January 16, 2012

TMI Much?

Last week my friends Erica and Kodi did posts about blogging.   Do people in your life {real life} know about your blog?  Do you feel vulnerable when you post on your own blog?  You know, those kinds of blogger questions, that only another blogger would understand.
I started thinking about this ole blog.
People in my real life know about it, scary thought.  Before I had a Facebook page for L.A.I.D. I would occasionally post updates under my personal Facebook, mistake #1.  I wish I'd never done that.  I really would like to keep my blogging life separate from my personal but there's nothing I can do about that now.  We put that out there and while we may think friends and family don't "know" about it, they are just a few clicks away from figuring it all out {think about it}. It just makes me feel weird knowing that "friends" from high school are reading {I know you are, don't try to deny it} and looking at pictures of my fat belly and precious baby.  It's just weird.  But alas, it is what it is.  I think the hardest part was finding out that a lot of my in-laws were reading.  Ensue panic!  None of them have really said much, I get the occasional comment, but still just knowing makes me all nervous.  Which brings me to point numero dos.
Do I ever feel vulnerable when I write?  I'd like to say no, and for the most part that is true.  I don't think about a lot of the stuff I say until after I've hit publish, I don't.  I'd like to think that's a good thing.  It means I'm keeping it real, being honest, and living this blog life to the fullest.  Right?  But then there are moments in time where I think to myself, "OMG have I posted anything I wouldn't want my in-laws to read or know about?" and I panic, majorly.  I mean my life is pretty much an open book but golly what if I spilled something that would make them hate me?  Or think less of me?  Or think I'm a totally bitch?  Or be appalled by my potty mouth?  EEK!  But no one has disowned me yet so I guess I'm doing OK.
Although I've never gotten any nasty comments or haters {knock on wood} I have received one email concerning my language and love for 4 letter words.  If that is offensive to anyone else, I'm sorry but I write like I talk and sometimes that includes profanities, sue me.  I try to keep it real here and, for the most part, I think you guys appreciate that {tell me if I'm wrong}.  
Sometimes I wonder if I'm keeping it too real, like when I show you guys my post baby belly and pictures of me with no makeup.  Like, did I really just put that stuff on the WORLD wide web?  I mean that's pretty much like writing it in stone, it's going to be there, to haunt me, until the day that I die.  But I guess that's a risk we all take when we blog about personal stuff.  I think the risk is worth the reward when you get a comment or an email from a reader saying that you've inspired them or you've helped them get out of a bad relationship.  
People that don't blog don't get it.  They think it's weird to form friendships with complete strangers and we say, "stranger?  that's my BFF!".  They think it's odd that we share so much personal information with the world and we say that we're just documenting life.  It's a blogging thing, you wouldn't get it.

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19 comments:

  1. I totally get it, Shannon. I mean, before you introduced me to this whole different world...I would have NEVER even considered writing about some of the things that I've written about and posted them on the internet. GAH! But, it's kind of like a right of passage that we bloggers have. If you don't like it, then don't read it. And if you don't blog...then you wouldn't understand. We have a sort of connection with fellow bloggers that nobody else could have. And non bloggers just don't get it. I love my new found friends, and I love when I see that I have yet ANOTHER follower. It makes me feel so good, and that maybe I AM reaching out to someone...so that's like a great feeling on a whole nother level. I love it, and I want to thank you for introducing me to this world! I wouldn't have my life any other way now. It's perfect! I have my amazing family...a cousin that I talk to everyday that I haven't seen in over 10 years...and well...blogging. Life couldn't be better. LOL!

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  2. wow can i relate to this -- putting it all out there for real (none of that fake shit) is hardcore & scary as hell! my family knows i blog but rarely reads. and i made the same mistake with my mama/photography blog in regards to posting it on facebook (before i made my blog pages) & got extended family reading that i wish wouldn't. oh well -- live & learn.
    my diet blog is no holds bar & all mine. i swear like a sailor & don't give a flip about it. nor do i make apologies. that blog is for me & me only -- the rest of the world can four letter word off!

    i love your blog mostly because you are REAL & put it all out there! keep being you & doing what you do because you totally rock balls!

    xxoo
    cyn

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  3. Great post! That's what I love about you and your blog...you keep it real and you blog from your heart. If you start thinking about everyone who may be reading and worrying about it, it inhibits your voice. I can relate, but I def. haven't reached the level of personal depth in my blog that you have...I'm too scared. You're an inspiration and you're hilarious too. Don't change a thing. ~Crissa

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  4. I absolutely looooovvveee this post!! It is soo true!! We may be vulnerable but no one understands unless they also blog- and I like that this is a very special bond I get to share with you and other blogger friends because these are friendships I really appreciate and am truly inspired by!! Thanks girlfriend!!

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  5. I can relate too. Sometimes I wish I had stayed anonymous from the get go, because truthfully there is a lot I don't write because I know lots of people from my real life are reading. A couple times I've been aware of people being perturbed with me because of something I've written about, even though I try to be discrete when it comes to other people's business, and if I share it on my blog then I consider it "mine" to share. I even had one person get mad at me because she didn't think I write about her enough! Goes to show that you can't please everyone, so don't even try.

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  6. Everything you've said is very true. I think we've all experienced these types of doubts. But, ya know what, I've come to a point now where I'm so unbelievably comfortable in my own skin that I just don't even care. If those people were as awesome as I am, they'd have a blog too! Okay, that was a joke. :)

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  7. So true. I really wish my blog would have stayed private from family. Just the other day I found out that 2 of my husband's aunts and a bunch of cousins read it. Then it makes me stop and think if I've said anything that might offend them or make them think differently of me. I hate that.

