Jun23
Self Censorship
Killlashandra wrote a comment to me recently, saying that she saw a post on her feed that was no longer there. The truth is that it’s there – just not for the world to see and “critique.” Since I’m talking about Killlashandra who lives a “few miles up I-25″ from me near Albuquerque, it seems timely to quote from her blog “Full Time in New Mexico” on why she writes:
I write because I like words and photography. Combining the two and expressing my own experiences, sharing those ups and downs allows me to make friends, help and support those friends, and receive a hug when needed too. We’ve all got stories to tell, and we’ve got stories we wish others not to experience too, by giving back, hopefully everyone can come away with a little bit of something for themselves too.
I couldn’t agree more. However, as Fleur de Lisa has eloquently said:
Some things, many things, are best left out of the public eye. I don’t want to get dooced, for one thing.
Which brings me to the point… I changed the post that Killlashandra is referring to as a “private post.” I don’t think I’m crazy (however some may beg to differ), but sometimes I do “kick and scream.” I wrote a post that identified my orthopedic surgeon by name, provided a link to his personal website, and generally “spewed venom.” I’m a*n*g*r*y – there I’ve said it.
The written word has power – power to heal and help, or power to defy and destroy. In addition, a photograph is “worth a thousand words” as someone once said. My “tagline” for this blog is “One Woman’s Journey on the Road of Life.” Lately, I’ve hit some big “potholes.” I want to be true to myself in what I’m feeling, but rationally I need to “edit the content.” The world as a whole is not “kind and understanding,” and I don’t want what I write to be used in a negative manner.
Case in point: Heather Armstrong of Dooce says this in her FAQ:
Why can’t I see any posts from those first few months?
Because I was very naive and stupid when I first started this website, wrote horrible things about my family and their religion, and when they found what I had done I took everything down and had a little meeting with myself about boundaries.
Uh, yeah – that could be me… So, I’m “putting on the brakes” so to speak. Who would buy Cali dog food if her “mom” was out of a job or in jail?
6 Comments »Journal, Pondering Life
Well put and well said…
I had an issue not that long ago involving a comment I made on facebook about a private blog wirtten by a good friend of mine. I had completely inadvertently taken her private thoughts and made them public. It is not a mistake I will be repeating. I have learned a valuable lesson about respecting other people’s privacy. Not only that, I learned one about filtering what I put in my blog, because someone could just as easily inadvertently pass along my private thoughts.
I have a public blog as well, and since it is meant to promote my just-getting-started business, I am very careful about the content that I post. I want potential clients to have an insight into who I am, how I feel, what makes me tick, because I fell that people want to KNOW the artists whose work they are displaying or – in this case – wearing. At the same time, there is such a thing as over-sharing, or alientating potential clients with ones personal beliefs or opinions, especially on controversial topics.
Sorry for such a long comment, you gave me some good food for thought.
Very wise. I firmly believe that writing things down is good for the soul. I’ve gotten through many a rough patch in my life by keeping a private journal. Many times I wrote things I really never wanted anyone else to read. It was cathartic for me, but would have been destructive to others. And often once I wrote them down, the negative feelings softened or vanished. Howeer, when your feelings are in the hands of others, there is no way to take them back.
Also, love the Google map of where you are! This will be fun to follow over the next few weeks. Take care.
I did not know the feed reader picked up on private posts and gives me a 404 error. Since I do not use blogger I guess that’s something I don’t know about. And considering all the troubles with the first orthopedic surgeon I don’t blame you for venting and then taking the publicity away from it too.
I do agree writing is a powerful tool. And when it comes to blogging the deep down stuff may come out in my posts, but in an abstract way not always definable to others. I really liked Melody’s Wrapped Emotions project back when she used to have time for it. But I agree with Sandi a private journal is a good thing to have.
BTW – I have read wicked and it’s awesome! I hear it’s being turned into a broadway musical now.
I have gotten a lot better about self-editing. I’ve had to keep a lot out of my blog in the past few months and that’s been hard because I think that it makes my writing somewhat inauthentic and boring. But I do have other people to protect, so I totally get what you mean. I’ve removed several posts from my blog from years ago for certain reasons, reasons I can’t go into in a comment.
We all hit potholes in the road of life, my dear. Just know you have friends out there and I hope you know you can count me as one of them.
I have not seen the one about the surgeon…would like to….following you away….have fun…..
sometimes i get carried away also. i have to remember that i’m a public servant and anything i write can be used against me. that’s dangerous in the profession i’m in.