AUTHOR: M. DATE: 6:28:00 PM ----- BODY:

Here's a wierd one for you: Yesterday I read Lisa's post about blogging and anonymity. I heard what she was saying loud and clear. I don't tell anyone in my real life my blog address these days, but the lines are not so clear. Despite my using my first name, posting photos, and referencing pretty often where I live, I was floored today when someone casually said to me: "my girlfriend likes your blog." The person who said this to me is someone I've known casually for a handful of years and haven't seen in probably close to a year. And I've never met her girlfriend (or maybe I have, on-line? Hi, girlfriend!). I imagine this is what it must feel like occasionally to be a celebrity, only, um, without the personal trainer and all the money. I'm sure I've probably physically crossed paths unknowingly with other people who read this, or I've read their blogs. But there's something a little strange about being recognized by someone you've never met. I wonder about other people out there. There's one person who comments occasionally who could be one of my co-workers. (If that's true, then you know who you are, and please: don't tell me). Occasionally, like Lisa, I've thought about going password-protected. But then how will I know if I've won the popularity contest what new hobby will I take on to replace my obsessive sitemeter checking?

-------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:8:45 PM COMMENT-BODY:Plus, password protecting not only cuts down on traffic, but may make some people feel left out.

So what did you say to the person who knew about your blog? I would be stunned. I mean I have to explain to most people what a blog is even.

I also am really thinking I've got a big damn ego, to think anyone I know casually would look at my blog more than once or twice. I mean, they hear this crap first hand, do they really want to read it? Yeah, it's my secret club, but there aren't that many people who want to be members.

I know that sitemeter is a dangerous drug. Not that I would know. Or click on it constantly. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: FemiKnitMafia COMMENT-DATE:8:47 PM COMMENT-BODY:I try to keep my blog anonymous, especially to ex GFs -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: susan COMMENT-DATE:9:00 PM COMMENT-BODY:I hardly ever ask anyone for a password to their blog (and the one that I have, I always forget to go check since I can't do bloglines on it) since I figure the passwords are for people who *really* know them, not just readers like me.

Last week I got e-mail from someone I'd written about in my blog (one of my friends in the profession) saying that she was really touched by my blog, which she'd learned about from another mutual friend. I was thinking "Gee, I don't remember telling Friend about that, but I guess I did" when it turned out that I was telling stories at a recent conference which made this other person think 'hey, that sounds like a blog I read."

I've got mixed feelings about telling people I know about my blog. Mostly I don't, but now that I'm actually writing somewhat regularly there are more times that I want to tell someone about it. It's a complicated issue. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Shirky COMMENT-DATE:10:04 PM COMMENT-BODY:don't go password protected!

I've never asked for a password when blogs I read go behind the curtain. I guess I always feel like if it's that secret, it's none of my business (I do get curious though).

If you're worried about too many people reading, you can get really boring until they go away and forget you. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: art-sweet COMMENT-DATE:10:33 PM COMMENT-BODY:how sticky icky wicky.

I second or third or fourth or whatever the people voting not to go password protected.

I've seen something on several people's blogs saying - if you know me in real life I don't want to know.

But who am I to talk? I freak out whenever I see someone within 100 miles of our smallish city show up on sitemeter! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: charlotte COMMENT-DATE:11:31 PM COMMENT-BODY:Blog stuff is very strange indeed. I think the anonymity is what makes it feel free to me. I have only told one real life friend that I blog. My blog is a place where I mostly don't censor my feelings and thoughts, and I would if people I knew were reading it.

Password protection does not really protect from much.

Oh, also I like your blog too. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Marie COMMENT-DATE:4:10 PM COMMENT-BODY:I've had, oh maybe about a dozen blogs that I eventually deleted because WTF, they weren't getting any traffic. Sheesh. Talk about a swell-headed twit. I screwed up sitemeter with so many blogs that now it doesn't even track traffic right. IRL people I know smile condescendingly about me having a blog and secretly think I'm a megalomaniac. Yeah, well. Blogs are the only place I know where people actually "hear"/read what you have to say. I could get used to that. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:5:14 PM COMMENT-BODY:Yes yes I know what you mean!

I moved to Word Press so I would have the *ability* to password-protect certain posts, but that's only because I'm scared of Elmer & Elsie finding it. (No, they don't know about my blog; it's my place to rant about them, and if I'm outing too much of their personal life, well, oops, it made for good reading... what can I say?) But I haven't actually put passwords on anything yet.

Only recently (when a lady at CHURCH came up to me and said, "I've been enjoying your website!" and I thought, "hmm, maybe I won't write about my sexual escapades anymore,") did I realize that I should change some people's names, or use some abbreviations, just in case certain people would ever find out and get angry...

But yeah, I think I'm too addicted to Site Meter as well... -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: wen COMMENT-DATE:5:33 PM COMMENT-BODY:I went to a baby shower (for two of my female friends who are entering the Jessica Has Two Mommies realm and having their first kid. It was trippy because there were a number of people I knew from their blogs only (and they knew me from mine). We've all posted relatively intense stuff at times and as one woman remarked to me, "isn't it weird we know all this about each other?"

Alas, I don't think I know you, but hey, I might be wrong. :) -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:3:19 PM COMMENT-BODY:Im one of those random people from blogdom that happened upon your blog somehow... and stayed. I guess Im not too much of a freak. You seem like such a "real" person and I like you. (not in a stalkerish wierdo kind of way, I promise)I used to live in a place where there were a lot of "real" people, and now? Not so much. No diversity at all, and I miss it. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: M. COMMENT-DATE:10:24 AM COMMENT-BODY:Yeah, password protecting is a little silly unless you're only going to let IRL people in. I think if you want to be really anonymous, you should just use a different name, be sure to not indicate where you live or give away other tidbits that would help find you and use no pictures. Well, it's a little late for us! I guess I'm not really that paranoid on this (just on most other things).

Oh, and I had to say that not only do I like your blog, I also like your profile. I'm also a queer mama to be and a dire hard NPO worker. : ) -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: M. COMMENT-DATE:10:28 AM COMMENT-BODY:Oh, I forgot to add that we only have told one friend about our blog and would be freaked out if people we know IRL found it. Yet, that doesn't stop us.

And, the REAL reason I followed the comment you made on ArtSweet's blog to check out yours is your blogger name. I just liked it for some reason. : ) --------