Why I should avoid vague posts
I closed comments on my post from earlier today because I had three family members ask me if it was about them or another member of the family. No, it’s not. That is why I should not write crap like that! Sorry to transfer my stress to you all! I had a wonderful time with my family this weekend, like I usually do.
This whole situation (writing the blog post and taking it down) makes me think about what sort of presence I want to have online. Now that I am on twitter (kind of), I have noticed way more snarky content than I ever care to see, and I am noticing it in some blogs I read too. I don’t need those negative vibes in my life, because I have them in person already! And I don’t want to contribute to that online. So I’ll try to avoid those vague, whiney posts.
Themocracy
I hear ya. Sometimes it is helpful to vent to sympathetic ears, but online is hard because you don’t want to be too specific about what you’re venting about, but then when you’re not specific, it’s hard for people to know what’s going on. I guess you can always e-mail us to vent!
I felt a wee bit bad about my response to your post, which was also negative, so feel free to delete that part. You can leave the part about how cute you look in your cat costume!
I should just create a big group email when I want to vent. Or do password-protected posts. But those are so obnoxious!
Don’t feel bad about your response! I was happy someone could relate! 🙂
Sometimes whiny posts are necessary!
I agree with trying to stay away from all the negativity, because there sure is a lot of it out there, but getting it out is good too.
I know what you mean, but it’s good for you to be honest, too!
You weren’t being whiney. Venting is totally okay! Part of life. Hope your day has gotten better. You make a really cute kitty!
I must admit that I don’t mind a “whiney” post here or there, in part because it makes you seem real. Sometimes, I wonder about other blogs and bloggers who seem almost pollyanna-ish, as though they have their fingers in their ears and are saying “I can’t hear you!”. BUT, as you said, it is hard because you can’t, or don’t want to, divulge too much, so then people make assumptions.
Oh, I know what blogs you are talking about. And I don’t want to turn in to that, because my life isn’t perfect! But I am mostly happy and if I want to post something whiney, I better be more specific 😉
Oh geez, sorry if my blog contributes to the snarkiness factor in your life!
It doesn’t 🙂
I totally got your first post, and understood this follow-up as well. I have a hard time censoring myself, but at the same time I don’t want to ever insult anyone.
Everyone has those days – don’t feel bad about needed to vent.
Thanks bobbi 🙂
It’s hard to toe the line between venting for your own mental health and alarming those who personalize things we write on our blogs. I’ve been there.
I personally don’t think you should censor yourself anymore than you do with posts like that. Being vague is similar to protecting the names of those that may read your post. Calling someone out by name in public doesn’t work to resolve the issue. But blogging about the general idea of what’s bothering you is 100% good. It allows you to vent about something, getting reasonable people’s responses.
Since I recently did this, it really helped get me back to a better place a lot quicker, than just simply stewing about it without talking about what happened.
As for those that think it’s about them, I always hear that Carly Simon song in my head “You’re So Vain… I bet you think this post is about you” (slightly altered lyrics). Seems others always have to wonder what others may or may not being saying about them. It’s either guilt or self-absorbed with one’s self that elicits those inquiries.
The thing is, I didn’t think my family would think that post was about them… but the timing just seemed to be off, since I had just come home from seeing them. Now it makes me feel like I can’t blog about things like that at all.
Personally, I would still blog without restraint. While that is easier said than done, there’s something liberating about not having to self-censure yourself when you want to discuss a topic. I do some self-censoring, but mostly by leaving out sensitive details and not mentioning names. I find that I can still get my point across without feeling like someone thinks it’s about them.
Well, I feel like I am going to write 30 negative posts in 30 days, so you may want to block me until then!
Ha. I should have been more clear. I don’t mind reading about crappy stuff going on in people’s lives, or them feeling negative about a situation… it’s more the people who are making everything negative that is getting to me. It’s the people who complain about every little thing… they’re just really unhappy people.
I know mine isn’t a snark fest so I won’t apologize 🙂 I do feel bad for you because I know it feels stifling to be censored, but it feels necessary!
Love ya Kim!
You probably know exactly what I am talking about! You always do. Thanks! 🙂