Not many of my "in real life" friends know about this blog. It's not that I am trying to keep it a secret, it's just that I don't think they would understand. How do you explain to a non-blogger what a blog is all about? How do you tell them about the people you have "met" and the community that exists in the blog world? I'm not hiding my name with some crazy code, I'm not posting only photos of myself from the back. If you come to the blog, you know it's mine. However, I'm not exactly passing out business cards with the address. I kind of like it that way.
For instance, my friend Sarah (first a blog friend, now a real life friend) and I were attending Jordan's promotion ceremony. Someone asked first if we were sisters, then asked how we met. We both looked at each other awkwardly knowing telling him we met on a blog would make us look like weirdo internet psychos. Don't act like you don't know what I mean. We went with Facebook, which still made us look weird.
Today at lunch, a friend of ours saw a book I am currently reading for blog purposes. Jordan explained that I had a blog and was given the opportunity to review this book for the blog. Not being a blogger, the friend was confused as to what I did. I felt like a dork. A loser. Like I spend my entire day doing live action role play games with my online BFFs. I felt outed.
So how do you explain it? How do you put into words what all this is? (Without looking like a Cullen-level pasty white, non-socialized, agoraphobic weirdo, of course.)
38 comments:
I have to laugh. Because I openly talk about my blog to just about anyone. I have two actually. This one is my more public one, I have a "private" one that I go in to more detail on but this public one is one that I wouldn't mind my mom reading if she ever got on to the internet. LOL Anyways, I think some people aren't in to the whole blogging thing and if they don't really understand it fine. I just say its an outlet for me, they seem to understand that. Maybe you could try it that way and see if that helps. Have a good one.
I know exactly what you mean. It's hard to explain to people that the friendships are as real and sometimes more solid than those you have with your "real friends". I'd rather tell my blogger bff anything and everything than pick up the phone and call my REAL bff. I'd rather just keep it to myself than try to justify it.
I can't tell you how many times I'm talking to my mom and/or husband and say "so, this girl's blog I read..." or "on this blog I read, so-and-so did this or that..." Every single time I feel like a weirdo. Sometimes it's like the people who write the blogs I read are more my friends than the friends I have in real life.
And farting elliptical man - almost as gross as Sweat Monger. I'm not sure which is worse. Ew!
Oh, I know. It's so awkward. And, even though my parents read my blog (something I'm not sure I'm very happy about), every time I'm at their house looking at my reader, my dad says something like "You blog too much. Why don't you go read a book or do something useful?" and it really pisses me off!!!!!
Omg Casey, I can't believe you just put us on the same level with Live Action Role Players...roflmao. I don't really tell too many people about it, unless they are IRL friends that blog too. I do have a blogger blog I keep for our family to see what we're up to, and I don't mind sharing or telling people about. They think it is kind of cool (I think).
I have just decided to talk about it with family and friends. My friends mostly get it, and because Mark gets it ans supports it too, people are more open to it. I was just talking about this with a girlfriend of mine yesterday. She always used to give me crap about meeting bloggers or becoming emotionally involved with people I don't know. Now, I think she has slowly adapted to writing her own blog and understands the community.
When I first explain it, I try to make sure there is at least enough time to not just scratch the surface. Because just saying "internet" "blog" "invisible people read what I write" basically sounds weird. Surprisingly, I have seen more acceptance than not.
i know exactly whay you mean;
i wrote a blog several months ago & parents best friends also read the blog & they also happen to be the pastors of the church we all go to; anywho -- they wanted me to get up and share about what i had written; it was hilarious to me to hear him try and explain where he 'read' what i was about to share; then i get up there and i'm thinking 'oh, crap how do i explain what a blog is and why it is such an outlet for me' -- just the other day i was sharing w/my sister that i was about to get a blog 'makeover' and explained to her that i was getting $20 off the total price; she looked at my like i was an idiot; (1) for being so excited about this 'blog makeover & (2) that i would pay money for it!
so, really, i have no clue how to explain what blogging is, what it means to me, and also express how MUCH I LOVE IT!!!!
Yeah I always feel a bit like a loser too when trying to explain the blog world to non-bloggers.
