My weblog manifesto

It's no secret now that family and friends have become aware of this weblog (I know you're reading Christina...so don't think you're clever with your Google searches :-p), which has led to me skimping on the personal content and posting very superficial subject matter the past few weeks. For that I would like to apologize to the readers who have stuck around. After talking some things out with a friend, I've decided to make a change in this regard.

This post is meant to inform those of you who may know me in real life what you will read in the future if you keep visiting this site. Because we have face-to-face contact you may find some of the things I write in here to be surprising. Don't feel slighted in some way because there are feelings and information here that you are unaware of. Realize that I'm not going to tell you every little thing running through my head and be understanding about it. It's not because I don't trust you or want to open up to you (that's for you mom), there are just some things that I would rather get off my chest through writing than via spoken word. If you know how I am you know that I don't like a lot of drama in my "real life" and you should know that if I was going through something really tough I would feel comfortable talking to you. All I'm asking is that you respect what I write in here as personal venting and not use it against me, throw it in my face, or belittle my feelings. If I don't approach you to talk about it, chances are good that I don't want to...so don't come to me with worries about something you've read in here. Feel free to leave a comment, but trust me when I tell you I'm fine until I let you know otherwise.

I get depressed sometimes...I feel sad, lonely, confused, and hurt just like you do. Just because I write these feelings down in a weblog doesn't mean that I carry them with me all day and eat myself up. It's quite the opposite. Writing helps me cope, and seeing feedback from others who may be feeling the same way makes me feel better. I'm very even keel with my emotions and writing is the outlet that keeps me that way. Please don't take everything I've written here as me trying to shut you out of my headspace. If that was the case I would have closed or password-protected this weblog long ago. I'd like it if you would think of this place as a thought repository (for those of you who are Harry Potter fans, insert the word pensieve)...just another part of me that doesn't necessarily represent the sum of the whole.

Comments

[Jatser]

Bravo! Well said, Izzy, I think anyone who blogs can relate to these feelings, especially bloggers who sometimes feel they have to censor their content so they don't hurt someone's feelings or bruise egos. Well played, old man.

[Karen]

I agree with Tim. I've had the experience of a weblog post freaking people out -- webloggers will all understand this post. People have to remember that a post is just a moment in time -- they may read it tomorrow, but it was what you were feeling tonight.

I'm happy to hear this :)

[April]

Can I steal this and use it as my own? ;-)

No, seriously, this is right on. I think that all of us whose friends and family members (particularly those who don't blog or who knew us "before we were bloggers") read our blogs sometimes feel the need to censor or limit our content. When I stop and think about who might be reading what I write, it's tempting to stick with the random and superficial. But that's not usually what I want to write about.

So go with your gut (or bowels, if need be)...as in fact you are doing. Whether you're random or deep, or both, some of us readers will be sticking around.

[vortexia]

you said it so well. bloggers get it all out there as their way to deal. what we say may be the extreme that we would never actually say to a person, but it keeps the world a little saner (and probably safer).

[Leah]

Izzy, you know how I cope with it all :-) but, seriously, it is hard sometimes b/c I know my parents are reading my blog. I find it really difficult to post about tough things in my head, because I'm sure that people would worry extensively if I posted anything other than sunshine, travel, photography, and science

[Kim]

*huggles*

[jesse]

#69 on your 100 things is great:

"I don't like drinking water unless it's out of a fountain because otherwise it just tastes like the cup"

i feel the same way.

just sayin'

[Jennifer]

Love this! There are people in my real life who know about my blog....and ther are those who dont....and those who know, but dont think I know they know...and probably those who know, and I dont know they know.

Whew!

I've kinda just moved on and post what I post, and people (including me) will have to deal with it :-)

[Jenni]

I think all bloggers get to this at some point ... the realization that you divulge a lot more in your blog than you do to almost ALL of the people you see on a regular basis, face to face. Even more difficult is trying to deal with venting online ABOUT someone you know reads your blog. The trick is realizing that it is the other person's choice as to whether or not they want to tap into your innermost thoughts. You shouldn't have to censor yourself to spare them, otherwise it defeats the purpose of blogging. Easier said than done, but it's such a relief when you get past this. I'm glad you have taken a moment to inform those you care about on a face to face basis how you feel. Keep up the great blogging! :)

[Dusky]

Well said, Izzy. I think I want to make an entry touching the same subject you did, but it might now be too late (I've been blogging for more than two years, and I've already set the truth free -- well, most of it. :D).

I'm also gonna have to agree with Karen ("a post is just a moment in time"). I may have a great day at work and at school, but if on my way home I hear a song that gets to me... boom, blogging material! Now that doesn't mean that single event ruined my day... 'cause soon after submitting an entry I might be on top of the world, again!

[Xeniteia]

So interesting! Only this week I "hid" my "real" blog - the juicy one that got me through a long and horrible depression - and opened up a more family / friend oriented one. I am going to try for awhile with "sunshine, travel, photography, and science"... I wonder how long it will last.

My reasoning/intuiting says maybe now that I have really healed through blogging out all my absolute honesty (what a liberation!!!!) its now time to try tailoring it a bit?

X.

[Uncle Johnny]

I greatly appreciate your "My weblog manifesto". Please have in mind that you did not come from "just a nuclear family" there are many praying, thinking and eager to learn of your life. It is a precious commodity to have anonymity (weblog crowd), it is equally good to have a supporting "life-time" family. Your manifesto makes room for both to intermingle with a sense of respect and depth of feelings. As a distant Uncle I say thank you.

On another matter about 85% patients would like their MDs to pray and talk about spiritual matters (not preach) with (not to) them. If you want I can send you lots of literature on this or a Ppt with a summary (though I know you are quite busy).

Uncle Johnny

[johnny jr.]

so can i link to you?