Blogging is not a game of Hide 'N' Seek - as I don't want anybody that I know to find me. I like to blog knowing that none of my school friends are reading my posts, leaving comments and following my blog's Twitter account, where I spend most of my time talking about books, and their adaptations. Only a few of my closest friends know that I run a blog - as I like sharing some of the good things that have happened with them - and even less know the name, so hardly anyone is actually able to find it. Apart from that, there's my Year Nine English teacher. I think. This got me thinking. Why do we bloggers hide? Is it because we are fearful of what others will think if they find out we blog about books? As that mocking is still there. Is it because we are worried about getting awful comments? Is it because we act differently when we are online, we have more confidence to share our views and likes/dislikes without the judgement of those that know us? These are just a few of the things that are very true for me. Should what somebody else thinks matter, though? Shouldn't we feel comfortable to share our blog, and hope that the people we see would support us? Sadly, this isn't the case for a lot of us.
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| We are not the only people who like to hide - are we? Picture from the Telegraph. |
I find the prospect of having anyone from school reading my blog extremely daunting. It's a scary thought, especially as I have discussed some personal-issues such as bullying on this blog. I was a completely different person in school when I began writing this blog: unconfident, quiet, nervous. I was just beginning to 'come out of my shell' but would have never been able to do some of the things I volunteer to do now(like teach a lesson). With the freedom to say what I want, and write about my interests, knowing that the pressure to 'fit-in' wasn't - and still isn't - there, as with school it is, I've been able to become the type of person I want to be. If people from school were reading this blog, I wouldn't feel like I could be myself. I'd have to be careful about what I say so, I don't come across as 'weird' to them. I hide behind a screen as I like being able to live a Hannah Montana life - just without the fashionable clothing, adoring fans and bright-lights. Which I don't mind not having!
One of the main reasons I don't make Youtube videos and set up a channel like Amber and Lucy have done, is because I'm worried about getting laughed at. I know some people would be happy for me, and would love the fact I'm running this blog in my own corner of the internet, but others wouldn't be. I'm sure people wouldn't be outright horrible to me - but, I'm not sure they would be supportive either. The few people I've told, they have been harsh at times, insulting the things I have done because of this blog. Some have also outright said they, "Don't care" and ignored me when I've started to speak about books and blogger. The fact that I may get not-so-nice comments, and then I could end up annoying people to the point where I have nobody to talk to, makes me want to keep this blog hidden. I'm not saying, by far, I haven't showed somebody my blog and have had a positive reaction. There have been some great reactions, some people have been proud but, I'd rather not risk it.
I know I can't hide forever. There's going to be a time where I'm going to need to share this blog, or I will want to start posting videos, or doing a job that involves books everyday. For now though, with the stresses of GCSEs and school, I think I just need somewhere to post about the things that I like to enjoy, and also discuss opinions that I wouldn't speak about to friends. I care a lot about what people think about me, and that's one of the main reasons I hide.
I want to know, as I blogger, why you hide. You may not - and if you don't, tell me why you like sharing your blog. I know a lot of bloggers that hide because they need that escapism from school - where there's teenage girls who just don't get-along.
Why do you hide? Why don't you hide?
Tell me in the comments!
I always used to hide it, but now, I love to talk about it! I've done presentations at school and I love talking about upcoming books that I've read and my class should when they come out. I think it's because now I'm with people who either like me or they don't, and I don't care really. It's quite funny because at the moment we're doing HTML and Dreamweaver, so we have to look at various sites, and when I look around the ICT suite, lots of people are on mine! But I think lots of people do hide it because we are a bit different.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think that it's part of my identity now, and I hide no other part of me, so why my blog? But it's all down to the person, in honesty.
Awesome post Sophie!
Charli x
Will I hid because say dangers put pic on me went start youtube but my say no.
ReplyDeleteI didn't tell any of my friends when I started blogging, and although most of them know now that's only because they've seen me reading proof copies and I had to explain about being a book blogger and publishers sending me books to review. At first they all thought it was a bit weird - just one of my 'quirks' - but although I still don't talk about it very often I do know that a couple of my friends now read my blog. (Which is sweet, but still a bit strange for me!)
