On my blog and other people’s blogs
There’s been a lot of discussion out there on pseudonymous and nymous blogs of late (I don’t need to give links, really, do I?). This blog was never going to be pseudonymous, since the whole idea was to be tied into my, er, professional resources website. I don’t emblazon my full name all over this site, but you only have to follow the ‘about me’ and EMR links to find out exactly who I am and what I’m doing. I don’t at present feel a need for a more personal blog that might need to be pseudonymous (for all the reasons that have been given in the discussions).
I blog the way I blog. Other people blog the way they blog. I’m just sad to see that there are a few who can only accept one valid way of doing things. I love the diversity of blogging; in a very short space of time I’ve become part of a hugely varied network of people, academics, non-academics, people in all sorts of fields, from all around the world. (OK, I tend to be primarily attracted to certain political and social perspectives over others.) I’ve learnt a lot. I’ve had fun. There’s some beautiful writing out there.
One link only, because I liked it so much: from Mel at In Favor of Thinking (and if you need links to the debates, she gives some):
blogs are one of the most lively forms of publishing currently going on. Blogs are all about reading writing. Not only have I learned about other people’s lives – I have been daily impressed with the style, verve, thoughtfulness, and pleasure to be found in reading the words of so many diverse minds. The more the merrier.
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It happened much the same way with me. When I started, a little over a year ago (I blogged for a couple of months then stopped for a year), I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be anon or not. So I didn’t include my name in any prominent way on the blog.
Of course, I should have known better: I work in software. The “slight” association I had with my blog, in my indecision, totally outed me from day one.
So when I write, I have to be aware that everything I say can and will be used against me. Sort of. Prospective employers are going to read in. People I just meet are going to read it, because, these days, the first thing anyone does is google you.
Comment by Harrison — Wednesday, 11 August 2004 @ 4:04 am
Yes. Though I’ll express strong opinions, there are things I would not say here. Things that could either land me in trouble or hurt people’s feelings if they read them. (I said somewhere in a comment that pseudonymity protects those who are criticised as much as those who do the criticising.) I don’t know if anyone who knows me personally, or anyone with any influence over my work, will ever read this. But I write as though they might. That’s not a problem - it still leaves me with plenty of space! - and if I ever need an outlet for letting off steam (which may happen in a couple of years’ time when I’m jobhunting again, and if/when I get a lecturing job rather than this cushy research number…), I can start a pseudonymous blog to do it. As many pseudonymous bloggers have pointed out, in fact, they also have professional blogs/webpages. In fact, throughout the discussions, I’ve been struck by the thoughtfulness, openmindedness and courtesy of the pseudonyms compared to at least some of the comments of their attackers.
Comment by Sharon — Wednesday, 11 August 2004 @ 9:20 am