Oh well...they are the ones missing out :)
I have to agree- it's hard to explain it. Luckily all my family and a good portion of my friends blog. When my husband was at his college there was an online forum where gf's and fiances are able to go on and talk to others about various events. After they graduated there was another one you were able to join. That's where I've met a lot of my friends. And many of them you'd recognize as bloggers- Sarah for instance, Erika, Story, Danielle, Courtney, Kate, Kristen, and JLC- I'm not sure who all you read for blogs but a ton of us "know" each other from that site.
HILARIOUS. I know EXACTLY what you are talking about. Bret outted me to an entire team meeting one day! People thought I was insane.. blah. I don't know how to explain it to other people without making it seem strange but, oh well!
Shawn really didn't understand my blogging at first. Maybe he still doesn't understand it, but he's accepted my blog life and "invisible friends." My close friends know that I have a blog. I try to explain to people that blogging is like Facebook but a million times better.
Haha, I know EXACTLY what you mean. When I first told Matt I was reading blogs,etc. He said, Why? He didn't get it at all and I still don't think he does. I haven't been outed but two of my friends I know outside of the blog know about it because they have their own as well.
so glad to hear someone else feels this way! And isn't that what it is mostly about....finding blogs/people that you can identify with and relate to?! I LOVE reading blogs...and I am starting to realize posting is even better:)
i keep mum.
in fact... only my, eh... mum ... knows about my blog! hence the anonymity of my blog name. it makes it more fun and less stressful...
i know what you mean! i have 2. one for Hubs and my families that I update everyday with what we do on a daily basis (hey...it cuts down on the 38748 phone calls a day) and then I just started this one to go to when I have other stuff I want to talk about that our familes just don't get.
I'd love if my family actually read my blog. That's what it's really there for, so they can see what's going on. But somehow it's too much work for them to follow what's going on. I even put the link on our Christmas cards when I first started the blog. I did our annual letter on the blog instead of mailing it. And that didn't even work!
Luckily my hubby doesn't think I'm completely insane when I start a story with: so on this girl's blog I follow...or....so you know that girl whose blog I follow with the boyfriend who's deployed...or any of the other random things I say that start with so this blog I follow....
I know where you're coming from. For the last couple of years I've had a political blog, because we are very active locally, but that was anonymous, because you know, people can get pretty nasty in person! (There have been some odd confrontations. The kind I hate most is where somebody reads something I wrote that they disagreed with, and then go to my HUSBAND and confront him about it. Hey, I'm right here! punks....) But as far as the life blog goes, yeah, I don't know anyone in my family who reads it, and I *know* no one in Hubs' family does. They think that kind of thing is weird and conceited. They may not be far off, I guess. Anyway, all that to say, yeah, I try to keep it on the DL in public conversation, too.
Such a debacle! I really never know what to say ... I never tell anyone the identifying factors of my blog, but I don't hide it. I just don't tell them how to get there. I know a lot of people who have blogs/caringbridge sites for health reasons, so I just sort of compare it to that. :)
I know exactly what you mean! I've only "shared" my blog with a select few real life friends. Mainly because a lot of people just don't get the whole community of the blog world and they think I am a freak!
Especially when I was doing a giveaway, people really had a hard time wrapping their heads around that one! haha
It is so funny because people tell me how they love looking at my blog but don't understand how you can make friends on here or care about anyone that you meet here. I laugh because they will never understand. You are not a dork or loser! Blogging is an awesome way to journal and keep things for your future! At least that is how I am looking at it :-)
LOL!! That is so true. I've been outed by several folks I know in real life and seriously, I preferred it when no one knew. I swear anytime something happens, no matter how small, I have someone ask if I'm going to blog about it. Eck!! Blogging is not my life just a part of it. I've 'met' some amazing people through blogging, but try to explain that to someone who doesn't blog. Yeah, you just look like a loser freak!
