David Lewicki, a Presbyterian pastor in New York City, pulls back the curtain on a secret of blogging.
But blogging, for me, has never been about exposing myself. Rather, it has always been a careful process of hiding as much as I reveal. It’s not an unselfconscious medium at all–every blog I write is carefully crafted to show a certain highly self-conscious personae. They’re written to look casual, offhand, spur-of-the-moment. But I labor over them, going back to change pieces; editing; correcting; improving. Until it is–or is it until I am–just right.
Bloggers hide as much as they reveal. This is true. I censor my blog and leave much of me out. It’s like having guests over for dinner — they only see the rooms in the house you want them to see, which you clean like a fiend beforehand. So on my blog I only put presentable things out on the table. I don’t edit as much as Lewicki does — I smooth out the writing a little and watch the verbs.
In the movie Julie & Julia, Julie’s husband in a fit of frustration labels her blogging narcissistic. As Lewicki notes, though, narcissism in blogging can be an illusion, and the persona ‘artificial.’ Personal blogs speak in the first person, but as Thoreau observes, in all writing ‘it is the first person that is speaking.’
I like your blog because it not narcissistic, mostly nonpolitical, and never a rant. I also like it because it has the right amount of transparency. I think your analogy of having dinner guests works – an important part of hospitality is making guests feel comfortable, at home and at one’s blog.
Chris,
This seems to support the contention of a blogger from BBC’s ‘World Have Your Say’ regarding blogging. As much as folks sometimes think of blogging as seeking attention (and I’m sure there’s no shortage of it), I also believe there’s a healthy part of claiming our place and voice in the world.
It seems to me that isolation is a more insidious danger for the human species than is over functioning. I guess it all comes down to whether you approach blogging with a ‘here’s something about me, now let’s hear about you’ approach or the ‘enough about me, now tell me what you think about me’ approach.
I look forward to your posts.
I found that I was much more fully open and unhidden when I didn’t know anyone was reading my blog. Nowadays I sometimes have to correct a side of me that doesn’t want to stir up controversy or be judged. Which, being in the CCblog network, yet frequented by many conservative evangelicals, can make for a rather frustrating time!
Ken… you have a good point about hospitality. I wouldn’t feel welcome at a friend’s house for dinner if they started ranting about politics.
Warren… I like your phrase about ‘claiming our place and voice in the world.’ Blogging can be a way of doing that.
Adhunt… it sure is hard and frustrating to be judged. The comment section can be a sticky place.
Thanks to you all… Peace to you.
Well, I guess I have to make my confession. I do rant about political matters, economic matters and most important, theological matters because I believe they are important to who we are as Christians and Americans. However, I also find myself monitoring what I write and sometimes being far too concerned about appealing to my readers. Finally, I hope that everyone who does read will find that even a well honed old Christian curmudgeon can be warmly and openly hospitable to all.
CP
Thanks, Steven… you can be the hospitable ranter! Grace and peace to you today.