AAG: "You can write about taking out the trash, and if you write it well, it's of value."
Moderator: "Is keeping a journal or a diary different or similar than blogging?"
Audience points:
- It is different because you know you will get feedback on your account.
- An online journal is a way to share experiences--and issues.
- Women writing blogs is powerful because it is a consciously constructed narrative--I can say what I was thinking,
- "Blogging personal stories makes it okay to be human. To be who you are."
- "One of the important things about personal blogs is that the true story of what happened gets told."
I'm interested in how people decide who to write about others form a philosophy of what and how much to share The panel says:
- Heather: I focus on me and my reactions, not the other person (I agree with that.)
- Kris: It's always about them for the person who reads it, if they find it.
- Stacy: I might talk briefly about my boyfriend, but I try to respect his own life and keep him out of it. I try not to bring people into it who don't want to be.
Audience points:
- If one woman told the truth the world would split open--this is partly true as women tell the truth about their lives--it becomes a radically honest framework for change.
- "I have been dunmped multiple times for my blog--they couldn't handle it."
- "I went fron bitching about my husband to being so happy because my mother in law started reading my blog," aka self-censorship. (Do parent bloggers have to hold back? Yes, of course.)
Moderator: Do personal blogs allow us to get beyond common sterotypes (Susan sez: This is a GREAT question!) Panel sez:
- I like I can be not thin, not young, and have a great sex life and a great sez blog.
- I know people think I am white, because I am erudite (paraphrase), but I am a young black woman.
- People ask me if I am married: No. Do I have kids: No. I am just not what they expect. (another paraphrase).
Audience:
- Are we really being honesty? Is blogging truly a complete record?
- "If I can't call you as asshole to your face, I am not going to put it out there."
- Draft folders are for personal entries no one wants to publish.
- MochaMomma: Race is another identity issue.
- Mary Tsao: We give the world a gift when we write about ourselves...but I get uncomfortable when my friends want to share their intimate details--and expect me to write about it. (another paraphrase)
Susan sez: These sessions--honest talk that appreciates tone, nuance and intent, are the reasons I treasure the sessions at BlogHer. I am also amazed at how many mommybloggers are here--this is a community that truly benefits from being given voice--I wish that single daters were as present and coherent as a community online.
link to original post