a poll for friday
Go see Andrea for more Caffeinated Randomness!
Mornin’ blog friends! I have internet again (but who knows how long that will last…). I wish it would stop just going out for no reason. My apartment seems dedicated to making me glad to move in a few weeks! Just seems like one thing after another recently, when in the past year I’ve had relatively few problems in this place. *sigh* TGIF.
So, I was trying to think of something to post up for CR this week and there’s been a bit of a debate in other parts of the blogosphere I frequent regarding the value (or lack thereof) of anonymous blogging. It should come as no shock to those of you who know me well or have been around these parts (or former parts) long that I fall somewhere in the middle on the issue. I see the valid points made by those who condemn anonymous blogging as being cowardly and argue that in order to be taken seriously one must (or should) attach one’s name to whatever is written. I also relate strongly to those who marshal good arguments in favor of blogging anonymously (or pseudo-anonymously). You all know that I’ve chosen to keep some things to myself. I have no delusions that I’m completely anonymous, as many of you do know who I am or could fairly easily find out. If you choose to spend your time figuring that out, that’s your choice. But I transitioned away from having a blog with my identity out for the world to see last year and I have never regretted it. Yes, I lost some readers in the transition but I gained many more. I don’t really post anything I feel the need to attach my name to, and I can’t think of many things I have posted in the past that I would regret having my name attached to in the future. In the end, though, as a young single woman I chose to blog without my name for safety reasons. And they are good reasons I don’t care to elaborate on (and don’t think it is necessary to). So, while I respect the perspective that anonymous blogging serves no real purpose, I have no intention of changing things here at Teasingly Diverse.
But the whole discussion got me thinking about what you all think! So, in the comments I’d like to hear your thoughts on the pros and cons of anonymous blogging, and (if you feel comfortable) why you blog whatever way you do. I think that my little circle of the interwebs is a bit different in make-up than where these other discussions were taking place so I’m curious to see what the general consensus is here (if there is one!). Ed. to add: there’s a follow-up question in the comments, y’all!
And, of course it goes without saying that if you disagree with someone’s opinion you should please feel free to voice that – but to do so respectfully.
Happy Friday, friends!
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Chatter
Caity on A good run… Jansen on A good run… Ronnica on my prerogative Ronnica on roll call Amanda on my prerogative
I’ve come over here via SITS and it’s a coincidence that a recent post should be on anonymous blogging. It’s a subject close to my own heart because I am an anonymous blogger. I’ve written online in various places for probably 10 years now, always putting a smokescreen over my real identity. The reasons for this are several and undoubtedly the same as other anonymous bloggers: personal security, protection against fraud, freedom to say what we want …names have been changed to protect the innocent…etc. etc. I must be naive – I had no idea at all that anonymous bloggers were sometimes regarded with a degree of suspicion! To me, you can very quickly tell what sort of a person someone is by what they write, how they express themselves and the general tone of the site. If I don’t like a blogger I’ll metaphorically walk away and it makes no difference whether or not their real name is emblazoned for all to see. In any case, when people apparently give their real names, can you *really* be sure that *is* their real name … or even their own photo. I mean look at Sharkbait…who’d have thought!
Like your site BTW!
i am semi-anon, as in if you really read my blog you could possibly fugure out who i am if you know me IRL but i don’t use my name or pics and hve a separate e-mail address for blogging this is because i want the freedom to say what i want without worrying someone from my real life will find it and be offended.
i hve a few IRL friend who read my blog and that is because i hve given them a link to it and asked they keep it to themselves.
i follow both anon and non-anon bloggers and to be honest after the miss musing debacle i felt a little weary of anon bloggers but now not so much.if i enjoy their blog i will follow.it no longer means anything to me if they anon or non-anon. being non-anon jst means being able to put a face to the blog.nothing more.