10 June 2012

Anonymously public

Years ago, I had to close down a blog because some anonymous person associated with work (I think a parent) found it and thought the comments I made about how the district should have hired a friend and colleague of mine were uncalled for and out of place.  I had written that blog anonymously, but had it linked to a colleague's blog who had her name on it.  I think they put two and two together and discovered who I was.  I had a lot of good writing on that blog, but because I was so fearful of the admin at the time, I erased the entire blog without backing up or copying any of my posts.

It was a very sad day.

Now, I write fairly anonymously.  My family and some friends know I write this blog, but I leave my name off of it.  I don't name names and I don't detail who I work for, just that I am a high school teacher and coach.  I'm sure there have been some clues that if a person really wanted to figure out my identity, they could.

I don't really know that I care anymore if my place of work finds my writing.  I did the unthinkable and friended some of my current colleagues on FB and they can see the links I sometimes put up to this blog.  I have had a few of them tell me they are reading posts, or leave comments on the FB links.

It is kind of weird knowing they see this side of me.

At first, I didn't even tell my parents about this blog.  But I have opened it up to them.  Not sure how often they read it, but when I send them links to posts, they comment on how they read it and enjoyed the posts.  Siblings, same way - not sure if they are regular readers, but I know they at least read every so often when I write about them.

My boo doesn't read the blog and doesn't even know that I've been writing daily for this year.  I have told him about it and he has said that he will get around to reading, but I don't force it.

I kind of like that I have this outlet that is not regularly read by a lot of people I know.  I kind of like that most of my comments are from people I have never met IRL.

At first, when people at work started to tell me that they were reading my stuff, I thought about being more cautious.  But, this is my blog, and I will write whatever I desire.  I don't write things to hurt people, I don't write things about work using names.

I was debating a summer project of starting a Google+, FB, and Twitter page for this blog, but am not sure if I want to open it up that much.  I have a few regular readers, and some randoms, and maybe even some lurkers.

I'm not sure if social networking sites are necessary at this point since I'm not sure if I want to make this blog bigger than it is.  I do, and I don't.

And, I'm not sure that I want to keep up with posting information on all those different mediums.  Though, I think there is some sort of way to have posts cross to each medium with one click... though that could be annoying if followers are connected with each one and receive the same notification thrice and in their Google Reader.

For now, I guess I will remain somewhat anonymously public.

I will continue to write my thoughts.  Just what I am thinking at the time.

Once again, it is Stream of Consciousness Sunday.  Five minutes (though today was a bit longer) of free writing.  Today's prompt on Fadra's site, "Do you have a secret blogging life?  Are you connected to your "real life" friends and family through social media?  How does that affect your writing?"


#SOCsunday

16 comments:

  1. You have mentioned your previous blog before and it got me thinking then too. When I started blogging it was kind of anonymously but I found it really hard not to let key bits of information slip and since I posted the links on my facebook page I figured friends and family could see it any way so why bother stressing about it.

    I worry constantly that someone may see something and work out what is going on in my head that I wouldn't normally talk to them about, but thus far the only comments I have had are good ones.

    Some times I think you just have to do something for yourself and if others have a problem with it it is their problem not yours.

    PS I am glad I am not the only one who's other half doesn't pay anything other that a passing interest in my blog!!

    Carry on doing what makes you happy!!

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    1. I still worry that someone will see what I'm writing and figure out that I'm writing about things that I'm not talking to them about... fortunately, people don't bring up those things, though. But, I keep doing this for me and not anyone else.

      It is strange that the other half doesn't bother reading, but at the same time, freeing. Glad you have that, too.

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  2. It's too bad/sad that you don't have any of your old stuff. Also, that a parent's involvement had a negative impact on you, and as a teacher. I love the anonymity. I think it's fun you guy has hi en you space unless you want him to read.

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    1. It really angered me that a student or a student's parent would 'out' me and found what I was saying (that a great teacher should have been hired) offensive. But the space to write now is great!

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  3. I have an anonymous blog for silly posts every once in a while. A poem or two that doesn't make sense to anyone but me. Other than that, PisaP is quite public. It was made with that in mind, so our friends could keep up with us wherever we were.

    Keep doing what you're doing. (:

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    1. Thanks!
      I love how open your blog is and I am sure your friends and fan not near you love seeing all the stories (I love them and I don't even know you IRL)!

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  4. I know what you mean about wanting to keep a part of yourself away from your colleagues - at least, that's how I feel about my blogging, in which I say very little about my day job. I just don't want the boss to have *that* piece of me as well!

    You can connect Facebook to Twitter so that if you tweet stuff it'll automatically post to your Facebook timeline. I'm not sure if that works with Google+ too. And you're right about the extra work of all the social media - it's a wee bit of a drag! :-)
    Some Dark Romantic

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    1. There are so many stories in the news of social media and blogs being used to fire people that it is only normal to have that fear in the back of our heads.

      I'll look more into a Twitter/FB page and connecting the two - I might even be able to find a way to make it less of a drag... I'll keep you posted.

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  5. Once again, I could have been written this! You must have read my mind.

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    1. Haha! We may have seen each other in StL and not even known it!

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  6. I started my blog without any obvious connects I don't do FB so there is no way I am just stumbled upon except like you said another friends links I had recently been attacked through a post I written with NO NAMES attached to it. I felt the lashing back at the person set me so far back... blogging is a way to express ourselves to get it out & to be accepted YES by those who feel connected because we read something we too have felt but didn't know how to express it but reading it by a peer we feel ...well released. Please don't ever stop expressing YOU :))

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    1. I am truly sorry you had someone lashing out at you because of a blog post.

      Writing my stuff IS a release and it is really refreshing to read what others write that is either similar to my life or just an entertaining escape from the day to day.

      Thanks for the words of encouragement!

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  7. I didn't know you were blogging anonymously! Hopefully I haven't named dropped too many times. It's interesting that the topic was "do you have a secret blogging life" because it applies to so many people. With my BWWP blog I was trying to be anon more or less, putting yourself out there can be terrifying. My goal or this year was to get over the "fear of being seen" so I am all out there. I say what you write is wonderful and you should move at whatever pace makes you feel comfortable. When you are ready to shout from the mountain tops who you are you real fans will support you. I also think there is something really humble and special about sharing an intimate part of yourself with the world while not seeking recognition or personal gain too. So either way you go you're a hero! Thanks for being such an inspiration and dedicated writer! xoxo

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    1. No prob, bob! It is a bit frightening to think of putting it all all the way out there... but seeing you doing it is actually motivating!

      Thanks for the kind words and for continuing to inspire and motivate me to be better and to reach for more! I am always proud to have known you IRL!

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  8. It never occurred to me to be anonymous but I always wanted to find professional opportunities through blogging. I could do that and be anonymous. But then again, I never worked full time while blogging. I might have approached it differently!

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    1. I sometimes imagine what it would be like to write without worrying about bosses and students and colleagues reading and judging...

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