    Most of the time I just try to forget that anyone I really knows reads it, because it should be about what I want to write about, not anyone else.

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  8. Yea. I get it. I don't ever, ever, ever link my blog to my personal facebook. But it's kind of silly that I don't considering EVERYONE and their mom knows about my blog and reads it. A scary amount of local people read my blog. I fear I'll pick my nose at target accidentally and a blog reader will see. It has happened before, I bet. So yea. I get it. But I just try to maintain that I don't really share anything I woudn't "share" in general, you know? This is me.

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  9. Four letter words??? Keep em coming, I like it and if someone doesn't like it...then don't read, duh!

    I also made the mistake of posting a link to my Facebook page and now people I know IRL read and I wish only my cyber friends knew about my blog. I tend to over share and cuss but now when I write I think Oh I better not drop the F bomb since Aunt Betty Sue might read this. I still do but I feel a little funny when I see people in person and I wonder if they read "that" post where I talk about babies coming out of my lady parts or milk coming out of my boobs. Ah well...it's real life.

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  10. I think it boils down exactly to how you said, "People who don't blog don't get it." Period.

    And I hope I didn't come off as ignorant in my post, assuming that no one else I know reads mine, but that's certainly hat I'm aiming for, haha. I wish there was a magical statistic that showed "Real Life Visits of People Who Won't Admit They're Reading". That's not asking too much?

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  11. Hi Shannon,
    I'm new to the "blogging world" and already totally get what your saying. I found your blog last week - the same week I started, it was fate, LOL! But seriously already I have questioned some of the things I have written b/c what if this or that might hurt a family members feelings. I'm starting to think it was a real bad idea to tell all of my family about the blog. But I suppose they would have found out eventually. Your blogs are awesome and I love reading them, THANKS!

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  12. I do not talk about my blog in real life. Ever. I'm completely honest on my blog and in real life, but for some reason I feel like if I knew the people I know were reading my blog, it would be like being caught naked. which is dumb. I had one person tell me they read my blog in real life and I almost died. They just didn't get it. Which is fine. I like my blog world.

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  13. I could've written this post word for word. And, this is exactly why I won't add my blog link to my Twitter account...which, I really want to do, since a lot of my new Twitter friends don't follow me.

    But, I dont' want 'real life' friends/family reading it. It's just weird to me...and I'm sure it would be for them, too. And, I would feel like I'm being judged...I hate that.

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  14. Ya- NO WAY would I put my blog on FB. I have already shut down one blog (Made private) when there were too many hits from my area...I only shared it with a few close friends and I knew the traffic was NOT coming from them. I started over at a new site- Didnt mention it on my old one. I now blog at the private one when I have stuff that is private and I dont want to risk certain family finding :) Or work people,etc. I dont think its a big deal to put your belly up though- that isnt going to do any harm or hurt any potential employment down the road, etc.

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  15. I just want to say that I really enjoy reading your blog.. Crystal is like a sister to me, and I enjoy reading your guys' blogs basically daily!! And you are so right.. there are a lot of times where people hesitate about "what's too far" or "what's too much"...and I think the answer really is.. that there isn't a limit.

    A blog for us, is a way of life. It's not a thought, but an action.. and I think that when you put something on your blog, sometimes its just a basic thought or idea..but something there is a story behind it.. and feeling.. it's voicing (or writing out ;) ) your opinions on things, people, products, and the world!

    Would that be such a crime just to be sitting there and having a conversation with a family member? A friend? A complete stranger? The only difference is that we are allowing the world to see our opinions, thoughts, and feelings. To me.. it's a bravery that we have to know that someone out there is going to disagree.. Someone out there isn't going to like what we have to say.. but that's what makes blogging beautiful.. it allows us to open our eyes to how other people see and view things. :)

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  16. The part about blogging that I loved was making those connections. I started writing when I was newly engaged almost 6 years ago and made several "friends' who were in the same boat. I've seen those girls move and have babies and soon we'll all celebrate our 5th wedding annivesary. That's pretty awesome. The part i don't like is feeling like I can't write whatever I want because I'm afraid that someone I love will find it. I'm not worried I'll offend them, and I feel like I'm pretty much who I really am with everyone, but it's nice to have some things that are just your own. When I got pregnant with M, I stopped, kind of out of necessity, because I felt horrible, and kind of because I felt bad keeping my family away from something so important. That's what I love about twitter. Now I can keep up those connections in little snippets and still have my privacy. (Although my family keeps wondering why I'm never on facebook anymore!) Maybe I'll get back into the blog habit some day, but in the mean time, I love learning more about y'all through your blogs!

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  17. I'm behind on reading- sorry dude. Thanks for linking to me. I still have mixed feelings about it. I guess sometimes I hope my blog posts can help people in some small way, so why would I want to exclude my IRL peeps, but then there are nights like tonight where I have a million thoughts and I wanted to just pour my heart out and cry and get it on the blog, but I froze. I hate that about myself, but it's the truth.

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  18. I've been blogging for a year now and i *think* my dad is the only one that knows about my blog! I would tell close friends and such but they don't understand.
    This weekend actually my bff thought she overheard her bff say that she blogged. my bff couldn't have said "you BLOG?!" fast enough. oh non-bloggers.

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  19. I love this!!!! Preach on sistah! I feel like people don't get blogging. I compare being real on my blog with just being me in everyday life. I don't go around pretending I'm not me when I meet strangers in real life. So why be someone I'm not on my blog?

    P.S. I love your blog, how open and honest you are and just you in general! The end.

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