photo by me

A week or two ago I talked about not wanting to turn my blog into this personal journal where I pour out everything that a twelve-year-old (apologies to Erin) would write in her little pink diary with a key.

The reason I wrote that is because I know someone who says that blogs are just personal journals written in a public space as a part of exhibitionism. They are a way to show off and toot our own horns (okay, actually two different people have said this very thing to me).

I heard someone else say something about the “personal diary” type of blogs, as well, just the other day. And I started wondering what the aversion to this type of journaling is.

Who usually writes those kinds of blogs? Is it women?

I’m wondering this because the people who have said that they hate personal blogs were men – very technical men, at that.

In my blog training, I show very different ways of using blogs. I show personal blogs, work blogs, educational blogs, political blogs, and various others.

I think all types of blogs have their place – even those that deal with the very personal issues that we deal with in our every day life.

Maybe a blog is helping someone work through some issues s/he had while a child. Lili talks about her life as a child prostitute. This is an issue that more people should be reading about and discussing. It is highly personal. It is highly relevant.

Erin talks about everything under the sun…politics, movies, work, life, and travel. Today she even talks about school and curses me (hey…I’m just trying to get everyone in the world to join my gang…can’t blame me, can you?).

The point is, personal journals have a place in this world, too. I keep in touch with some of my favorite people by reading their blogs – especially when life gets crazy and we just don’t have the time to send e-mails or snail mails or even pick up a phone. I like that part of social networking. We are making a community.

And if we share a little piece of ourselves in the creation of that community, is that so wrong?