Wendy and Irony are now friends.

I have lived an extremely ironic life, and I recognize that. I don't think of this as a negative thing - it's more like recognizing that Murphy's Law is real and working with it instead of against it. Typically that results in my sagely telling people "never say never. No, really. Trust me on this one."

So, here I am, going on about being who you are and social networking, and BAM here comes irony. Yesterday I got a friend request from none other than my ex-husband. My "HOLY SHIT" when I got it was so loud that Lenny heard me from across the house - LOL. Honestly, I didn't see that one coming.

So, this actually prompted me to review my profile and blog, putting to test the points I made over my last two posts. Did I mention Irony? So, here it is, time to put my money where my mouth (or fingers if you will) is and decide whether I really am who I am for everyone.

The result? Well I have a new friend now, or rather an old one found again. Does it sort of freak me out? Yes, but I'm ok with that. If you're wondering, no , I didn't find anything I wasn't willing to share. Of course, this leads me to the point that our private lives aren't as private as they used to be, but that's a blog for another day.

To Blog or Not to Blog... Perchance to Rant

So, today's question is whether to start a blog, and further whether it should be anonymous or not. First off, I recommend blogging highly. It hones your writing skills, it gives you an outlet, it helps you memorialize your feelings and it prompts interesting discussions! If you're wondering whether you should start a blog or not, the answer is likely yes.

Now, should it be secret? That all depends on you, but be aware that it's not likely to be a secret or anonymous forever. I know that I'm pretty proud of my writing skills, so I am anxious to show my blog to people. At some point you lose track of who all you've shown it to too, and who they might have shown it to as well. I guess I figure why write it if you're not going to share it? Sure, random people may come along, read it and proclaim it to be the best thing they've ever read, but frankly that doesn't happen often. It's like buying the perfect outfit and never going out anywhere in it. Scan through my posts, I've written some fantastic stuff (or so I think) and very few comments. Only a few from anonymous posters that we'll assume tripped over me. You're likely not to be discovered as the next pop sensation while singing in your shower, and you're not likely to be revered for your prose hiding it somewhere on the Internet either.

Ok, so say you make a blog and you post links to it on your Facebook page. What if you want to write a rant? Happens to me all the time. All I can say is that just as some things are better left unsaid, some things are better left unwritten as well. Here's also a place to work on your writing and your communication skills. Explore why you're angry or upset. Blog about that. Maybe it'll open up passages to conversations you've been putting off. Maybe it'll help you realize what's really troubling you. I don't mean to sound sanctimonious, but writing (and blogging) does these things for me. I should do it more actually, it might help.

Don't be afraid of who you are, or of sharing that with people. We're all a work in progress. :)

Have you seen the real me?

So, with social networking on the rise the question is if we'll all soon have to decide whether to have both a public and a private identity or not. It's something that's occurred to me in the past and I think I mentioned it here. How once you let people know you have a blog your blogging becomes more and more limited. I mean really. Not that I want to rant about anyone in particular (at this particular moment - well ok maybe just a little...) but every once in awhile I could write a really good rant and get things off my chest, but can't because it might cause a firestorm.

So, the question becomes can you be just one person for everyone in your life - parents, spouse, people at work, your boss, your employees, you children - or is there a need to draw lines in the sand and at least attempt to segregate your lives? And even if you wanted to, could you really pull it off? Have you ever Googled yourself? Crazy stuff comes up - some of it very scary. So even if you did make two identities for yourself online - on Facebook and Blogger for example - how long until you're outed? Except for the occasional photo *cough* or comment would it really be so bad?

It's an interesting dilemma. One of the unintended effects that the Internet may have is forcing us to be who we are. Period. And with that, accepting our friends, family, co-workers and children for who they are as well. Perhaps it'll broaden all of our minds. It may be a painful process, but maybe it's necessary and long overdue. In the end, I think it has the potential to make us all better people.

Or I'll just give in and rant anyways. :)