Thanks for putting into words what I felt~~
i know exactly what you mean hun!
only one of my bestfriends know i have a blog and my fiance also knows but that's it! i don't think some people would understand why we have them. at the same time i think everyone has their own reasons for having thier blog. i just know i love having mine and i think of it as a journal and i feel like i've met so many different people that i would have never even known about and now i feel like i have a lot of "friends" where in "real life" i only have my very few close best friends. on here i have lots n lots friends, i love it! :)
Oh I so feel your pain... I am the same way, My friends know and there are links on my site but I don't openly talk about! THe best thing I did was write a blog and a Note on myspeacew and facebook explaining what it is for me and then if anyone asks I just reference them there haha!
I just say I do it so that family who live far from us (which would be everyone) can keep up with what we're doing and see pics of the kids without me having to individually email each person. I figure that when I finally get caught up on scrapbooking, I'll have somewhere to look to "remember" some of the details.
You say you met on eHarmony or Match.com Choose one, and play with it. Let them leave believing it.
if it makes you feel any better/ less nerdy, the second i saw "Cullen" all i could think was "edward!"...yes i am a twi-nerd. and i don't think your a dork for blogging; i'd blog more often if my kid would stop trying to hit random button on my keyboard whenever i TRY to update.
Totally know what you mean! I don't hide it from my friends but I'm not talking about it really either. Blogging is how I get my military world support, so sometimes I describe it that way. I feel more normal knowing how many of us actually feel this way though.
p.s. I love the Cullen's hahaha
I feel like I ALWAYS talk about blogging! LOL And I totally think some people think I'm a freak, but then again most of my "in real life" friends read my blog too, mostly because they've been ON my blog at some point... or they just want to make sure I'm not talking about them! haha Seriously though I have no issues talking about blogging... I may need to seek therapy. But that's a whole different issue! LOL
I TOTALLY agree. I dont explain much either because I think my friends would be like, "huh, what?" lol. I do have a few friends that read the blog along with some family members but some think I am just plain crazy to put my life out there like I do. It is therapy people lol.
LOL - I haven't even shared my Blog with immediate family members! You're right - they just wouldn't "get it."
Baby Military T-Shirt Giveaway here "My Daddy Is Coming Home!"
I COULD NOT agree more! I've started talking about it a bit more, but there are definitely certain people I won't talk about it with at all. Mostly because I know they won't understand. Even some people that do know will still roll their eyes whenever I talk about it. Luckily, my husband gets it and supports it. He reads it pretty often and ALWAYS has to hear about "my blog friend this or that". HA! I don't think anyone can really understand how close you actually get with your "blog friends" unless they actually have a blog. I was skeptical at first too. But then you just meet these people and they really do become your "real life" friends. Which I think is only natural.. I mean most people will only read blogs they can relate too.
I don't have any RLF's that are in the military, so y'all are all I have. And I've been loving that. It's such a source of comfort. So anyways.. long story short... WE don't think your a big dork! But.. ehhh.. consider the source ;)
You know, so few IRL people know about my blog (as in under 5) that I haven't had to explain it yet... But sooner or later that day will come. Hopefully that day doesn't come soon. :-)
I just started blogging yet already feel the same way! I can't wait to meet new friends from the blogger community who have an idea of what it's like! Currently none of my "real life" friends know but like you, I'm not going out of my way to hide anything. If they find it, I like to think my blog will be a pleasant surprise and a good read. Can't wait to begin blogging about the perils and joys of being a military spouse! :)
By the way, what a great topic! Haha, can you tell how excited I am about blogging? Lol.
Hah. I don't tell anyone about it, so I don't know if anyone I know actually reads it. I was actually thinking about that the other day... what happens if I finally get to meet some of the fellow blogging ladies... how do I explain them to P? lol
Plus I met P on eharmony (my secret is out!), so I have a few internet secrets. If my friends ask how he and I met, I tell them the truth, but I don't make a point of telling people. I have plenty of military friends, so people naturally assume I know him through them. It works out well. :)
I keep it to myself...simply because it is for me. I am cool keeping things to myself. I wouldn't lie about it or anything. I just keep it on the down low...kind of like I don't tell others what color my underwear is on a daily basis.
Sorry bout that...you should feel great about yourself!!! Your blog is so sassy!!!!
...and I am far from pasty...and I don't even play role playing action video games...yet.
You are a dork!
I know how you feel!
Whenever I mention people I've met through my blog, or stories they've told, I always feel kinda silly!
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