Except that these questions aren’t really about etiquette, I’m just curious.
A few bloggers have written that they discuss various bloggers with their families. In fact, their families know who they are talking about if, for example, they say, "Hey! Chilihead likes to eat potatoes with pork and beans on the top!" (which, by the way, yes I do, but we can discuss the finer points of that later. I maybe should have mentioned that in my six weird things because I think it would have traumatized many of you less than the spitting thing did! But I digress. Again.)
Anyway, after you have made that little proclamation whomever you are speaking to in your family immediately knows you’re talking about me. Again, it could be anyone, but I’m using me for example. Do you do that? Because I don’t. My husband doesn’t read my blog. He’s glad I do and doesn’t mind that I spend so much time on the computer reading your blogs, but he’s just not interested in that part. And, as I’ve said before, blogging is kind of my thing. Like golfing is his. I don’t particularly care about golf or really how he does when he plays. They are separate.
Now, along those lines, have you made "friends" with any bloggers? I mean, do you IM them or e-mail them outside of the comments on each other’s blogs? I’ve e-mailed with a few of you and it’s really been kind of neat getting to know you. I find this interesting because finding new friends (even virtual ones) was not one of the reasons I originally started to write my blog. It’s a welcome side effect, though.
So what do you think? Do you discuss your virtual community with your family and friends? Do they know who the players are? Have you made new friendships outside of the blog comments?
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I discuss a few virtual issues with hubs, but not with anyone else. I’ve made SO many new friends in cyber-land–I had no idea that was a bonus of blogging, but I’m so glad it is.
It’s really just my own little world. I have talked about blogging politics with my hubz but other than that, it pretty much stays on the computer for me. there is one blogger that started emailing me as if we were longtime friends or something! I thought it was kind of weird but the more I talk to her through emails, I think she’s just a really neat and funny person. That’s actually the only other blogger that I email to on a regular basis.
I am new to reading blogs and don’t have one so I haven’t really discussed them (OK, yours) much with DH other than the fact that you have one and how do you find time to do it, etc. I can tell you one thing, I have found that blogging reveals a side to a person that the real world will probably never see in near as much detail. And both “sides” are very honest and authentic. Hmmm, a curiosity for the ages…
I never thought my blog-world would bleed into my real world, but it definitely has. We discuss various people from blogland on a regular basis, and my kids even get into it.
My DP reads my blog regularly, but he rarely reads any of yours or others that I communicate with daily.
I didn’t plan to make friends, but I am sure glad I have! I’ve emailed just a couple of people, called one and love hearing from any of you who want to chat more privately than this forum allows.
Blogging has been full of surprises for me! One good one was finding you, Chilihead!
To Nate, yes. To other people, a little bit. But then I feel wierd explaining, yeah, that’s my friend I met on the internet…..
I hope you don’t mind me butting in here; I’m not actually a blogger in my own right. My hubby runs Play One on TV, and anyone he’s linked to I usually read at least once a week. So yes, in our house we DO discuss other blogs/bloggers! Usually in terms of “have you been to (insert name of blog here) today? What’d you think of the most recent post?”
I try not to be a complete lurker. And I really enjoy your writing!
Okay, Peach, in Texas DP means Dr Pepper. What does it mean to you? Or did you find a talking can?
I have three bloggers I’m closer to, that I found when I first started blogging. My family knows who they are. One of them has a daughter Katie’s age and they have started e-mailing. We are planning to go visit them this summer.
My mom has a blog now and we run in the same circles, so we talk about it. Other than that, sometimes I share something funny and I just say, “On this blog I read…”
I suppose that I mention people to my family occassionally but not to anyone else. I do email a few ladies on a regular basis and I find this part of it fun. I do feel like I have made some friends even if this is just the internet!
Great questions. No discussion takes place here. My husband doesn’t read mine, my extended family doesn’t know I’m blogging, and as far as I know… none of them are either. Any local friends I mention it to don’t know what it is and really aren’t that interested. That’s ok… It is kind of my personal “corner” for me. My place to debrief and process.
As to friends here… I’ve had my socks knocked off with the number of friends I have found. The support, encouragement, prayers, and laughs have blessed me beyond my wildest beliefs. I also have e-mailed a few privately, but am open to talk with anyone outside of the blog forum if they would like to.
Again, great questions!
Yes to all those questions.
My hubby reads my blog, and also reads several of the blogs I read (mostly the people I’ve been reading for a while, since my lengthly blogroll now overwhelms him!) He and I sometimes do talk about stuff we read on the blog and refer to people by their names/blog nicknames. But most other people I know in real life do not know about my blog, so that’s where it ends.
I do actually communicate with some of my blog friends in e-mail, IM, letters, and once by phone. Like you, I didn’t intend to make friends this way, but it’s been a really nice side consequence of blogging!
Shellie reads my blog every once in awhile…not much. I think I bore her. Heh.
I do talk about blog friends, though. For example, I’d say “Chili said today – Chili, ya know, the one who spits in the toilet – today she said…”
or whatever. But I rarely use real names. And I’ll only say it to Shellie – I don’t walk up to strangers and say “Ooooh, I like your fake nose/glasses…Chili would LOVE those” or anything.
A lot of the blogs I read regularly are from women I’m on a message board with. We’ve been on the same board for three or four years, and over the years I’ve gotten to meet a lot of them. So yeah, I talk about them all the time with my husband. Sometimes if there’s a really classic post on another blog I’ll make him read it, but usually not.
once in a while; if someone has a really hilarious post up, i’ll show it to my husband. he sometimes comments on the comments I get (or don’t get) — where’s so=and-so? haven’t heard from her lately.
my sister and i (motheringedge.blogspot.com) visit most of the same blogs, so once in a while we’ll laugh together about something.
friends outside of blogs? not for me. i think i’m something of an outsider in the mommy blog world. b/c i don’t have any kids! but it’s where i feel most comfortable.
omg are you me? My dh is a golf freak and he knows I blog but doesn’t care or read it – he knows that is “my thing” and lets me have my space – sorry, i just had to reply because that sounded very familiar!!
Blogging is something that we discuss around here. Dan proofreads for me and several of our friends read my blog in real life. I’ve also exchanged emails and even IMs and phone numbers with some of my closest online buddies. Weird. It’s something I wouldn’t have expected when I started this.
My hubby doesn’t read my blog, but he puts up with all my “blog talk” pretty well. (Well, sometimes he reads, but he has YET to leave a comment! Sheesh.)
Anyhow, I do discuss blogs and bloggers with DH, just as he discusses work and coworkers with me. Twisted.