A New York Times magazine essay on the consequences, for writers, of Twittering asked, "When friends become fans, what happens to intimacy?"
Good question, and one that's come to me more than once, walking down the fairway or sitting at the bar with a pal.
There's a lull in the conversation. I try think of something I've done or thought about lately. Scout and I are playing pick-up baseball games in the local park … I had a crazy conversation with some clodhoppers up in the U.P. … Some old goat told me life after 50 is perfect.
"Yeah, I know. I read it on your blog."
Like a bubble the conversation burst, all at once and nothing first.
And what's more, I imagine my pal is vaguely insulted that I'm trying to pawn off a warmed-over blog anecdote in a genuine personal conversation.
But I'd forgotten it was a blog anecdote! Or at least, I'd forgotten that this pal reads my blog! And besides, my blog is genuine personal conversation—just with strangers looped in!
I want my friends to read my blog, and I love it when they comment here.
But I'm also grateful that there are some who don't.
Because with them, there's more to talk about.
That’s an interesting conundrum. For a while, NPR’s “Car Talk” was selling bumper stickers that said, “Drive now. Talk later.” to raise awareness of the increasing use of cell phones and distracted driving. Speaking of bumper stickers, I was in Minneapolis recently and saw one: “F you and your blog.” I laughed out loud.
I know; I’ve been blogging for like six years and I still can’t say with a straight face, “As I said on my blog ….”
I actually prefer to call it my “bloog” (the preferred pronunciation of Studs Terkel) or my “blop,” which is what another elderly acquaintance calls it.
“As I said just last week on my blop ….”
I’m in a relationship with a woman who is much more private than I, and who is downright uncomfortable if I even mention her on a Facebook status update. Because I love her and respect her preference, I never mention her there and have become much more aware of how much personal information I share on social media, including my business blog. I’m choosier than I used to be. And to be honest, I like being less “out there” than I used to be.
There is something a little perverse about sharing every aspect of our lives with so many people, many of whom we barely know or don’t know at all.