Who Knows You Are Blogging?

February 22nd, 2007 | by Vinny |

 


If you don’t read Get Fuzzy, you are missing out!

Who knows about my blog?-

  • My wife, although she doesn’t read it, as far as I know.
  • The Director and members of my church and community choirs. I link to my blogs off of my personal website.
  • My college friends. They are my most faithful readers.
  • A handful of colleagues from a previous job.
  • Those who find me at various search engines, hosting sites, and podcast/blog directories.

Who has an inkling I blog, but has no means/interest/personal desire to read it?

  • My children, although both are savvy enough to find it if they chose.
  • My job. I’m not ready for that yet.
  • My high school friends, with one exception (Hi Lisa!).
  • Most of my former colleagues.
  • My extended family. They would not care, anyway. Except that the last podcast was about them, so maybe it’s good that they don’t listen.

Who do I keep the blog from? No one, really. But there are some I ask to read, and some I blow off when the topic comes up. I guess that makes it a sin of omission, so to speak. It’s not that I am embarrassed.

Actually, I think I am. See, many of you folks don’t really know me, so I guess that I can be someone I hope to be when I write to you. If I include folks whose feedback I fear (or whose approval I crave), I might be discouraged or dissuaded. Now, that being said, I crave the approval of most of the folks on the first list above. What’s great about them is they are my ‘unconditional supporters.’ They are the ones who’ve said, in those moments when I have been blind to reality, “well, if that’s what you want to do…” Like the old saying about friends: Many of them would help me move- One or two would help me move a body. (I haven’t asked that- I would never want them to be implicated… although I am so out of shape I would need a hand…)

Anyway, my question is this: Who knows you are blogging? Spouses? Children? Parents? Co-workers? Does it change what or how you write?

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  1. 6 Responses to “Who Knows You Are Blogging?”

  2. By on Feb 22, 2007 | Reply

    My shrink is the only person who knows.

  3. By on Feb 22, 2007 | Reply

    An interesting topic. I am guarded at who in my real life I tell about my blogs. Not really because I’m embarassed, but more that it’s a part of me that I don’t always choose to share with people who have preconceived notions about me. The people I know who know I blog and those who actually read it are not the same group (with those rare exceptions).

    And for those who don’t know you…from someone who’s known you for 2/3 of your life (I did the math without my belly shirt)…I’ll say that you are not as far removed on your blog from the man I know you to be as you might think. Don’t sell yourself short.

  4. By on Feb 22, 2007 | Reply

    I agree with Lisa.

    I had a bet with my brother to see if he could find my blog at all. He couldn’t believe I had one at all. He found it - he hasn’t read it in months after Thanksgiving. I did find that my subjects were more guarded once I knew he knew about it.

    Other than my college friends, I have a handful of people in my life who are aware of it, some read some don’t.

    I am selective though about certain things. Largely they are private things and I am not interested in hurting those I love in some other cases. I don’t share the blog with everyone for that reason.

    I don’t think embarassment factors into the equation with any of us ( those that I know anyway). Its more a matter of the picture of ourselves that is presented and can we substantiate it in real life?

    As Lisa said, don’t sell yourself short. Your Blog reflects YOU. Everytime I read a post or listen to a podcast, I can picture us talking about it over a card game or beers.

    I think all of our Blogs reflect us. I just started reading Peet Fointed and I laugh because I can picture Lisa talking about these things on a summer night on your deck with the aftermath of a party surrounding us.

    It’s a true testatment to our writing abilities to allow ourselves to be reflected yet be interesting yet be realistic.

    Awesome topic. One I think about a lot!

  5. By on Feb 26, 2007 | Reply

    I enjoy your show, Vincent.

    Interesting question about who knows that I’m a blogger.

    I maintain two ‘professional’ blogs for my marketing career and I’ve told only a handful of coworkers about them. My wife knows about them but has little interest.

    I started a parenting podcast and blog mainly as a personal outlet to vent and I suddenly have five times as many people following that than my two professional blogs. I haaven’t told my wife — maybe I’m a bit embarrassed, not sure really.

    So why do I publish 3 blogs and 1 podcast? Probably because I feel like I have something to share. I want to help people avoid the same mistakes I’ve made in life. I try to be positive and constructive since too many people seem to want to rip down and destroy others.

    Also, I dropped out of my college radio station to focus on building my resume. Maybe now is my time to make up for that — nearly 20 years later.

  6. By on Feb 26, 2007 | Reply

    I linked to your blog via the blogfathers comments… and thought I would comment on this first post I read. :) I have 3 blogs - one I write to keep family updated and knowing who reads it affects everything I put on there. The second one only one other person knows about - before he knew about it I was totally open. After he knew, I guarded what I wrote and even changed some previouse posts. Now I have a third that no one knows about and I like being open and honest on it without fear of judgement.

  7. By on Mar 6, 2007 | Reply

    My whole family knows and reads some as well. That can be a bit sensitive since I’m not afraid to point out things my parents messed up during my childhood. But it’s always the truth which is best in the long run. Since we have family and friends spread out all over the world they also check out the blog occasionally. A few people at work but I don’t think they are interested which suits me fine. I rather not have them as readers.

    I would like to write more about my job since it’s a crazy environment with many outrageous things going on. But we all know it’s a bad idea to involve work. I do limit myself in my writing at times to protect family etc.

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