The Perils of Blogging
“Blog under your real name, and ignore the harrassment.” That’s a nice little article on the importance of using your real name on the Web. I had a few people tell me that my whole drama with anonymous trolls last week wouldn’t have happened if I were quieter about who I am and what I do. “Why can’t you just have a journal in a locked drawer?” I can understand their bewilderment, especially those who aren’t that Internet-savvy. It comes down to this: I like to talk and I like to write. For whatever reason, I feel compelled to put my life out there for friends, family, and whoever to learn about. I’ve been doing this for eight years now, and the benefits far, far outweigh the occasionally annoyances. I’ve made friends – real “in person” friends – from around the world. I’ve gotten some amazing opportunities. I’ve met some of my heroes. I’ve got a community here that I can count on. That’s why I do this. I made a decision early on – way before I started blogging, in fact – that I was going to be transparent about who I am online. And if people don’t like it, they can get stuffed. 🙂