I have a friend who blogs quite regularly. The posts are
typical slices of life – glimpses into day-to-day activities and family stuff.
Not boring at all, more like ‘comfort blogging.’
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| Heart in Darkness |
Also the delivery of these scenes, the writing, is good.
Sometimes joyous moments are recounted, and sometimes concerns about family
members and friends darken this writer’s heart. Either way, it’s a good read. And
at some point I think they mentioned the term “dark blog.”
Now I’m not sure what actually happened, but the premise
was that this friend was starting a secondary blog, to write about private
things. Things that weren’t meant to be shared with anyone. Or perhaps by anyone
who could actually identify the author.
Now, this friend’s current blog does mention plenty of
private things, but they are different. Not too different from some things I
blog about. Sometimes painful things. When I post in this space, of course I
know it’s public, but there’s still a sense of anonymity. Crazy idea, that. My
justification is that I can be more of myself here. On Facebook I have to be a
bit more careful. I have certain family members, peers, and some young people
that I don’t want to offend by cursing or ranting against uptight conservative
Republicans. ; )
But if someone stumbles across this blog and sees my
flinging of the fucks and more, well – I didn’t actually invite them here. It’s not like I’m flaunting it.
And of course, the above is really some degree of
bullshit. I have linked my blog on Facebook, and it’s also part of my email
signature line. So, perhaps the invitation takes a more passive-aggressive
approach – I dunno.
But the point is kids – I like the idea of dark blogging.
A place to really examine what gives me anxiety, stress and even shame. I know
what that is, it’s called a diary. No one is supposed to read a diary; it’s
just the private musings of the author and beyond that, no one else.
But we take to the internet, the most public of forums to
express the most private horrors. The vastness of the Ethernet seems like a
safe place for confessions. I think it’s because we really want someone to read
our thoughts. For commiseration or validation, or even punishment – we crave
that connection that we can’t get with diary.
I will say that – and wow this makes me feel old – but those
young kids are braver than I. Either they don’t care about filtering, or
decorum, or whatever, but it feels like their blogs, vlogs and social network
postings are SO much more personal than what I’m capable of, for good or for
bad.
Maybe it’s because Gen-X,Y,Z have figured out at a
younger age something very, very important:
Don’t worry about what others think about you!
By not caring too much about what people
think, I'm able to think for myself and propagate ideas which are very often
unpopular. And I succeed.
- Albert Ellis
Or something a little
different, but still applicable:
“Fashion
fades, only style remains the same – Coco Chanel
And of course:
Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the
enemy of growth.
- John F. Kennedy
