hang out.

Many of the new nervous bloggers I know are starting out the same way.

Selma @ Crazy Little World Of Mine said...

Love this post girl. No, people in my life don't know I blog. There are two friends that know my blog address and I know one checks it on a regular basis (esp. when I'm abroad and traveling and stuff), but other than that I decided not to let people know about my blog. I never shouted out "hey, I'm blogging, this is the address...please read." Not me either. If they find it, great. If they don't find it, hence read it, also okay. But I still keep a lot of things from here. No real talk about private love life (if any, haha!), work (unless I'm pissed about someone) or so. I don't use names, unless they are bloggers on here and I'm linking stuff. Just feel people around me aren't open or interested enough to read what I have to say. Plus, they don't speak English so it's harder for them to read and follow. :( Maybe better that way?! LOL

Though girl, yes, I think the longer I'm blogging I kind of tend to open up a bit more. Don't want to "come out" as much because after all we're online, and the whole world could and is probably reading what we're writing...but still...hope you get what I wanted to say. I apologize...my brain's not fully adjusted to European time. ;) haha! :)

Have a great day.

xoxo

AuntBT said...

Exactly what Jenn @ WestSacHoney. Only two people know about my blog in my real life, and I'm very content with that. A lot of times I just need someone to express myself or ask questions, that I know others are facing. I am a VERY private person, most of my friends don't know what goes on inside my head, and I like it that way. So, being anonymous on my blog allows to me share and be open, yet I know I'm able to keep my real life private. It's a perfect mix for me.