The IRL dilemma ...

[Naomi]

If you maintain a personal blog, is it something that everyone you know in real life (well, not everyone, but those close to you) know about? Or is it a place for you to escape to, that you'd prefer that people around you weren't aware of?

Have you ever discovered that someone reads your blog because they know something you haven't told them but you've blogged about?

[Leigh]

I write with the thought that my mother, MIL etc are always reading (and they usually are) So I don't do too personal. I had thought about doing a weight loss blog, but I just couldn't write things like that..knowing others were reading. I got used to writing in blogs and the forums knowing people are always watching me, friends, family...and not friends ;)

I also have the AFW sticker on the back of the car (which I am still not 100% keen on) So the neighbours are probably reading too ..and that is a little odd.

Didn't bring the tin foil beanie smilie over from next door :hehe:

[Stormy]

Funny you mention that.....I mentioned to a work colleague that I was writing some articles for AFW and she asked for the web address so she could read them. For some reason I thought...hmm...do I really want to do that? :hehe: AFW for me is a bit of a runaway place where I can escape from life a bit....my blog on the other hand, well I don't really care who reads that because I don't get overly personal on that and the majority of things I blog about I have told other people about anyway IRL IYKWIM :D

[ModernGoddess]

My personal blog is specifically for family and friends to catch up on what we're up to over here (Hong Kong) and on our travels. I try and post lots of photos of around home, Hong Kong and the places we've been. Most people look and read and email me instead of leaving a comment. My family and friends in Australia are not really into the internet or the computer stuff and some of them don't have a computer at home. Like Leigh, I always think that my mother, mother in law and DH's family friends are reading it and I'm bit of a personal person so I don't share too much about any personal stuff that might be going on.

[katef]

I first started out thinking no one I knew IRL would read my blog but it didn't take long for me to realise that just wasn't feasible unless I made it invite only which I didn't want to do so I quickly learnt only to write those things that I was happy for the whole world, including my MIL to know about! LOL

My inlaws all read my blog, as do my parents and other family and I find it somewhat of a double edged sword for me. Sometimes I think I hold back a little because I don't want people to have to disclose or discuss some issues in real life with anyone, and there are some things things that I'd happily share with people who I am never going to me but I don't want to share with family etc (is that odd?). On the other hand it can be really useful to get messages out to family and friends, to have them understand more about who I am and how our little family works. This has been especially useful for me with my MIL.. while I often wish I could vent about how much she drives me nuts (I fantasize about starting an anonymous blog where everyone can post stories about horrible MILs! LOL) it actually works in my favour that she reads things and gets a bit of background to why she thinks I am such a nut case! LOL

regardless of who you think reads your blog unless it is invite only I think you should only blog about those things that you'd happily share in public.... cause one day it is sure to bite you on the bum if you don't!

Kate

[imported_jeanieinparadise]

I tell a fair bit, but I certainly don't "tell all" as I have in the past managed to put my sister's nose out of joint, my SIL's nose out of joint and a good friend's nose out of joint - not because I am a nasty mean cow but because they haven't realised it is all about ME and they were able to misconstrue. So now I am v-e-r-y careful about how people may take throw away lines.

[Riayn]

I don't use my real name on my blog, so unless I tell them 'this is my blog', my RL friends don't know and my parents definitely do not know. It is not because I am saying anything on there that I wouldn't say to their face, it is just that I am a private person and I don't want the whole world knowing exactly who I am and where to find me.

[karooch]

Well my blog isn't really a personal blog. But I do sometimes write about events in my life where others are involved. and Sometimes I get a real surprise when I find a comment from them. Who knew they read it?
And I'm really a bit of a private person anyway so I don't tend to get too down and dirty with anything I write.