ReplyDeleteAnd sometimes, being a book blogger has been quite helpful for me. For instance, I had a college interview earlier this week and when I mentioned that I'm a blogger and also review for the New Welsh Review (something else that started because of blogging!), the interviewer seemed quite impressed.
Great post, Sophie ;)
I loved this post. I don't really know why I hide. I'm a pretty introverted person, so I've always pegged it on that, and how I hide (and don't hide in someways I guess because I'm mean it's a blog. The whole world can see it) as an escape from the exhaustion that talking to people causes me... But sometimes I wonder if it goes deeper than that. I also think the blogging thing is partially because I have a lot of trouble speaking. It's just something that's extremely hard for me. So, it's nice to be able to manipulate words and communicate my thoughts in a way that I usually don't get to, and would never dare to. But honestly, I relate to this post so much. I really adore it. Do you relate to any of what I'm saying? Does talking to people make you feel exhausted too, or is that just me?
ReplyDeleteAudry at avoidingsocialinteraction.blogspot.com
SUCH AN AWESOME POST. I would do a post-response but you've basically written my thoughts!
ReplyDeleteI don't booktube because i'm not allowed..if i was...i think i would..i don't know..I DON'T LIKE MEH FACE :P
I haven't even showed my blog to my parents..they know I have one as I asked their permission if I could make one..but..I don't want them to see my blog. Only two people know my blog ''in real life''..my best friend and my cousin, and I only showed it to them because i know they won't judge me. I hate being judged, about anything. I 'hide' because i have my own opinions and while i don't mind people i 'don't know in real life' reading them, i don't want people i know reading them, purely because i know lots of people will have their own opinions on my opinions and i AIN'T GOT TIME FO' THAT. :P
This was a brilliant post! I hope you don't mind but I'd love to do one in response as this is a topic that I feel I have a lot to say about. I do hide and I'll explain why in the post. So thank you for writing this and thank you for giving me a little brain wave :D
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this post so much.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty protective over my blog in a way which is quite surprising. Unlike a lot of other bloggers, I'm not a shy person as such and I'm quite confident around others. Yet only one of my "real life" friends knows about my blog (and she found out by accident in the first place)… I make an unnecessary effort to keep people I know from finding out (which is pretty difficult when I have, like, 50 review copies lying about) and at any mention of the word "blog" when I'm around others, I tense up.
In all honesty, I don't know why I keep my blog secret. Everyone in my class knows I love reading because I read during form every morning and everyone in my English class knows I'm obsessed with the subject. Not to mention the fact I'm incredibly proud of my blog too… I guess, the reason I keep it hidden is because it's one of those things that belongs only to me. Amongst all the other social media sites I have (eg. Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr…) it's nice to have one where I'm not followed by people I know. Also, I feel like with people not knowing, I'm free to write whatever I want without being questioned about it… and sometimes that's the best thing.
That all said, I'm not planning on hiding my blog forever. I might use it to my advantage when I have interviews etc. and I might share it with a few of my friends who also love reading. :)
Oh my gosh I don't usually tell people about my blog either! I like to keep my blogging life separate from my social life for reasons I can't explain. I recently moved schools and my mum made it her mission to tell one of the teachers at school and now all the teachers talk about it. Now I've stopped being shy about it and just tell everyone briefly about it but I never talk about it if it's not brought up.
ReplyDeleteI find it funny because in the 'real world' there's a shortage of bloggers and I've never met one in school but in the whole blogging community there are heaps!
This was such a great post idea! It seems like I'm not the only one ;)
Now that I think about it I realise that since starting my blog I have gone to enormous efforts to keep it hidden. The only people that actually know are my parents and they've never even seen it! Maybe one day I'll tell more people, but for now I just don't. And like Ruby, I'm not usually a shy or introverted sort of person... I just think that blogging is a pretty personal thing and to know that people you know in 'real life' read it is kinda scary for.
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing this post! I'm incredibly glad to know that I'm not the only hiding blogger out there.
This is an amazing post Sophie. I'm not particularly shy in real life but I get a bit shy with this, I don't want people to think I'm weird. Quite a few people I know, know about my blog now and have been really supportive.
