Inspired by irishsassy.
So irishsassy posted something a few days ago titled "Clarification". It was essentially a post on why she posts. I liked it. It gave me more insight into her, and also reminded me that my motivations for posting here might be different than others, and I can't assume that people have any idea why I write about some things and not others, and so on.
I love LJ. It's silly, but I really do. fischstick introduced me to it sometime early on in our relationship and it didn't take me long to become an addict. If it wasn't for LJ, there are people that I genuinely enjoy interacting with that I wouldn't even know. There are people that I know that I wouldn't know as well. There are people that I absolutely love that would be entirely too absent in my life. I would understand human nature even less (if that's possible), and I wouldn't be able to help as many people when I feel I have guidance to offer.
The only downside is that if you're open about who you are, you open yourself up to criticism and possibly getting hurt. It's the same risk we take in real life, and a risk that everyone faces repeatedly if they chose to live that way. I haven't always viewed this topic in this way, but for a long time now I've felt that the risk is worth the reward.
My journal is, first and foremost, for me. I have a great memory for some things and a terrible memory for others, and with everything, details slip over time. I often don't put a lot of "bad" stuff in my journal because I don't want to remember it in a month or a year when I go back and read my old entries. I can't tell you how many times I've gone back and read my VI posts, 'week in review's, or camp posts when I was having a bad day. It's not because I think I'm some kind of brilliant author… it's because those were some of the happiest times I've had EVER and I hope I never forget them.
Second, my journal is for my friends, acquaintances, and almost anyone who wants to know stuff about me. I do keep my "audience" in mind when filtering certain posts. Some things just aren't fit for public consumption (and let's face it, those make for some of the best reading! >:) Some things I just don't want to share with everyone. Some, I assume people are sick of hearing about (there are about a thousand amazing things I could say about the Code Monkey every day... but seriously... would ANYONE else want to hear them? LOL). But… when all of my localy kinky friends wanted to hear ALL about camp, I actually started to get hoarse from telling the stories. It was nice on many levels to just write out the details and share things with them in that manner.
Although I am sometimes slow to notice things, I have seen that some people aren't as open about their lives as I am. I try to be respectful of that, and I try to share in a way that corresponds with what they share with me. Especially with fischstick; any post that references where he was bruised, what kind of noises he made, or where the clamps were placed was pre-approved. And while there are certain topics that I would LOOOOVE to discuss at great length, I keep them strictly between us. Well, with some things I just *try really hard* and sometimes let things slip on purpose by accident. ;)
irishsassy ended her post with the following:
Ask yourself:
Is there anyone on your flist you have not spoken to lately? Do it. Just say hello…If you can, go deeper.
Is there someone that inspires you or impresses you? In what way? Tell them.
Someone I haven't spoken with is pretty easy. anistasia was the first person to friend me after Tom "pimped me out" on LJ. No questions asked. I haven't had a chance to talk with her in a few weeks now. She and my BFF that I've known since I was four years old could be twins - mentally, emotionally, and physically.
But, I don't really feel like I talk to anyone enough. I don't even feel like I get to talk to the Code Monkey enough… which no doubt should inspire a brilliant, sarcastic remark about me being a girl and therefore talking all the time. ;) I started to mention a bunch of other people that are important to me, and the post started to get epically long, so I'll just leave it at this: whenever someone questions what they mean to me or the impact they've had on my life, I get really upset and feel like I've failed them. EVERYONE inspires or impresses me in some way. I've said it a million times, but I still believe that if you meet to someone and don't learn something, you simply weren't paying enough attention.
But, if that's not enough and you want to know why YOU inspire or impress me, respond. I'll tell you - I'm not shy (clearly!).
This concludes the EMO section of Jen's journal. You may now return to your regularly scheduled reading. ;)
I love LJ. It's silly, but I really do. fischstick introduced me to it sometime early on in our relationship and it didn't take me long to become an addict. If it wasn't for LJ, there are people that I genuinely enjoy interacting with that I wouldn't even know. There are people that I know that I wouldn't know as well. There are people that I absolutely love that would be entirely too absent in my life. I would understand human nature even less (if that's possible), and I wouldn't be able to help as many people when I feel I have guidance to offer.
The only downside is that if you're open about who you are, you open yourself up to criticism and possibly getting hurt. It's the same risk we take in real life, and a risk that everyone faces repeatedly if they chose to live that way. I haven't always viewed this topic in this way, but for a long time now I've felt that the risk is worth the reward.
My journal is, first and foremost, for me. I have a great memory for some things and a terrible memory for others, and with everything, details slip over time. I often don't put a lot of "bad" stuff in my journal because I don't want to remember it in a month or a year when I go back and read my old entries. I can't tell you how many times I've gone back and read my VI posts, 'week in review's, or camp posts when I was having a bad day. It's not because I think I'm some kind of brilliant author… it's because those were some of the happiest times I've had EVER and I hope I never forget them.
Second, my journal is for my friends, acquaintances, and almost anyone who wants to know stuff about me. I do keep my "audience" in mind when filtering certain posts. Some things just aren't fit for public consumption (and let's face it, those make for some of the best reading! >:) Some things I just don't want to share with everyone. Some, I assume people are sick of hearing about (there are about a thousand amazing things I could say about the Code Monkey every day... but seriously... would ANYONE else want to hear them? LOL). But… when all of my localy kinky friends wanted to hear ALL about camp, I actually started to get hoarse from telling the stories. It was nice on many levels to just write out the details and share things with them in that manner.
Although I am sometimes slow to notice things, I have seen that some people aren't as open about their lives as I am. I try to be respectful of that, and I try to share in a way that corresponds with what they share with me. Especially with fischstick; any post that references where he was bruised, what kind of noises he made, or where the clamps were placed was pre-approved. And while there are certain topics that I would LOOOOVE to discuss at great length, I keep them strictly between us. Well, with some things I just *try really hard* and sometimes let things slip on purpose by accident. ;)
irishsassy ended her post with the following:
Ask yourself:
Is there anyone on your flist you have not spoken to lately? Do it. Just say hello…If you can, go deeper.
Is there someone that inspires you or impresses you? In what way? Tell them.
Someone I haven't spoken with is pretty easy. anistasia was the first person to friend me after Tom "pimped me out" on LJ. No questions asked. I haven't had a chance to talk with her in a few weeks now. She and my BFF that I've known since I was four years old could be twins - mentally, emotionally, and physically.
But, I don't really feel like I talk to anyone enough. I don't even feel like I get to talk to the Code Monkey enough… which no doubt should inspire a brilliant, sarcastic remark about me being a girl and therefore talking all the time. ;) I started to mention a bunch of other people that are important to me, and the post started to get epically long, so I'll just leave it at this: whenever someone questions what they mean to me or the impact they've had on my life, I get really upset and feel like I've failed them. EVERYONE inspires or impresses me in some way. I've said it a million times, but I still believe that if you meet to someone and don't learn something, you simply weren't paying enough attention.
But, if that's not enough and you want to know why YOU inspire or impress me, respond. I'll tell you - I'm not shy (clearly!).
This concludes the EMO section of Jen's journal. You may now return to your regularly scheduled reading. ;)