KSL did a story recently on the dangers of blogging. I just want to know how everyone feels. I am definelty thinking about going private and I know a lot of you are too. My thing is, I happen to know that very few people look at my blog (I have a couple of sneaky little tools that tell me when someone has clicked on my page and a few details about them. I can usually figure out who they are.) Honestly, very rarely does someone look at it that I can't figure out who they are. Also, there are those rare instances that an old friend will find me through somebody elses blog and leave me a message and I am thrilled to hear from them! That is one of the things I really love about blogging. I totally understand the dangers, but if I don't feel that I have any creepers than do I really need to worry? I have not been posting as often as usual because I have been struggling with this question.
So check out the link here to the KSL story ( http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=4699330 ) and then I want to hear what you think. There are also some good points in the comments section of that story.
15 comments:
You know, I've struggled with this issue myself. I don't know if there's really any right or wrong answer, but I think keeping an eye on who's visiting the blog is smart, just to be aware. I made mine 'unsearchable' by search engines because I found that someone got there by googling "spanking" - and the other results that turned up were not about disciplining children. I remember Dooce responding to that issue by saying she exposes her child to people every day - at the grocery store, etc, which makes sense to me. So the short answer is I don't know!! I'm keeping mine public until I feel there's reason for me, specifically, not to.
Ditto! I don't know what to do. What did you decide? Maybe you need to show me how to track visitors, etc so I can make sure no one creepy is hanging around.
I saw your last posts (zach's letter, cam's bday) and I love it! They are so much like in so many ways!
Well if you do go private, make sure to send us an invite. I don't even know how to make mine private, or to invite people, etc so you may have to help me with that, too! ;)
I'm with Amy..you expose your children to people every day. Mine is not searchable, either. The only thing that makes me nervous, is my name is really easy to find...if someone wanted to find my address, they'd just have to type in my name and there would only be 1. Who knows. I guess unless I have a reason, I'll stay public.
I am having the same dilemma, only I've found that a ridiculous amount of people are reading mine. WHY???? I totally don't get it. So weird. I have heard that Oprah is always encouraging people to be private. I've been meaning to do a search and find out why she recommends that, but haven't gotten around to it.
Magan encouraged all of us to go private because someone she works with, actually I think it was 2 people had their identities stolen via their blogs. I had never considered that. But then Lauren said, "well they can just go thru your garbage if they want to steal your identity." Hmmm. I'm torn too. I still think I'm going to privatize, but I don't like that I have to. Mean people suck.
suzie...i am switching mine here in a few days to private. i have sitemeter and there are always a good number of visitors every day that i HAVE no idea who they are. that is a little troubling. also, i hear from some people who they know that is reading my blog regularly --people i would rather not have a window into my life-- and so that was the deal breaker for me.
This issue has come up very often and I have a lot of friends and family who have gone private for a lot of very good reasons. I too struggle with it but like you I have friends I've gotten in touch and family who do not have a blog and pry wouldn't be able to figure out how to see it if it was private. So for now I'm public and who knows maybe in the next 6 months things will change. Thanks for addressing such a big issue and putting the link to the story. PS-would love to hear or know how to use those sneaky tools to see who's clicking in. :)
ps-would love to be able to keep intouch, so please invite me but use my gmail account shmel101@gmail.com. Thanks
hmmmm... well, I'm still confused, but I think I answerd my own question as I was typing the post and now as I read back through it I can see more clearly. I have been very hesitant to post lately, and it's not like me. I love writting, I love sharing and I love keeping this journal for my family. I don't want to worry about giving too much information or wondering what people might think. So I really do think I will make it private. That way I will know who is reading it and who isn't. Like I said before, not a whole lot of people read it anyway, so who cares. If an old friend wants to find me, well, that's what facebook is for haha!
Mel, and Nicole, I will email you on how to keep tabs on your "stalkers"
Thanks for the great discussion ladies! I'll be sending you all invites soon!
i know you already made up your mind. I am always a little delayed on catching up on blogs. First, no one will come and find you at your house once they see the road to get there (hee hee that is a joke). One of the main reasons that I don't have a blog at all, which is sad, because I also LOVE to journal and LOVE photos,is because I like to remain a little more elusive to some. SO, a private blog may be the answer for me. But, what if someone wants in and I don't want to give them permission?
Also, a note on photos....to everyone, Rachel, Leslie, Beth (the dedicated ones)I just lost ALL of my photos since june 2007. my hard drive failed and because I never allow myself computer time I have never backed up. Every time I think about it and my lip begins to quiver, I bite it, and I can't deal. I don't go there, yet. So please my friends, back up. (You probably do, I am just a fool).
oh jen, that is so sad. i only have a few pics of you guys, but i will email them to you.
suz, good point about FB. the more time passes the more i realize that it won't be long until EVERYONE is on there. when i joined it took me like 6 months to get 50 friends. now people join and get 100 friends their first day.
Jen, I'm always thrilled to get a comment from you... I know how you hate to sit at the computer :) The "joke" about my road is actually way too true. I chuckle when I think of somebody actually trying to find me up here. It would not be easy. I have never had anybody drive right to my home even with a detailed map and easy to read directions. Plus, if they did get here, they would then have to go through the dogs. So that is not my main cencern. But I do thnk it is a funny thought!!
I am so sorry about your pics! I thought you got them back. I will get you a CD together of pics I have :( Thanks for the reminder, I still need to do that.
Oh Sue, that sucks. You know how i feel about the issue. I didn't like it at all, but I am really private. I love your blog and I think a lot of other people do too, but honestly I would not want crazy people reading about my life. If I were you, I would go private. But, please give me an invite. I haven't read in a while, but I love being able to check in on you.
P.S. I miss you. Let's make an excuse to hang out soon!!
so I was thinking about it today and maybe you shouldn't go private. Your blog is beautiful and isn't that partly what it is for...other people to enjoy. I don't know, there are risk, but it is kind of cool to think that some nice, harmless people can log on and take a look at your beautiful life. It is like you are touching other people out there in a positive way. I know Emily loved logging onto your blog and reading for hours. She was totally moved by all of your stories and pictures.
I guess it is the risk you take by putting yourself out there. Maybe you could just be more careful about where you live and other private information. I don't know. Just something to think about.
Great, now I'm completely confused again! Thanks for the nice words though. It does make me feel good that someone can be moved by what I write. Especially a beautiful person like Emily :)
What to do, what to do...
They need to come up with a filter... wouldn't that be cool? To weed out "mean people" as Rachel said. Maybe someday! (now I'm really dreaming)
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