Aye. That's something to chew on alright. You'll notice that even though I don't reveal names, I also don't reveal much about anyone other than me at my place -- for the same reasons you mentioned above. It seems like a great idea, being an unknown in a vast sea of unknowns on The Net. In reality, it's much more difficult to pull off.

I believe that Kim over at Bacon and Eh's had a great post about the very same topic a month or two ago.

It's a very interesting question. I use my real name and identity online. This is partly because I shamelessly use my blog to plug my writing, and also because of a host of more personal issues regarding identity'n'stuff -- essentially, I decided awhile ago that what I needed in my life was to be more integrated, to be the same person in different settings rather than having parts of my life compartmentalized. So for me personally part of that is using my real identity online and not saying things online that I don't want to stand by in my "real life" (although I totally understand the reasons why some people choose to stay anonymous online; it's a very individual thing and different people use the online experience to meet different needs).

Lots of people I know IRL access my blog. My parents read my blog (my mom can't handle the "comments" so she phones me to say she's read my blog). Obviously that limits what I feel free to say. It's a limitation I accept and am comfortable with ... most of the time.

I print off my blog entries and put them in my personal (offline) journal with marginal notes: "Here's what I was thinking that I COULDN'T say on the blog..." That helps relieve the pressure sometimes.

There are things I don't say in my blog, for those very reasons...like when someone in my life pisses me off. I worry that even though I would never use names, that person would find it, read it and get hurt. But, there are some things that I DO write about, it's my call.

Just like you - it's your blog, yoru world, your decision on what to publish and no one else is forced to read it.

Holy crap - did I just make any sense at all? Me thinks not.

Forgive me, but what are HSLC?

Very interesting quandry, here. I, too, use my real name on my blog and I have my job listed and where I live and all the internal dialoug I have with myself is posted on my blog.

On the internet.

For all the world to see.

I didn't think much of it until recently, when two things happened. One, three people I went to high school with came vaulting out of the woodwork to tell me that they came across my blog and how great it is to catch up on my life. This was odd because I haven't talked to these people in a decade and it was strange to think they caught up with me WHILE I HAD NO IDEA. Two, I almost changed my clothes with the blinds open last night, but decided to close them based on the fact that I remember that I named my town on my blog and that made me nervous.

Yet I've put myself in this situation. And I keep doing it, a number of times a week.

Stranger still, I think, is that there are people I have never met and may never meet and may never even know whispered an existance that have read pieces of my soul.

I use my first name in my blog, because I have been posting under it on other sites for a long time. But to be honest it bugs whenever I see my name in print... I always feel like it is being yelled for some reason.

I also do not put up my son or husband's name, or pictures of their faces, but I have made an exception or two about the face rule. Also there is a map on my site that narrows down where I live not only to the city but more or less to one neighbourhood. So I guess you could track me down if you really wanted.

However, my blog was SUPPOSED to be for people I know on the internet. People I know IRL, particularly my hubby were not supposed to know about it. But I think my blog was online for something like 3 days when my hubby found it. He knows what the name of it is, but says he has never read it. (He found it because I was editing the graphics and layout on my computer, so he didn't really "find" it, he just knows about it) I don't know how I feel about that. I don't know if I want him to read my post "Selfish" about him being an ass.

However I think my best posts are my earliest ones, the ones I wrote before I even got the blog online. Are they better because I spent weeks polishing and obsessing over them? Are they better because really I was writing them for me and me alone and not censoring them? Or are they not any better and I think they are because I remember them more clearly? (due to to rewritting and re-reading)

Nancy--it made perfectly good sense.

Emmie--HighSchool Lurker Club

Kerri--yes yes yes.

I often wonder about the same thing...I use my real name and the kids names. And its not like Cael is a terribly common name...

I'm not sure any of my high school "chums" would ever find it (well, one reads...only 'cuz she blogs too) as I'm not a frequent writer, and if they did, ducky for them. 'Cuz I've done a lot better for myself than a lot of them have and I don't mind rubbing it in a bit.

Is that catty?

Interesting. I just got reading my todays parents and there is a section in there that mentions blogs, and one was uterine wars. i was like OH I KNOW THAT ONE.
so it is quite possible yours might show up somewhere someday and someone will look you up. just never know who might be reading really

I chose to go with the anonymous route because I didn't want to end up being in a situation where I can't blog about the things that bother me, and I like my job a lot, and I have no wish to be dooced. Not that I'm constantly saying things that could get me fired, but you never know these days.

I chose pseudonyms, even though I post pictures of our faces because it might make it a bit harder for some dink to find my child. Most people who correspond with me outside of the blogs know my real name and all relevant information. Some of you even have my phone number, though you never call. :(

My parents know I have a blog, though I don't think anyone cares enough to go looking for it. I'm not sure my mom knows what a blog is. Out of all my family, my brother would be the person that I could see reading my blog. And then, he'd make fun of me for it, like all brothers do.

I always *meant* to use pseudonyms--I was just never very good at remembering them.

Oh well.

What Kerri said.

What Kerri said.

I always *meant* to use pseudonyms--I was just never very good at remembering them.

Andrea, that made me LMAO!

I've done the same. The game changes when you develop a readership and a last name. Do what you need to, friend!

I am just no good at hiding anything. I can't keep my own secrets and so I figure I just have to live "out there". Plus, no one really reads my blog other than real life friends and family so I'm not too worried. ;)

I am bored by people who carry their childhood wounds throughout their lives, flailing their index fingers at anyone they can find to explain why their accomplishments have not matched up to expectations. Eventually you have to take responsibility for your response to adversity. Not only because being fifty or sixty years old and bewailing "but my father hit me!" as an excuse for insecurity is kind of pathetic, but because getting over it and through it is the only way to limit the damage.

hear, hear! I've been giving that particular rant a lot lately...it was great to see someone else shout it as well!