The Blog World....
Lately, I have been doing quite abit of observing of the people around me. Not that I don't normally do that but it just seems as though I have noticed more and more and more. Know what I mean?
The blog world! Now maybe I am going to end up getting a few haters with these comments but I am willing to risk it to be quite honest with you. The internet is truly a great thing. It allows you to express yourself in ways you probably would never do except with some of your closest friends. I love being able to write my thoughts and feelings. Being able to vent when needed is a plus too. But here is what I don't get about blogging. How come there are people who actually think they 'KNOW' you from reading your blog??? Does anyone know what I mean?
There are actually people out there who consider you their 'best friend' when in fact they really don't have a clue as to who you are. Yes they may share your views on many things and enjoy reading the thoughts spilling forth from your brain but does that mean they know you? No it doesn't. I have encountered this a few times with this whole blogging thing. I have actually had people send me emails saying they are upset because I haven't been to their blogs and commented on their posts. And they assume because I haven't been around that something is wrong!!! Can't they assume that something might actually be right??? Can't they assume that I might actually be happy??? Can they not realize that I actually have a life outside of the blog world? And who cares anyway??? I mean if you are truly friends with someone, you share a life with them outside of blogging whether it be personal emails or phone calls or even seeing them on occasion right???
In a way it is sad. It tells me these particular people are unsatisfied with their lives outside of the "blogging" world. I will admit, when I first started blogging I was lonely as hell but I did not use my blog as a cure. I merely used it as an outlet. I didn't rely on my blog to heal what ailed me but a tool for my expressions and thoughts. It was my journal. It allowed me to vent in a different medium than I had before and it felt good but it was not my everything. It was not my world.
Now the internet has brought good things to my life. In fact, I met Michael from blogging. But it started off slowly. We didn't leave each other posts and automatically assume we were made for each other. It was a very slow process. In fact, it took 5 months before we actually even spoke to each other over a telephone and that was only after blogging, then emails and then instant messaging. But I chose that just as he did. WE chose that. It wasn't one sided. It wasn't one of us assuming the other felt the same. Does that make sense at all??? Yes Michael is my best friend. Yes he is my lover and yes we are meant for each other but we found that out along the way and not just with a comment or two.
I have a few actual friends who read my blog but these friends who I either hang out with in my "real life" or communicate with either by email or phone. NV has been my best friend since I was 21. I know her and she knows me. She doesn't get upset when I don't make comments on her blog and doesn't assume my world is in chaos (even though it usually is...**snicker**) when I don't leave her comments. I love her blog but I love talking to her even more. I love spending my time with her more than that.....
I will admit, there are some people whose blogs I read that I would love to meet one day. I wouldn't mind getting to know them outside the blog world but I would never assume they feel the same as I do.
I guess my point to this whole post is simply to tell people to relax. Take a breath. Enjoy the blogs for what they are and that is simply an outlet. A medium. Don't assume you know someone inside and out because of what you read. And don't assume someone is your 'friend' because you exchange comments on a blog. And don't ever forget that what I share with you in a blog post is everything you need to know about me. I am selective in what I share. I have secrets as we all do but that doesn't mean that because we are 'blog friends' I will let you in on my entire world. I will let you in if I choose to just as I hope you would too. It's a choice....
Remember the internet allows you to be anything you want. You can be yourself or you can be someone else and sometimes, it is hard to distinguish the difference between the two. Just because you may share someone's opinions, values or comments doesn't mean you have found your best friend or soulmate....Always keep that in mind....
