Sunday, January 20, 2008

To all anonymous blog readers...

This posting is long in the making. The reason I hesitated for so long to start a blog is for the reason that I believe there are people who read other people's blogs anonymously and I think that's freaky. Now if you happen to be reading my blog anonymously, this is not meant to deter you. It's okay. I can handle it, and I think if you have a blog you just have to be okay with anonymous readers.

Now before I go any further let me say this, because I do not want in ANY WAY to seem hypocritical. I read someone's blog anonymously for about a year. Admittedly, I did have a crush on this person. This one time, Mary convinced me to post a comment on one of his postings (anonymously). My comment was in reference to a picture of some kitchen (the dishwasher in particular) included in his post that he kind of posed to be his kitchen (and his dishwasher), but it was not. So, how freaky am I... that I decide it would be funny to post..."That is NOT your kitchen." Now he sees this posting from an anonymous person telling him that they KNOW what his kitchen looks like and that is NOT it. Seriously, he must have been freaked out. I'm ridiculous. He even like posted some reply like, "Okay, kitchen nazi."

Recently, I was discussing with someone about the fact that I read this guy's blog anonymously, because I thought SHE was the one that knew about his blog and had directed me to it. However, she says that I came home one night (we lived together) and mentioned my crush because I had seen him somewhere, she then said she hadn't been that impressed with him, and then she says that I told her that he had a blog and that he actually was smart and funny. I just think it's funny that somehow I came across his blog and became a faithful reader. I really didn't ever see him after that one occasion and shortly thereafter he moved from D.C. and he's now married living in LA, doing his master's at UCLA, doesn't own a car, but prefers a bike for his method of transportation (I know all this from his blog, of course).

Now...I DO NOT read his blog anymore and the only reason I did so (for about a year), is because he really does write well, and it was interesting. I was introduced to South Park from his blog. Of course, I knew about South Park but had never really watched it. I was directed to the World of Warcraft episode from his blog and thought it was hilarious and seriously was impressed with his insight on how children are exposed to video games and media in this day and age.

I will also say that I recently "confessed" to Mandy Jensen that I read her blog. I told her and she started laughing so hard, because I phrased it in exactly that manner, "Mandy, I have a confession...I read your blog." Mandy and I aren't friends (I'm sure we would be though if we lived in the same place), but I am good friends with Mary who Mandy is good friends with. So, it was Mary that directed me to the blog.

It's so interesting - this world of blogging. I love it, but it may be a love/hate relationship. From it, I just have to ask myself questions like, "Am I happy to separate myself from other human beings and resort to getting to know and keeping in touch with people via the internet?" The answer to this question, is mostly "Yes, I do." I LOVE talking on the phone and keeping in touch with close friends, but there's just simply not time to stay in touch with everybody, and some people you maybe don't need to know everything that's going on with them, but really would love to see where their lives are taking them. Take Lynne for example...I LOVE her sugarcityjournal.com website. How creative and fabulous is she?! And it was my little blog that led me to her site...Jessi and Katie told Alexandra about my blog, Alexandra posted on my blog, then Lynne found me through Alexandra.

So, do see you see the results of this blog world? I think it's great. Now, just to close, I want to mention something Mandy Jensen said to me a while ago and the more I think about it the funnier it seems. She said that instead of dating and in order to get to know possible future mates they could just read her blog. I think we were talking about the fact that so many people read her blog that she doesn't even know about. So, she jokingly said that she could tell people about her blog upon first meeting them, and ask if they have a blog. How easy does that sound? "I have a blog. Do you have a blog? Why don't we just read each other's blogs and see if we are compatible?" It actually sounds kind of great to me. But, seriously...how hilarious would that be? Agree or disagree with the method?

Note: Go to YouTube. Find the South Park episode. It is insane and unbelievable and great and insightful (oh, and pretty crude) all at the same time.

6 comments:

Mandy said...

I read this blog posting.

I loved it and I am glad that you wrote on annonymous blog readers. I also still agree that if two people read each other's blogs they would know pretty fast if they were compatible. I just think it would save a lot of time.

A said...

I understand the creepy aspect and that is why I try to keep my blog me and me separate. I have never used my full name on my blog so that google can't match us up.
A funny little add on to this blog that I have already shared with Mer: I recently took some time off work and when I came back my friend had sent a link to my email and under it she wrote "I have found your sole mate here is his blog!" Of course I was curious so I went to it and read a little. It was actually really funny and intelligent, but I haven't returned because I felt a little weird about reading a strangers blog especially because I will never meet him, it just seemed WRONG!
But on the other hand I don't mind if peeps peep my blog because I just want people to read and comment because that is the fun part of blogging for me!

alexandra said...

meredith, you are so funny. I am so glad that you decided to start your own blog and it iwll be that much easier for me to stalk you. I was going to post this anonymously, but just saw I can't. darn it.

Mer Swift said...

Have I set it so that you can't post anonymously? I didn't even know that I had! I welcome anonymous readers! Really. I do.

Lauren said...

Meredith - your blog is hilarious. I am glad Lynne told me about it. It makes me a little homesick for VA though know that my parents aren't there. If you are ever in NYC let me know.

Janey said...

Hi Meredith. I was just stalking blogs (looking for old friends, of course) and found yours. I will now be stalking it ;)