Privacy on the Internet: my blog identity and why sometimes I stop writing

Cartoon by Peter Steiner. The New Yorker, July 5, 1993 issue (Vol.69 (LXIX) no. 20) page 61

If and when I actually get around to writing something on this blog, I immediately begin to think about who, if anyone, will read it and, inevitably, what will it say to them about me. I start thinking about everyone I know: my friends and family, my co-workers, etc. I also start to think about all the I will meet in the future…

These thoughts are often paralyzing enough to stall an idea from being developed on these pages – and the blog remains unchanged for days.

It’s not that I have very controversial or socially subversive ideas – I am just not sure what impact these words have on those who read them and what the blog says about who I am.

As one blogger points out, there are two basic identities that exist about you:

• Your reputation: This is your identity as created by others. By definition, you can’t control it and I suppose this is the area that I am concerned about affecting negatively with this blog.

• Your self-image: This is the story you tell about yourself. This blog has exists because I want anyone who is interested in getting to know me better to be able to easily find me online and learn as much as they please.

The bottom line is that I can’t control what others think of me, and what opinions of me are formed after reading this website. What I can control is what I say about myself and types of topics and discussions I am willing to have publicly in this forum. As long as I am honest, open and thoughtful in what I say – I shouldn’t be worried. It is incumbent on the reader to not jump to conclusions and not to judge me based any particular posting. The whole idea behind this blog to for me to write down my ideas and to develop them over time.

As such, I would like to declare my right to fully disagree with myself in the future for the freedom to openly express myself today.