A little bit weird, a little bit political with a lot of humor.
...and I am the first one to admit it.
Published on November 4, 2005 By historyishere In Blogging
Over the past few days, I’ve really been thinking about my place here at JoeUser. This is no goodbye entry or anything like that, so those of you who have read me in the past, I assure you that I am not going anywhere.

I have almost always made it a point in my online life that I don’t make things personal… that I don’t reveal too much about myself and try to allow others to do the same thing, because when you get personal, you give people ammunition against you later on. It has, for the longest time. served me well, because I’ve seen so many people in the midst of an intellectual argument get blindsided by an insult or comment about their personal life or by a piece of information they revealed months earlier.

I protect myself from being attacked on the personal level by not giving anyone an in, a chink in the phalanx of shields protecting me. As I stated on someone else’s blog, I am all persona here. I think it is probably the writer in me, the part that makes getting rejected on my ideas much easier than being rejected on a personal level. In fact, on the few occasions I have gotten personal by revealing something about myself, whether it be a picture or an anecdote, I felt a grave sense of anxiety.

And the irony is, I had one of the higher-point generating blogs on JU just over a year ago based on fluff, the occasional political piece and the two Simpsons families (one animated, one “musical”), while not really talking about myself or my life. I am not lamenting that I don’t hold that same place of prominence anymore, just observing that fact.

Of course, being insular has had its advantages. I don't think anyone really hates me here(at least not to my knowledge)... and I don't have any lasting enmity towards anyone here. I haven't really had any fights other than as part of a lively debate. It also means that I don't care who reads my entries... I don't have the fear that someone will discover that I've been talking about them behind their back, or that I am revealing something which shouldn't be out in public. I don't fear the retribution of my employers either. But at the same time, I have also denied myself the companionship of my fellow bloggers outside of this space, so it is not a position to take without costs.

*backs slowly away from getting really personal here*

Comments (Page 1)
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on Nov 04, 2005
I know what you mean, historyishere. As a fellow insular blogger, I like to keep things fun and light myself. I just feel weird revealing personal details about my life, knowing it will land on Google for anyone to read.
on Nov 04, 2005

knowing it will land on Google for anyone to read.

True, but someone would have to connect your nom de plume with your real life name.  For many of us, that is not going to be easy.

on Nov 04, 2005
Unless you're the greatest fraud of all time, I think you share more of yourself with us than you realize. We don't know your name or the details of your life, but your personality really comes through in your writing.

You've always been one of my favorite bloggers, and I certainly miss the days when your blogs and comments were all over the forums.

I'm pretty open on my blog...and that has allowed others to make hurtful jabs at me...but I'm not very good at being closed. I come from a family where everyone talks and blabs and knows everyone's business. It's in my nature to share like that. There are a few things here and there that I keep to myself, but on the whole, Texas Wahine is a fair reflection of Brandie.

The fact that I have been so open has had its benefits as well. I've developed some strong bonds of friendship with a few of my fellow JoeUsers, and they showed me a lot of kindness when I was experiencing hurt in my real life.
on Nov 04, 2005
My personal opinion is that the "self" that you display on JU- your persona, as you call it- is more real than the supposed reality you feel that you're hiding. It is not your past or present that make you who you are, because anybody can find themself in nearly any situation. What makes you who you are is your reaction to those situations. And here, on JU, there are situations, which your persona reacts to.

If you made up a fake name, a fake career, and a fake family, it would still be the real you, because you would still react as only you can.

Don't sweat it. Some people like to bring in their personal life. Others don't. But don't feel like it bars to way to having strong relationships either way.

Dan
on Nov 04, 2005
Dusk411: You do what you do so very well... I don't think I've ever put that into any of your review entries, but it is the truth. I can also see how you, personal details and Google could have some problems... as I am sure you are highly referred by search engines when people look for songs and artists.

Dr. Guy: It depends on how motivated someone is to find it out really.

Texas: I don't so much lie or misrepresent myself.... I just project and emphasize different aspects of my personality than I do in real life. For example, I don't really "burn" my fellow bloggers like I do with my friends in real life. A little bit of that comes through in some of my entries, but in real life, I am very caustic. Then again, good burns require delving into the personal as well, which is where this all started.

Dan: I wasn't trying to imply that I am being fake here, or that I am trying to pass myself as someone I am not. Merely that I isolate my intellectual pursuits and such from my personal life. Both spheres are part of who I am. But I can for the most part keep them separate.
on Nov 04, 2005
I frankly do not give a flying frack about who knows what about moderateman, I ain't moderateman!
on Nov 04, 2005
The way I am in real life crosses into how I communicate online...guarded and open only to a certain extent...I consider it a good AND bad thing because I protect myself from being hurt, deceived, humiliated..etc, but I also prevent people from forming closer bonds to me.
on Nov 04, 2005
I am in real life crosses into how I communicate online...guarded and open only to a certain extent...I


I have a little bit of that myself in real life(wow... maybe I am more like myself online after all)
on Nov 04, 2005

Dr. Guy: It depends on how motivated someone is to find it out really.

True again, but then JU is not going to give you away.  The other sources sure are!

on Nov 05, 2005
historyishere: *blushing smiley* Thank you for the compliment.

on Nov 05, 2005
You blasted Lions fan!

(There, I can find something personal and blindside you with it....)

-A.
on Nov 05, 2005
You cut me deep Anglo. You cut me real deep just now.

I mean, using my fandom of the Lions against me... being a fan of them is hard enough as it is... though it could be worse... I could follow the NFL's Job story which is the Minnesota Vikings.

on Nov 05, 2005
I mean, using my fandom of the Lions against me... being a fan of them is hard enough as it is... though it could be worse... I could follow the NFL's Job story which is the Minnesota Vikings.


Or the Moses story, the Oakland Raiders!
on Nov 05, 2005
more like the methuseleh story
on Nov 05, 2005

Reply By: historyisherePosted: Saturday, November 05, 2005
more like the methuseleh story

Where do I send the bomb!

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