I began my old blog in 2006 as a way to keep up with family. And then, something surprising happened. People I didn't know started showing up. Over time, I became more open about my life as I worked my way through a separation and divorce and dating and relationships. And I started gaining local notice, something I did not want. The blog morphed and jumped URLs a number of times in an attempt to protect my privacy. Finally, I went fully underground, making the blog private and restricting it to invited readers. But I lost something in the process - I've found that I miss the chance visits from around the world, and the evolving community that can only come from an open blog. During my recent blog hiatus, I made a decision to lay the old blog to rest. Sort of. I'm not deleting it, because I want to keep the posts. But I'm not transporting them here as I have always done in the past - those old posts are going into hiding. This one will have the same blog name, same avatar, same identity, but stripped to the bones and reincarnated.
Well, your title scared me over on the other blog! Glad you will still be here, as I always enjoy my visits here, there or wherever you are!
ReplyDeleteI find it impossible to stay away!
DeleteI know a little of how you feel. At one point I wrote in a character in my Suzie's House serial that was loosely based on a couple of real-life teachers my son had to endure. I obviously don't use my real name and was careful of that all along, but I did tell a few local friends about my blog. Next thing I knew, one of the teachers in question was giving me some very dirty looks. Those looks cleared up when I let it be known the character wasn't based on only one person and wasn't intended to be realistic.
ReplyDeletehe worst for me was when someone I had broken up with googled my email address and found my blog! I learned to make a separate email account for it.
DeleteI'm sure at some point I'm actually going to want that. Hadn't thought of it as a hazard, but it certainly was for you.
DeleteIt's one of those things that wouldn't have occurred to me until it happened.
DeleteWelcome, new blog! Can I officially cut the ribbon and make the opening speech?
ReplyDeleteI've managed to protect the privacy of my blog by being very careful who I reveal it to. Definitely not anyone at work or the neighbours. I know what you mean about the chance visits from around the world - I wouldn't want to shut those out.
I have never given my blog address to coworkers/neighbors/etc. And yet, people find me.
DeleteWelcome to your new...or at least reonvated home! I am not particularly secretive in my blog, but I don't think anyone I know has sought me out. Probably because I am not all that intriguing :-D I guess that's got its upside.
ReplyDeleteI think if I had a different profession, I'd be less worried about it.
DeleteI'm TICKLED pink that you are back....
ReplyDeleteMs. Betty Francis Skinner...
Mumms the word...(Brut 2005)
You STILL Rock Doc!!!!!
Thanks! I think this will be much easier.
DeleteI am glad you are back!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI came looking for a 55 - but perhaps that's secret too? Hehehe! Good Luck...
ReplyDeleteSee - first day up and I get a random visitor. I've missed that.
DeleteNot random...you visited my place first...I want to know the drama...
ReplyDeleteI guess I don't worry about my secrecy because of the life I used to live...all my friends and family had to suffer through it...but I am very good at keeping others secrets (wink wink, nudge nudge)
Haha
Wander
Random or not, I welcome any visitor. But, as a psychologist, I worry about people who know me reading about my personal life. Which hasn't been the purest! I'm going ot have to figure out as I go how to keep a balance.
DeleteWrite "fiction" that ts safe enough...and give it enough time to have a sepperation...and put a fiction desclamer on it :-)
DeleteOh, I'm non-fiction all the way - you'll see!
DeleteI'm so glad that I decided to look online today! I have been kind of off in my own little world this week. Too much to do. I would not have wanted to miss this or you! Glad that you are on again.
ReplyDeleteI do understand about unwanted folk showing up on your blog. I've had that happen to and its a very personal invasion. Here's to a wonderful new start!
If you hadn't found me, I'd have come back and prodded you. :-)
DeleteI remember when you jumped ship - maybe it's just an occupational hazard for those of us who would prefer not to be found.
And I have been doing a lot of the opposite. I started out trying very hard to keep my identity private, and have begun to loosen up a little. It is hard to keep your personal stuff out of posts that are personal! I have never told anyone that I have a blog, but some family members have found it and are lurkers. Hope you find this more enjoyable. It is so much fun to meet random folks, like you!
ReplyDeleteI have told all of my family except one sib that I am no longer blogging, and I've moved. I think that's done the trick. I hope so! They were quite judgmental and I'd rather not deal with that.
Deletewoot...here is to openness even if it must be guarded....haha on telling fam you stopped...smiles...
ReplyDeleteGuarded openness - I like that!
Deleteoh quadruple yay! i've missed connecting with you regularly; my fault in taking an extra minute to track you down but this is so much easier.
ReplyDeletei know i could not make my blog unknown because anyone who wanted to could google my name and there is my blog. but come to think of it maybe that's because my name is in the blog?
cs, here is my update on what's going on with you:
'Because I am involved with someone locally who I would not hurt or betray for anything in the world'
tender....
i'm-so-glad-you're-here!
love
kj
True - I very carefully do not attach my name to my blog, even though lots of people know it by now.
DeleteAnd the update on me - for now. That's all I can say.
♥
I totally understand. When I first began blogging, nobody in my 'real life' read it. Now that some of my family read it, I find myself editing myself at times and I miss being able to write exactly what's on my mind sometimes. Glad you are still around.
ReplyDeleteI had to ditch most of my family because I was getting back a fair amount of judgment and assumptions ased on what I'd written. Kinda bugged me!
DeleteDropping by to say hi to the new blog. I'm glad you decided to keep up with blogging despite the challenges and tendency for people to seek you out.
ReplyDeleteAnd the new blog says hi back.
DeleteThere is something really cool about having random visitors find you, I am always excited to see that.
ReplyDeleteSo far no-one I know (whom I have told) has been interested in my blog, which is probably a good thing. though I feel a pang of hurt pride sometimes, which makes no sense.
It's funny you say that - when I first started blogging my then-husband mostly wouldn't read it. He felt like it was just one big exercise in narcissism. Guess I should have seen where we were headed from that!
DeleteYay for the new blog. You and your blog should not be undercover but deserves to be proudly displayed to the blogosphere. Sometimes it is better to hide in plain sight. All the best for the new direction.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I wish I could selectively put a black-out on the area around me so I wouldn't have to worry about it,
DeleteWelcome back to the blogosphere. You can't step in the same river twice, so let's hope the flow goes well. And thanks for the heads up about Angry Man who posted the misogynist rant on my blog--I've little patience for men or women who go off the deep end generalizing (and trashing) wo/men. Not a therapist, but pretty sure the problem is theirs. Peace out.
ReplyDeleteThanks, good to be here.
DeleteThat guy, whoever he is, posts the same piece of drivel each time. I have no patience, either, for man- or woman-bashing.
Okay good, you're going on my sidebar.
ReplyDeleteI'm starting with your first post as I like your style and want to get to know your doings from scratch. And I see they won't be from scratch and admire your reasons for continuing to blog in a different way...less revealing....very wise.
ReplyDeleteSo now back to your June 2012 and catch-up. Thanks for the interest you've provided so far.
"I made a decision to lay the old blog to rest. Sort of. I'm not deleting it, because I want to keep the posts. But I'm not transporting them here as I have always done in the past."
ReplyDeleteHow did you do that? I want to keep my old blog, but hide it, I guess. Is there an easy way?