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Life in the spotlight

Does anyone remember Donna from That 70s Show? (She now appears in some late night TV drama with the name Autumn Rd or something equally boring…okay, Google reveals that it is in fact October Rd). Anyway, she was on House last night as one half of a couple whose incessant blogging is testing their relationship. She was also really sick and had a heart condition, but I’m not interested in that for now.

The episode starts off with them fighting because, er, she blogged in detail about their last argument.

“I want what’s between us to stay between us!” he says.

Blogging, she says, helps her feel connected to others. People read about her life and leave comments, which to nonbloggers sounds downright insane, but to us is just par for the course. She blogs all. the. time. And right before she goes into surgery, she even tells him: “I wish you had a blog. I wish I knew what you were thinking.”

I think I can pretty confidently say I’ll never get to that stage.

I try not to blog about work. Something major happened last week that I really wanted to write a big post about, but that would have given away where I work, and I’m really not comfortable doing that. I certainly didn’t feel qualified to write about it on my real name blog, either (which has pretty much gone on hiatus.  I’m not really interested in major political or media issues, nor informed enough to write about them. Then it was meant to be where I review movies, restaurants, etc, but until I wind up my voluntary gig – which, you guessed it, mainly consists of reviews, because they’re easy to knock out, and demonstrates my ability to write in different styles – that too is on pause).

I rarely blog about my relationship. We’re far from perfect. We have issues. I blog about one of the taboos – money – but I don’t write about sex or religion, and I don’t write about our fights…even when he irritates me to no end by, say, missing out on something he’s wanted for a long time because he couldn’t be bothered to do the groundwork beforehand.

The person you know as me is only a part of me. The only way you could get to know all facets of my personality is to know me in real life and spend a lot of time with me. Such is the nature of being a semi anonymous blogger. And even if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t want to air out all of our dirty laundry. I respect his desire for privacy, and I want to focus on the positives, rather than dwell on the negatives, which are always so much easier to remember even without documentation.

As it is, I often find myself thinking about how I’m going to blog about something that’s happened to me. That’s totally reasonable. But I never want to find myself living like I’m on a reality show and living for a blog.

9 thoughts on “Life in the spotlight

  • Reply Stephany April 28, 2010 at 14:24

    I blog about more personal stuff but I tend to stay away from work (you never know who reads it, plus I work at a preschool and can’t talk about the kids) and my family problems. I don’t blog about fights I have with my family. I just blog about ME and what I’m dealing with. Blogging about fights I have with my mom or a boyfriend, somewhere down the road, is just immature, in my opinion.

  • Reply slamdunk April 28, 2010 at 16:34

    Good topic.

    As an anonymous blogger I can talk about stuff from the workplace, but I usually pick things that are so dumb they are funny.

  • Reply Veronica April 28, 2010 at 20:15

    I remember that episode, and thought it was a bit extreme. There isn’t a single facet of my life that I wouldn’t want to blog about, but that doesn’t mean I’m gonna let my visitors have a huge influence over me.

    I appreciate thoughts, concerns, and points of views.. but in the end I’m still gonna do what I’m gonna do, regardless of what anyone says.

  • Reply me in millions April 29, 2010 at 02:46

    It’s a fine line to know much to share. I’m still experimenting and deciding after almost a year!

  • Reply Investing Newbie April 29, 2010 at 04:10

    I don’t think I blog about too much, but I would like to push the envelope on anonymity. I try not to write about things that are unique to me. Like I don’t mind talking about living in Queens, NY or living at home with my parents (I’m pretty sure many fit the demographic), but if I were to tack on to that where I currently work, or where I went to school, then I’m sure that would pretty much ruin anonymity for me. Same goes for writing about the negatives in a relationship. Each relationship is unique and I’m sure the fight you had about the apple fritter, for example, will make it half-way around the world and back to you in no-time!

  • Reply Fig April 29, 2010 at 04:34

    So far I’m doing okay. The anonymity is new to me, so it’s hard to know what to share what not to share. I’d rather not give up who I am at this point (or ever) so I try to be conscious about what I’m writing and not write about things I shouldn’t. Interesting thoughts.

  • Reply The Asian Pear April 29, 2010 at 09:18

    I remember that episode. I did a 2nd take because it took me a minute to realize that was Donna.

    I try to censor some things… I try to be anonymous as much as I can but I do want to be authentic and share with people. It’s a fine line I tell ya.

  • Reply slamdunk April 30, 2010 at 01:03

    One other thing: I also left a blogger award for you here:

    http://theslamdunktrove.blogspot.com/2010/04/many-thanks-to-ann-t.html

    if you accept such things.

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