ReplyDeleteSome because they also love reading, but some because they're simply great friends.
My mum told my head of year amd it really annoyed me because my blog is my little piece of world away from everything and something I've created and am proud of. It felt like an invasion of privacy and she didn't get it.
Now though, I recently got an IG account and loads of school friends follow me on it so a lot know now. Which is scary but I say EFF IT. I'm nearly in 6th form and I've lost interest in caring. It's not like any of then are going to read it and I have more to stress about than that.
Thank you so much, Tilly! I have pretty much the same feelings as you!
DeleteMy Dad has done similar things in the past - parents, huh? It does feel like a huge invasion of your privacy, and I feel a little silly saying it since blogs are online for the world to see, but it really does!
Love what you've said, Tilly! Thank you!
-Sophie :)
I honestly never thought about hiding my blog. Maybe I would feel differently about it if I were a teenager, but I'm not. So right now, both my parents and my fiancé subscribe to my blog—so it's no secret!
ReplyDeleteExcept for the few awkward times where I post a review of my erotica book and my dad reads it, I love sharing my blog. It's clear that he's really proud of what I've accomplished on my blog, and that's very very cool!
I also tell other random people that I'm a book blogger when it comes up. Like I put it on my job application (and got the job!).
I can definitely see how age affects it - as a teenager, you are so worried about being judged it's unbelievable!
DeleteI'm more likely to tell random people instead of my friends! I know I'm not likely to see them again!
Thanks, Ashley!
-Sophie :)
My friends and family don't really know about my blog and I choose not to tell them because it makes me feel self conscious about what I write when I know specifically that they'll be reading it/judging me because of it.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely agreed! That's why hardly anybody around me actually has the link! I don't think my parents could tell you the right name!
Delete-Sophie :)
This is a fantastic post, Sophie!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean by saying how people can be mean and such. I once told one of my close friends about my blogging buddies and she made a snide remark about it! I was very upset!
I tell most people about my blog, it's not something I'm ashamed about, in fact it's something that I'm extremely proud about.
I'm home-schooled so I'm not really exposed to the whole bullying thing but I know kids can, sadly, be cruel. I understand why you don't want people to know (I've received mean comments about loving reading) but if you do decide to tell people about your blog then you shouldn't worry about what they say. Your blog is amazing and I always love reading your posts!
Thank you so much, Kyra!
DeleteThat's awful! I've had a few now and it hurts, especially when you trust someone enough to know about such a big part of your life!
You definitely should be proud of your blog - it's fantastic! I wish I had the confidence to share my own more!
Thank you so much!
-Sophie :)
That's a difficult question. . . I think it's because I don't want to be judged. I grew up in this really religious homeschooling circle. And even my friends who weren't homeschoolers were really religious. I feel like the fact that I don't broadcast religion or religious books would bring their judgement upon me. Some of them have very specific rules as to how a "religious person" should live, and I'm not sure that I really qualify. In person I'm pretty quiet, so my opinions don't come up as much then, but online? I'm really scared to make videos for that reason. Only a few people I know actually read my blog, some of those people being my immediate family. They also make me want to hide a bit because I have to live with them, but they're mostly really supportive and helpful. Some more people know about the blog, but don't have the link or anything so muahahahaha. I'm trying to become more comfortable in my own skin and not care, though. One day they're all going to realize that I don't fit all of their religious qualifications, but I don't think that matters. What I believe and how I show it is kind of my own business, you know? And if I choose not to show my political and religious beliefs through blogging (I mean, that might put this huge dark cloud over the blog. That, and I don't want to appear like I'm telling anyone what to believe.That's none of my business.) that's my own business.
ReplyDeleteOkay, that turned into a bit of a rant. . . Sorry. Great post, though!
-Kelsey
I can understand your reasons for wanting to hide your blog - it's interesting to read about other reasons why. I've also let some friends know I have a blog, but then haven't given them the link! You feel a little...mean, but it's also quite funny at the time! I really think that you should do whatever makes you comfortable. After all, that's really important.
DeleteThanks for commenting!
-Sophie :)