I found a thought provoking post written by Jen Reimer on Practice Of Madness today. It was about people who choose to blog anonymously, and why they do, as well as why she chose to no longer be an anonymous blogger. In her post she proposes that those people who are still blogging anonymously should consider revealing themselves to their fellow bloggers. Using her own words the following quote sums up her opinion about anonymous blogging.
“I say screw anonymity”
To be quite frank, I have a huge problem with that statement, and the opinion it represents. I think it disrespects those bloggers who choose to blog anonymously. Jen Reimer justifies her opinion based on the thought that the only thing a blogger has to fear when blogging under their real name is the government and cyber cops. In my opinion, for many bloggers this simply is not true.
Most of my blogging friends, are in my online mental health community. Some choose to blog anonymously, while others, like me, choose to blog under their own name. Neither way is right or wrong. It is nothing more than our personal choices.
I choose to blog under my real name, while discussing potentially delicate subject matter because I probably have less risk involved than many of my friends in the mental health community. I do not have a job, and will probably never be able to work a full time job again. My husband is not ashamed of me or my mental illness and understands the importance that I place on trying to be a mental health advocate. We do not sit in fear that someone one day might google our names and it will cause the loss of my husband’s job.
However, there are many people who are not in that position. Either they are the one with the mental health issues or someone in their family is and because of the stigma that surrounds people with a mental health issue they are not comfortable completely exposing themselves or their family to that kind of transparency. They have very real fears of losing jobs, being denied housing, and losing relationships with friends and family. Not to mention, they may not be ready for the whole world to know who they really are. Blogging offers them some sort of peace, and anonymous blogging allows them to achieve that peace without being uncomfortable.
I want to believe that Jen Reimer did not mean to be disrespectful to the people who choose to blog anonymously. Maybe she did not understand that some bloggers do have very valid reasons for keeping their real identities private.
What is your opinion about anonymous blogging? Do you blog with your real name or do you choose to blog anonymously? If you blog anonymously, can you share with us why you have made that choice?
I'm sorry that was your interpretation of my post! 🙁 I was more interested in hearing about the reasons people choose/choose not to go anonymous, after talking about my decision – I wasn't trying to push it on others.
scars xoxo
My recent post You may now use an open-id to log in – I want to hear some more of what you have to say about our messy lives!
It is all good. I hope you were not offended by what I said. My feeling is that we all cannot agree all the time, and that is what makes this an interesting world. As you can tell from my last few sentences I did not think you did anything out of malice, but more from not realizing that there are many reasons people choose to remain anonymous. There are some great mental health chats on twitter every week, that might help you with support and also to learn from those anonymous bloggers why they prefer to remain that way. Those chats can be found by doing a search for these has tags #mhsm and #ojtl
I have tried multiple times to leave a comment on your site but there appears to be a problem.
I'm sorry that was your interpretation of my post! 🙁 I was more interested in hearing about the reasons people choose/choose not to go anonymous, after talking about my decision – I wasn't trying to push it on others.
scars xoxo
My recent post You may now use an open-id to log in – I want to hear some more of what you have to say about our messy lives!
It is all good. I hope you were not offended by what I said. My feeling is that we all cannot agree all the time, and that is what makes this an interesting world. As you can tell from my last few sentences I did not think you did anything out of malice, but more from not realizing that there are many reasons people choose to remain anonymous. There are some great mental health chats on twitter every week, that might help you with support and also to learn from those anonymous bloggers why they prefer to remain that way. Those chats can be found by doing a search for these has tags #mhsm and #ojtl
I have tried multiple times to leave a comment on your site but there appears to be a problem.
Well, you probably know that blog anonymously. That is to say, I did blog anonymously!
i wrote a post on this exact subject a while back, and there are so many things to consider. It seems very American to be worried about the things she talks about, but maybe that's just me!
I for one have been coming out a little more, but that is mainly because of attending the recent conference and meeting up with people in real life – not much space for a pseudonym there!
I still think that anonymous blogging can give people a voice when they may not otherwise have one, and that is such a valuable thing!
Well, you probably know that blog anonymously. That is to say, I did blog anonymously!
i wrote a post on this exact subject a while back, and there are so many things to consider. It seems very American to be worried about the things she talks about, but maybe that’s just me!
I for one have been coming out a little more, but that is mainly because of attending the recent conference and meeting up with people in real life – not much space for a pseudonym there!
