When I began this blog I felt excitement and eager to display my words for the world to see, whatever the feedback I may receive. The vulnerability in showing and not hiding in a sense with words felt quite liberating, the idea at the back of my mind felt like a challenge to the wide world web. I felt like, come on then, throw it at me-your words of critique. Over the last few months of writing my blog, moments when I have looked back and re-read sections have I noticed that, as previously mentioned, they do feel like riddles. I find what interests me the most lately about blogging is that now I want to approach it with a stronger raw existence, though a large percentage of me is doubting how exclusive to be with my words.
The following article is a great example into the world of blogging and how honest and open one can be about their lifestyle. I find myself very interested by the journey this girl has taken in beginning her blog, and also closing it too.
With me personally, I find when writing, or at least when about to write-I do wonder with the words that are about to explode, whether online on my blog is the right place for them. I mean, perhaps the words are just questions and are not directed at right source? How much are they a cry for help. Sometimes I wonder whether they would be more suitable for a personal diary instead of an online blog. My posts are shared through Facebook and there are several people on there that know me, but don't KNOW me. In all honesty as much as this comes across as insulting, the list of 'friends' I have on my facebook makes me laugh. Of course, hundreds numbered on my 'Friend' list, actually aren't friends and are more like associates. I don't want to exhaust too much of the idea of what makes a person a 'friend'; but with regards to blogging am I all too sure I want to expose myself to those who I haven't seen in years, to those that I haven't seen in years, to those that don't know me. Am I doubting everyone's levels of compassion towards someone who may not seem 100% about their life?
I feel like a hypocrite to my own desires in holding back online. When is the right time to really express how I feel? To know the people I walk by everyday see my true expression in words, which perhaps feels so raw because 95% percent of the time they see a smile, not the madness which goes inside my head. I suppose one way of looking at it is that if they aren't ready to know, don't click on the link-but there isn't exactly a sense of warning (I will not get into my classification discussion-I used my dissertation for that). At the end of the day I need to accept that I still am trying to protect myself, of course I don't want anything else to add to the situation, be that comments expressing views of, is this girl crazy? I know deep down I don't want to be treated any differently.
These words, my eyes felt hot by their own admission:
'I've simply stopped writing about the many things that continue to scare and confuse me. I've long believed that there is nothing embarrassing about admitting human frailty, but when I try to write about college nowadays, I catch myself pulling back from every little unflattering anecdote, rewriting the circumstances and characters, and wanting to put forth a more attractive version of who I am. Though I am never overtly disingenuous, I occasionally feel like I'm living a lie of omission by not owning up to being constantly plagued by the same doubts that haunted me at Harvard: that I am not merely unworthy of a school but that I am too damaged to be worthy of love.'
Facebook is inspirational for all... In reading about changing the law to allow children under 13 to use social networking sites, restrictions apply because of cyber-bullying concerns (and assurably peadophile scares as well, not sure why they haven't mentioned that yet), I have also come across the website inspiring some for the names of their children. Everyday Facebook never fails to impress me on its ability to influence and connect the world.
For me personally it also, through a friend's profile picture and in recognising the kitchen tiles, allowed me to see who now rents my old house. Coincidence!
It's not often you think about woman being perverts, this stereotype is deemed to men...
'a coed group of Londoners is subjecting men to unwitting Internet objectification with TubeCrush.net'
At first it may seem a laughing matter and we may generalise that males would handle the situation better...However the truth in question is if this were woman snapshots on a website holding a rating system, I am sure there would seem more vulnerability within the case. The other side questions a level of privacy and being subjected to having an image of ourself uploaded onto the internet without giving our permission. But we go through this everyday, our images are captured through various forms of cctv and we, by no choice of our own have to accept that who ever witnesses our bodies on camera are trusted to be responsible towards the material. If we looked at things to the extreme of protecting our privacy we would always be walking around with bags over our heads (somewhat now the dress of a muslim female seems ideal if you think about it...)
Society controls and it will always control us. I am not saying accept and move on of course-perhaps we could be provided with a little bit more information of where and when we are on camera (like those smiley face stickers do on the bus!). We know full well there is a balance to what should be put out there and what shouldn't. I personally don't agree with the website because I know full well If I found an image of myself up on the internet without agreeing to its publication-wouldn't it make you feel quite uncomfortable? It's why on facebook we have the option to untag the 'embarrasing' or inappropriate shots. It would feel like a computerised spotlight and on the one hand an unfair matter of judgement if we give no agreement for it.
Conversely, what have we got to hide? Coming from a film background I have had occasions where people have not wanted to be on film for reasons they could not give other than their own desire to show whose boss. Sometimes people just like to show their authority. Perhaps deep down we know that whenever an image of ourselves is put out there, we are automatically subjected into a position of vulnerability. Though who are we more scared of, subjection from others or subjection from ourselves?
I can see why those, regardless of the set up, do not like their picture taken. I am not sure how much subjectivity we are prepared to put ourselves up for...
