I don’t actually know how ‘anonymous’ I am anymore. With just a few clicks anyone could probably find out quite a lot about me. If I were living alone this might bother me more than it does now, mostly to do with being a woman – usually men don’t worry as much about posting their real names, where they live, etc on websites.
So I reckon I’m hardly anonymous at all these days – how about you?
I’m sort of anonymous. I have email contact with quite a few of my blogfriends, so they know my real name. I do try to keep my real name off the blog, however, and I really limit whom I tell about it. I have some nasty anonymous lurkers who once in a while leave rude comments, but I don’t think they know who I really am. Facebook, however, I use my real name on; I figured it wouldn’t be terribly productive if I used a psuedonym.
It’s been kind of a ‘thing’ happening lately, about how some people have come to the conclusion that they actually know *me* from reading my blog, and from there coming up with all sorts of imaginings and accusations … very tiresome.
Meanwhile, many friends I’ve met online (including Nog!) who I’ve also met in person have shown themselves to be just as *REAL* and wonderful as they seemed when we only had pixels to go by.
So, in terms of my REAL SELF I suppose I’m mostly real on my blogs, as I’m always talking about stuff that interests me. But I don’t think this in any way takes away from my own personal anonymity, especially in terms of some people thinking they actually know who I am just from a bit of internet contact.
Yeah, the cartoon is great! You’re right about people thinking they know you because they’ve read your blog. Now, I’m pretty open and honest on my blog, yet there is still a lot missing. One of my real life best friends also reads my blog…When we were on the phone the other night we were talking about what doesn’t get communicated on the blog. It’s really only one aspect of ME as a person. I also marvel from time to time how people can read the blog and assume I’m doing great even though I’m not…a few well-placed exclamation points and some peppy prose creates a sense of positiveness, but it’s what doesn’t get said – that no one who reads knows – that is what is important. And in that way, no one REALLY knows me.
I agree, I don’t feel particularly anonymous online – partly because I have friends from the ‘real’ world who read my blog and see my photos on flickr, but also because I learnt early on that ex-boyfriends have a way of finding me online…
But I try not to worry about it – of course, that might change if ever I’m unlucky enough to be visited/commented on by someone unpleasant.
But also, I heavily edit what I blog about – partly so as not to identify anyone I might mention, partly because writing the worst stuff down makes it more real, and partly because I’m conscious that kids might come across the site by accident.
Anonymity gives one a degree of freedom to express ideas and opinions more freely than is often possible in RL. But it’s almost impossible to interact with a group of people online and preserve total anonymity. The two worlds become permeable to each other.
Yes, but what about all the lurkers? I get between 150-200 views a day showing up on my blog stats, many looking at quite old posts. But I maybe get about ten comments a day. So who are all those people and why don’t they say anything?
Wow – you have way more traffic than I do, that’s for sure. Still, I have my share of lurkers. I have no idea why they don’t leave comments. Too chicken shit? Uninterested? One of the great blogging mysteries…
Well, I reckon a lot of those views come from random search engine terms like:
– high and tight hairdo after a few months
– woodshed for 30 lashes
– nude to pee
– hot fat nude man
– sweating in tights
So I probably don’t want those people leaving messages … 😉
Yeah, I’ve seen some of yours, WC. I just don’t get it though … how does ‘nude to pee’ end up with someone finding casa az? I mean, it’s gotta show up at least a hundred pages along on google, if not more.
I get quite a few lurkers, not as many as you but I haven’t been around long enough, I guess. Most often searched topics that bring people to my blog are “How to teach your puppy not to bark” and “How to keep birds out of your grapes.”
I am not very anonymous, a lot of my readers are people who know me. I discovered last night just exactly how bad this can be. My brother and his wife read my post on Family Vacation, went ballistic and left me a comment threatening to sue me for libel and defamation of character. Geez.
Exactly. It WAS my fault. Oh wait. No, what was my fault was that I wrote about it and used their actual names and described their behavior so that the Whole World (ie. the Internet) could read it. I mentioned to them that they have an exaggerated idea of how many people read my blog. But anyway, in the name of peace, I deleted the offensive post. I am now contemplating how to write another even more scathing one that will not elicit threats of lawsuits. As Jim says, that bridge is already burned.
I don’t know; it just seemed like the thing to do at the time. You probably don’t underestimate the paranoia of my brother’s wife. In a way, I did it mostly to take the pressure off of him, since I am absolutely positive that the comment that “he” posted under the name Darling Brother was written by her, after a large amount of screeching and threats. He already never comes to visit us unless she is on a research trip “somewhere else”. Interestingly, one of the things I said that really tweaked her was the part where I wondered what he saw in her. Not libellous or defamatory, really, but something that REALLY pissed her off. I’m sure she has sworn never to come visit this branch of the family in Missouri EVER AGAin, as if that would be a punishment for us, to never see her (snicker). As Brer Rabbit said to Brer Fox, “Please, Brer Fox, DONT throw me into that briar patch!”
As I reflected on this situation, I decided to change me “deleted” statement. I think the original one is not accurate enough. I honestly don’t want to let these pissy brats look too good. Is that bad of me?
casa azahar 
I don’t actually know how ‘anonymous’ I am anymore. With just a few clicks anyone could probably find out quite a lot about me. If I were living alone this might bother me more than it does now, mostly to do with being a woman – usually men don’t worry as much about posting their real names, where they live, etc on websites.