I still think that anonymous blogging can give people a voice when they may not otherwise have one, and that is such a valuable thing!
i blog-anon for my husband, daughter and family. i don't give a rat's ass if you know who i am really, it's just that i don't want anyone else damaged. my husband's job could be jeopardized, my family confronted with uncomfortable questions and my daughter publicized without her consent. i blog anon so that i can tell the truth without fear.
"i blog anon so that i can tell the truth without fear."
I am very glad you took the time to comment on this post. This statement right here is the reason why I did this post based on what I had read on Jen's blog and is also why I had an issue with her opinion. There are many reasons why people choose to blog anonymously and I wanted people to understand that.
i blog-anon for my husband, daughter and family. i don't give a rat's ass if you know who i am really, it's just that i don't want anyone else damaged. my husband's job could be jeopardized, my family confronted with uncomfortable questions and my daughter publicized without her consent. i blog anon so that i can tell the truth without fear.
"i blog anon so that i can tell the truth without fear."
I am very glad you took the time to comment on this post. This statement right here is the reason why I did this post based on what I had read on Jen's blog and is also why I had an issue with her opinion. There are many reasons why people choose to blog anonymously and I wanted people to understand that.
i certainly don't think blogging anonymously can be equated to holding anything back beyond, perhaps, your name. (giggle)
the important thing is to get the message out that you are intending to, right? what on earth could make it less valuable if you don't pen your name at the end of it?
the internet can also be a dangerous place. some people may not want future employers, ex boy/girlfriends or family members to be able to google them so easily. for battered women, for one example, the need for anonymity may be a matter of life or death.
just some more thoughts…
no shame in being nameless for me.
i certainly don't think blogging anonymously can be equated to holding anything back beyond, perhaps, your name. (giggle)
the important thing is to get the message out that you are intending to, right? what on earth could make it less valuable if you don't pen your name at the end of it?
the internet can also be a dangerous place. some people may not want future employers, ex boy/girlfriends or family members to be able to google them so easily. for battered women, for one example, the need for anonymity may be a matter of life or death.
just some more thoughts…
no shame in being nameless for me.
There are times that I wish I'd chosen to blog anonymously (hence the 2nd semi anonymous blog!) so that I can vent about things that would upset/worry my friends and family
My recent post I love England!
I am sure that is a difficult situation to be in, worrying about what might upset friends and family. I told my family up front that some of my blog posts might cause them pain. So my mother carefully chooses what posts she reads. Sometimes a friend of hers or I let her know when I post something that she might be interested in.
I decided when I began blogging that I was going to be an open book. For me that is the best solution.
and that can be so freeing also. i think it means a lot to people to be identified with their work. it goes both ways. it's really a matter of preference.
There are times that I wish I'd chosen to blog anonymously (hence the 2nd semi anonymous blog!) so that I can vent about things that would upset/worry my friends and family
My recent post I love England!
I am sure that is a difficult situation to be in, worrying about what might upset friends and family. I told my family up front that some of my blog posts might cause them pain. So my mother carefully chooses what posts she reads. Sometimes a friend of hers or I let her know when I post something that she might be interested in.
I decided when I began blogging that I was going to be an open book. For me that is the best solution.
and that can be so freeing also. i think it means a lot to people to be identified with their work. it goes both ways. it's really a matter of preference.
it was very interesting to read.
I want to quote your post in my blog. It can?
And you et an account on Twitter?
it was very interesting to read.
I want to quote your post in my blog. It can?
And you et an account on Twitter?
If you were to ask me that over 10 years ago, I'll say anonymity would have been a better coping strategy than being transparent. However, in the years following, I've decided to rise above that and surface more towards being open, honest and me.
I wrote a post about that with my stint on disability. You can read it here: http://www.bloggingfor.info/blog-unite-empowermen…
I agree there is a stigma with being disabled but through blogging, you're talking one step closer to empowering your voice. Way to go!
My recent post Blogging Through E-mail- The Posterous Way
Whatever we are comfortable with when it comes to blogging is what we should do. I never even considered blogging anonymously. I am not sure why, but it just never occurred to me. I will definitely look at your link.
If you were to ask me that over 10 years ago, I'll say anonymity would have been a better coping strategy than being transparent. However, in the years following, I've decided to rise above that and surface more towards being open, honest and me.
I wrote a post about that with my stint on disability. You can read it here: http://www.bloggingfor.info/blog-unite-empowermen…
I agree there is a stigma with being disabled but through blogging, you're talking one step closer to empowering your voice. Way to go!
My recent post Blogging Through E-mail- The Posterous Way
Whatever we are comfortable with when it comes to blogging is what we should do. I never even considered blogging anonymously. I am not sure why, but it just never occurred to me. I will definitely look at your link.
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