Ok I gave you my take on internet communities. Here is my take on another perhaps more important aspect of blogging and internet forums. A lot of women have expressed concerns that blogging (and forum posting) presents a partial view of people’s lives. That it is an incomplete picture of their "real" families etc. My thought on that is yes, probably. My next thought is that it’s perfectly all right too.
When did we come to believe we had a right to know everything about everyone? Perhaps it is an inevitable result of living in a paparazzi world where people feel entitled to information about the most intimate parts of other people’s lives. It is not uncommon, for instance, for mom’s of large broods like my own to be assaulted with questions about our reproductive habits in grocery lines these days. Maybe I am hopelessly stuck in an earlier generation but honestly, I don’t think other people’s marriage or finances or whatnot are any of my business.
I read a LOT of blogs <g> I glean information that I later put to work in my home, my family, and my free time. I get ideas for projects and books to read. I get food for thought to stew on while I go about more mundane chores. To me, the entries that these folks compose are a lovely gift to those of us who read them. It never occurred to me that they owe me any more than what they have offered.
So is this an incomplete picture of our lives? Probably. I would venture to say few of us have a more "complete" picture of most of our friends and neighbors who are closer either. It takes time and commitment to earn that place in another person’s life. There are varying levels of relationships and only a very few develop into "complete pictures". And that is ok. That is what makes those friendships so valuable.
Good manners means respecting boundaries and allowing people their privacy.
Starry Sky Journal 
I read part one first and commented but I have to say this post is even better. You said it perfectly-blog post are “beautiful gifts”. Personally, I don’t want to know the gritty details but it is nice to read every once in a while that life isn’t perfect. I do envy the more prolific bloggers. I wish I could offer such gifts everyday.
Great points. Ironically I think it also CAN be true that people get a more realistic impression of someone’s life from their blog in which they might write about their ups and downand, their inner worries and concerns, etc. than from a fleeting impression of their family at church or at group meetings or classes.
What a great point, Kim! Even in “real life” friendships, there should be respect for boundaries. Why not here?? Keep philosophizing, friend; you’re making loads of sense.
I’m not sure anyone knows the “real” me – not even my husband. He doesn’t see or hear or know every little nitty gritty detail. Even if he does see the actions, he doesn’t always know the full backstory, the intention, the “heart” behind the action.
If he doesn’t know that about me, why would anyone else?
This is so well put! Something that all few people remember, I think. (me included)
Wonderful entry–just what I’ve thought from time to time, but had some doubts. I don’t feel guilty at all now.
This is so well said!! Amen to you sister and I’m 100% in agreement with it all!! Blessings!
After thinking about this a little, it’s interesting to me. The ahem less experienced generations have become so comfortable with the internet that the danger is in revealing too much of oneself, rather than too little. Blogs almost become online diaries, and very little thought is put into who or what they are writing about. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the coming decades…
Wow! Once again you have put down some wonderful incites.
I don’t have a blogg (I wouldn’t have any idea how to set one up)I don’t homeschool, nor is my present life (we’re early retirees because of loss of job and we’re at that age too young and not old enough)but I regress, I first read Elizabeth’s words in the Arlington Hearld when she would freelance and found a lot of her thoughts on family really interesting. Then I met Danielle thoughts thru Sister Patricia and then I found out all about so many of you thru her. Your homeschooling and so much information about my Catholic faith.
I love reading about families. I love hearing about babies and the older children and what they do and don’t do. But most of all the beauty of each of the women is such an affirmation of God’s presence. Thank you for allowing me to relive some of the adventures of parenting.
I don’t know everyone’s name or where they live, well I guess because I’m the outsider looking in, but you are all in my prayers. I’m fortunate I go to daily Mass, I did pray the rosary daily after Mass with a group until recently, I do the monthly adoration, I bring the Eucharist to the homebound once a week and I love my on line Chaplet of Divine Mercy that I pray mostly at 2 or 3 in the morning when I also do most of my reading of your bloggs. So know that as you nurse your babe, or care for a wakeful child I have you in my thoughts and prayers.
Eloquent and articulate as usual…beautifully put. Gosh, I wish I could write like you! love, Dani
I think what you say is very true Kim.
Perhaps there is too much ‘confessional’ stuff out there (interviews with celebrities, plays for ‘victimhood’ etc)and it leads people to believe that if they are not getting all the juicy details then there must be something to hide, and also of course that there must BE some juicy details. Perhaps it gets harder for many people to believe that not everyone lives some sort of double life. It makes that ‘Brave New World’ type of scenario seem so much closer, where no-one is allowed privacy and it is seen as antisocial to want to be a private person.
Anyway, I ramble. Suffice to say that as always, plenty to think about in your posts. Thank you. 🙂
Just getting some blog reading time for the first time in a while and both these post, part 1 and 2, are beautifully written with much to think about within them. Thanks for posting them!