So I reckon I’m hardly anonymous at all these days – how about you?
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I’m sort of anonymous. I have email contact with quite a few of my blogfriends, so they know my real name. I do try to keep my real name off the blog, however, and I really limit whom I tell about it. I have some nasty anonymous lurkers who once in a while leave rude comments, but I don’t think they know who I really am. Facebook, however, I use my real name on; I figured it wouldn’t be terribly productive if I used a psuedonym.
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Funny cartoon though, eh? 🙂
It’s been kind of a ‘thing’ happening lately, about how some people have come to the conclusion that they actually know *me* from reading my blog, and from there coming up with all sorts of imaginings and accusations … very tiresome.
Meanwhile, many friends I’ve met online (including Nog!) who I’ve also met in person have shown themselves to be just as *REAL* and wonderful as they seemed when we only had pixels to go by.
So, in terms of my REAL SELF I suppose I’m mostly real on my blogs, as I’m always talking about stuff that interests me. But I don’t think this in any way takes away from my own personal anonymity, especially in terms of some people thinking they actually know who I am just from a bit of internet contact.
LikeLike
Yeah, the cartoon is great! You’re right about people thinking they know you because they’ve read your blog. Now, I’m pretty open and honest on my blog, yet there is still a lot missing. One of my real life best friends also reads my blog…When we were on the phone the other night we were talking about what doesn’t get communicated on the blog. It’s really only one aspect of ME as a person. I also marvel from time to time how people can read the blog and assume I’m doing great even though I’m not…a few well-placed exclamation points and some peppy prose creates a sense of positiveness, but it’s what doesn’t get said – that no one who reads knows – that is what is important. And in that way, no one REALLY knows me.
LikeLike
I agree, I don’t feel particularly anonymous online – partly because I have friends from the ‘real’ world who read my blog and see my photos on flickr, but also because I learnt early on that ex-boyfriends have a way of finding me online…
But I try not to worry about it – of course, that might change if ever I’m unlucky enough to be visited/commented on by someone unpleasant.
LikeLike
But also, I heavily edit what I blog about – partly so as not to identify anyone I might mention, partly because writing the worst stuff down makes it more real, and partly because I’m conscious that kids might come across the site by accident.
LikeLike
Anonymity gives one a degree of freedom to express ideas and opinions more freely than is often possible in RL. But it’s almost impossible to interact with a group of people online and preserve total anonymity. The two worlds become permeable to each other.
LikeLike
Yes, but what about all the lurkers? I get between 150-200 views a day showing up on my blog stats, many looking at quite old posts. But I maybe get about ten comments a day. So who are all those people and why don’t they say anything?
LikeLike
Wow – you have way more traffic than I do, that’s for sure. Still, I have my share of lurkers. I have no idea why they don’t leave comments. Too chicken shit? Uninterested? One of the great blogging mysteries…
LikeLike
Well, I reckon a lot of those views come from random search engine terms like:
– high and tight hairdo after a few months
– woodshed for 30 lashes
– nude to pee
– hot fat nude man
– sweating in tights
So I probably don’t want those people leaving messages … 😉
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Oh, those are nothing compared to the ones I get!
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Yeah, I’ve seen some of yours, WC. I just don’t get it though … how does ‘nude to pee’ end up with someone finding casa az? I mean, it’s gotta show up at least a hundred pages along on google, if not more.
LikeLike
I get quite a few lurkers, not as many as you but I haven’t been around long enough, I guess. Most often searched topics that bring people to my blog are “How to teach your puppy not to bark” and “How to keep birds out of your grapes.”
I am not very anonymous, a lot of my readers are people who know me. I discovered last night just exactly how bad this can be. My brother and his wife read my post on Family Vacation, went ballistic and left me a comment threatening to sue me for libel and defamation of character. Geez.
LikeLike
Right, like it’s your fault they behaved like assholes? 🙄
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Exactly. It WAS my fault. Oh wait. No, what was my fault was that I wrote about it and used their actual names and described their behavior so that the Whole World (ie. the Internet) could read it. I mentioned to them that they have an exaggerated idea of how many people read my blog. But anyway, in the name of peace, I deleted the offensive post. I am now contemplating how to write another even more scathing one that will not elicit threats of lawsuits. As Jim says, that bridge is already burned.
LikeLike
You deleted the post??? Why not just change the names to protect the not-so-innocent since your real name isn’t given on your blog?
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I don’t know; it just seemed like the thing to do at the time. You probably don’t underestimate the paranoia of my brother’s wife. In a way, I did it mostly to take the pressure off of him, since I am absolutely positive that the comment that “he” posted under the name Darling Brother was written by her, after a large amount of screeching and threats. He already never comes to visit us unless she is on a research trip “somewhere else”. Interestingly, one of the things I said that really tweaked her was the part where I wondered what he saw in her. Not libellous or defamatory, really, but something that REALLY pissed her off. I’m sure she has sworn never to come visit this branch of the family in Missouri EVER AGAin, as if that would be a punishment for us, to never see her (snicker). As Brer Rabbit said to Brer Fox, “Please, Brer Fox, DONT throw me into that briar patch!”
LikeLike
As I reflected on this situation, I decided to change me “deleted” statement. I think the original one is not accurate enough. I honestly don’t want to let these pissy brats look too good. Is that bad of me?
LikeLike