It is so complicated. I tend to think that some of the people I know through their blogs are probably a lot like the way I imagine them because there is such a strong authenticity that comes through, but who knows? And is it just that they are people who tend to write everyday, several times a day, about the mundane aspects of life and therefore I think I am getting the “whole story”? If someone writes fewer posts, do we “know” them less?

Maybe we should start a meme where we ask our readers to describe who they think we are based on our blogs.

I like pi’s idea of a meme! I read that earlier and liked it and thought I’d spend some time thinking about it, but it didn’t happen.

Also, I often feel like I get to “know” people even more by the comments they leave on my blog. Outside of one’s own terrain, it’s often easier to show another side of one’s self.

Can I say again how much I love the header?! The first time I viewed it, it was just all colors. Ahh, pretty colors. It’s like those prints they used to show at the mall and you had to stare at it a while to find it. It was only the second time that I saw the imagery. It’s just really captivating and original. It may be my all-time blog header ever anywhere.

I suppose it’s possible to deliberately put forth a carefully crafted image in your blogs. But, to me, that doesn’t seem to be taking advantage of one of the best benefits of blogging - a true exchange of ideas and support. Because if what you’re sending forth is not real, so to speak, then the sharing is not real either. It’s all kind of a sham. And what fun is that?

Pi, thanks. I always think people are much like their blogs are, unless they’re clearly putting on a persona. But I know, also, that I am wrong. Not that they’re hugely different, but the differences are enough. I do not know how different I appear to be from my blog based on the people who’ve met me.

Yes, I think that people who write a lot or often I know better. But does knowing about someone’s grocery shopping help? Does not knowing about them hurt? What about time, do I know you much better than bloggers I;ve not been reading for 3 plus years? That goes into what PJM says, because no, it’s not a narrative, but over long enough, isn’t it? Ish?

Shelly, I think we all have to misdirect, sometimes. But I think sometimes it’s a bigger clue, though to something else. And yes, I leave comments about things I don’t/won’t blog about.

Rebecca, that’s a good point. But if I keep most of my interactions with friends hidden — even the existence of them — am I not hiding a lot about myself?

Putting together an image of yourself is good for another kind of blogging. To test out who you can be, or could have been, to imagine a different sort of life. Even to test out writing fiction. I like some of those blogs, when I know what they’re doing. And I understand the others, though I admit sometimes I feel a bit betrayed by them.

I’ve never felt that I was telling my readers all about my life. Each day I pick one thing that might be of interest and write about it. That leaves out a whole lot.

I can’t even imagine how it would be possible, over the long term, to keep that from being true - unless one approached blog posts as scenes in a play or novel and put yourself in character before beginning to write. I can see how that might be fun or entertaining. But I’d also want a blog where I could be me.

I leave lots and lots out of my blog. Trying to be anonymous and private in a public space. Hehe. My blog’s all very safe and boring (documenting school stuff). It eases my nervous energy to see what’s getting done. I really hope no one thinks my blog is my whole life. :)

I wish I could feel freer to write more stuff down. I don’t know why I can’t or don’t. When I started the blog, I started it with the same intentions I always had when I started a journal or diary when I was young: “This is it, total honesty, I’m going to write it ALL down. Pour it all out there on the page.” And - as always - I chickened out - and it’s structured, cryptic, guarded, detached (which is definitely a part of me and how I interact with people I don’t know).