Talk to me & anonymous blogging

Although this blog is a true reflection of me, it’s perhaps not a complete reflection of me, it’s mostly the “un-rantish” me, the me that’s inspiring (I hope!), the me that ponders, the me that likes to share.

I don’t know how many people that know me actually read this blog, I know that my mom thinks that no good can come of it and has decided to pretend it does not exist, I know that my husband, the blog adict, reads it, and I know that occasionally my siblings and cousins wander over, but most importantly, I know that my clients could potentially be reading it.

It’s an interesting situation to openly write about one’s life, I have found it to be an awesome experience, both personally and professionally. The connections that I’ve made with my readers and other bloggers have been nothing short of amazing, and I am pretty confident that I would have gone completely un-noticed as a web developer, if I had not been a blogger, but as I sit 6th on a search for ‘shazia’, I am wondering how much is too much personal sharing.

On one occasion I unintentionally offended someone I knew and I honestly could not believe that my words could have been taking so completely out of context, and since then I’ve tried not to write about anyone besides my immediate family. Although I do feel that my blog is my space and I do have the right to write about whatever I want, I am not as comfortable, for example, sharing thoughts about the mighty wind as certain others. And there are times I really would like to discuss, for example, topics like spending time with the man, but it’s not a conversation I would have with a client or many other people that may or may not stumble upon my blog, and as such, I feel compelled to refrain from such subjects.

I think that I would like to have an anonymous blog, I imagine that it must be pretty liberating to say anything that comes to mind, to just blog without thinking of the repercussions, I mean, I know that many bloggers already blog about pretty much anything and are respected because of it, but publicly sharing my most personal thoughts and rants is perhaps not something that I am extremely comfortable doing.

Are you blogging anonymously and loving it? Do you think that I should do it?

ps. I did a tiny bit of blog-rearranging!

Thoughts from Artemesia

I reckon go for it! I said too much too publicly on JL. It was cathartic but I ended up waking up in the middle of the night worrying about it! I’ve just started a craft blog and I’m going to have a private blog for ranting and invite people I feel comfortable reading it (not that I can imagine why anyone would want to!). I like the new layout!

Thoughts from Achelois

Anonymous blogging is liberating. I write about myself - the thoughts are mine but my name is not Achelois. It helps. I can be me myslf without being me :D

Thoughts from umarah

i dont know abt that.but just want to let u know that i love ur blog.its so nice to read abt motherhoods which is full of thoughts and ideas n suggestions.i m inspired by that.i m truely thinking of following ur example of cleaning up toys by threatening of mopping.love it

Thoughts from Surviving

I like the layout.  I started out pretty anonymous.  I’m not quite as anonymous as I used to be.  My family and most of the people I know in real life don’t know about my blog.  I have been considering editing some of the past content and starting a new anonymous blog with a totally different name just for “ranting”.

Thoughts from Mona UmIbrahim

Salams. Journal writing is therapeutic, while blogging is not really. Whatever situation we are facing if we write about it and explore our feelings and hang ups it can help us think through things and come up with a solution. Blogging is good for sharing the situations you have already solved or getting advice.

Thoughts from shaz

Hi Artemesia! Isn’t crafty blogs just so much more fun?! Thanks for your thoughts, I am thinking that I will go for it! It’s not only rants, but just discussions on certain topics that I feel is not well suited to this blog.

Achelois, thanks, I tend to believe that it will feel liberating.

Thanks umarah, always happy to be of service!

Surviving, yes, it does help to be completely anonymous to rant!

Mona, I actually used to journal a lot before I had a blog, and it was really healing, but there are things that I would like to share and topics I would like to openly discuss, but my feeling is that this blog is just not the venue for such discussions - if you know what I mean.

Thoughts from dana

Hey girl,

Great Post! I really dont know what to say b/c I feel like I am in the same situation. I like writing about myself and my family but scared to really let people know me. I still havent posted any pics on my blog. But when I do write about myself candidly it feels great!

Thoughts from shaz

Hey Dana~ I know what you mean! Some of my best posts have been ones where I wrote openly about my feelings, generally they are the most appreciated ones as well. But even though I am opening up about certain subjects - I feel like I am suppressing some of my thoughts, you know…

Thoughts from Jennifer

Mine was fairly anonymous (in the sense that very few people I actually knew read it) until recently.  Now many people I know read it, like my parents, in-laws, and *gasp* my husband.  I’ve tried to remain true to what I’d normally write about, but it’s hard.  I’d never be able to be completely anonymous since I have a hard time not talking about my blog in real life.  Great post!  And thanks for the link !

Thoughts from Specs

Well, it IS rather liberating to have a blog. A blog, to me, means the freedon to write about how i feel, to rant to rave, to share my joy, my sorrows. Its better than having a diasry because i can get responses and feedback on everything. If i have to watch my mouth even on my own blog, that’d be like real life, wunnit?

A secret blog...an anonymous one, would be a great freedom. Anonymity sets you free like nothing else. Go ahead and make one, i say. :D Goood Luck!

Thoughts from shaz

Hey Jennifer - I really love your blog!! I hope your writing does not change much because of your new ‘readers’! But I think that inevitably it will change (even in small ways) now that people who know you are reading. :(

Specs! Thanks! I love that you said “that’d be like real life” because that’s exactly what it feels like to me!! I think blogging as one’s real self means that you kind of need to write as you would talk - some people are generally more open than others is all, but being anonymous gives that freedom to ‘not make any mistakes’.

Thoughts from Yolanda

I’ve struggled with this exact same question for years now and though I don’t have an anonymous blog at the moment I fully intend to start one.  Blogging has been incredibly therapeutic in so many ways but like you there are just certain topics I could never broach just in case people I know in real life should be reading.  An anonymous blog will let me delve into some of the deep darkness of my past to hopefully finally lay some old things to rest for good.

No family (that I know of) currently reads my blog but the odds of things staying this way are slim so I blog safely and positively for the most part.

Thoughts from Cakes

My blog is anonymous.  Nobody that I know in real life reads it.  I keep it anonymous because of my husband’s job.  Unfortunately, things I say can be a reflection, for good or ill, of him.  It can get complicated.