When I started this blog, it was somewhat anonymous. I always used my first name but beyond that kept it somewhat vague on purpose. Very few people in real life knew about it. Slowly, it started becoming less anonymous. More and more pictures, local race recaps, more of the real me than just some random girl who was training for a first marathon.
The blog led me to local friends by way of other bloggers. I've met speedy marathoners, great ultra runners and more inspiring runners including some who share my love of desserts as much as running - all through the connections of blogs and social media. I've yet to meet one crazy person or stalker.
Soon, people in real life started to find out about it. It was also pretty obvious that anyone who wanted to find out anything about me certainly could with just three minutes of research - my name, where I live, where I work.
I read a couple of blogs that try to be anonymous, part of me really wonders why.
At some point, I made the conscious decision to just say screw it and become completely transparent across all social media. I've come to the conclusion that more great things can happen this way.
Twitter
Pinterest
Athlinks
LinkedIn
Higher Miles Facebook page
Miles and Mutts Facebook page
Miles and Mutts
This is still a running blog so it's only a little sliver of my life. Work isn't discussed or really much else outside of running and dogs, but well, work, running and dogs pretty much sums up my life anyway.
Why am I writing this?
Two reasons.
First, in my 'down-time' (otherwise known as lazy time over the winter during which I can absorb lots of bad reality TV while I'm not working out), I've discovered a guilty little pleasure in the show Catfish on MTV. I find it fascinating that people spend so much time and effort to be people they are not online.
I don't fabricate anything about myself online but do I come across completely as I am in real life? Probably not. I don't think anyone does. Kim has written several great posts about perceived identities before. I always love her posts and the topic interests me too. I'm sure I come off a little more as I want to be seen versus how I actually am but I'm still in the same general realm (I hope). :)
Second, I'll be in Chicago for a few days this week. Any non-stalkers in Chicago want to try to meet up? I doubt I'll have a lot of free time since it's a quick work trip but maybe a little!
Anonymous blogger or not? Why?
I love catfish!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat I'm not a stalker? Bummer. I thought I was and that made me more interesting. Guess I really am just boring except for the ultra running part. That's kinda cool. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHave fun on your trip! Can't wait till we get to run another race together.
Oh I LOVE that new photo you put up! Amazing!!
ReplyDeleteI really hope we can meet up this week!
ReplyDeleteWhile I dont operate "anonymously" my name is not spelled "Xaarlin."Its a nickname that sounds exactly like my name :)
Ah and with providing race recaps, its easy for someone to look 3 minutes like you said and find name/age/city etc online. Anyways... I feel like with the blogs you get a decent sense of how someone is- and its like a reference... So ive never felt creeped out meeting other running bloggers in real life- always joke that I was never a fan of "online dating" until I created the blog. WIthout my blog, I wouldnt know a single person in Chicago. Its so difficult to make friends after college and in a new city!
1. I love your blog but you, and so far every other blogger I've met, are definitely cooler in real life, probably just because as you said, it's hard to really get your full personality across in writing.
ReplyDelete2. My new obsession is Catfished and Nev is the new love of my life despite his excessive chest hair and I have concocted a complicated plan to get on the show and meet him which I will not reveal here since obviously he is an internet super sleuth.
I'm slightly anonymous in that I use the blog name "Gracie" because of Blogger glitch during registration that insisted that I could not use "Grace". Very few people actually call me Gracie in real life; mostly only people who knew me as a small child. But I still answer to it so it's no big deal really.
ReplyDeleteHa! I am not anonymous!
ReplyDeleteAnd I have never heard of Catfish. I must be getting old ;)
Well, hello! ; )
ReplyDeleteI started out with the intent of staying anon also and just got to a point where I realized I was pretty transparent regardless, so I just gave in. So far, so good, and I hope you have the same experience.
I think in the beginning I started out slightly anonymous, but then as my blog evolved and race recaps, etc. went up I became less and less anonymous. I don't give out a lot of details on my personal life, but for the most part I think you can figure out the type of person I am through my blog. I don't try to be someone that I am not.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you can meet some fabulous people in Chicago! Have a fun a trip too.
I'm pretty much the same as you and over time I have also gone to being transparent. It actually opens doors for me. here in SA there are not many running bloggers and I have become a bit of a "celebrity" here :) I am also busy venturing into othet forms of social media.
ReplyDeleteI was similar... started without telling my real-life friends, but now most everyone knows and I'm okay with it. Hope you can meet up with some blog friends in Chicago!
ReplyDeleteGreat point! I think I'm a mix! Once i talk more to a blog reader I share email and also meet them up. So far it was all wonderful and it felt like meeting a long time friend!
ReplyDeleteSocial media definitely weirds me out, even though I am a willing participant. At one point I believed in anonymity, but then I realized anytime you post a picture with a running bib pretty much anyone can look you up online. I say embrace sharing your true self! Real people blogs are far more interesting to read than anonymous ones!
ReplyDeleteI'm somewhat anon but clearly people can still figure out who I am based on races I've run. I just try not to be searchable.
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous you'll be in Chicago! I hope you get to meet Kim!!
My blog started as a way for family to see pictures and videos of my kid, so it's strange to me when people I don't know read it, even though I should be used to it by now.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of that show! I will have to check it out!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shoutout! You are too sweet :)
I am not annon. I mean, I try not to let work people find me, but that is it.
When are you in Chitown?! My schedule is loco this week, but I would LOVE to meet you! Maybe even squeeze in a run! Did you set something up with Xaarlin:?
I don't really try to stay completely anonymous, but I don't tell my real-life friends about the blog. Only my husband, sister, and closest friend know about it. Hell, I had it for over a year before I even told my husband about it. Mostly just because I think everyone will think it's stupid. lol
ReplyDeleteI'm actually really embarrassed when people I know IRL read my blog and talk to me about it in person. I have no idea why. I haven't actually ever met anyone that I've gotten to know through blogging. I only started blogging about a year ago. I am only a couple of hours from Chicago so if you head this way again let me know! :) I'd love to do a race there sometime.
ReplyDeleteI suppose some people are more concerned about blogging / Internet prescense and their job. I don't talk about work much on the blog (I feel I don't anyway) and I try to be semi-non-obvious but the #1 hit to my blog is searching for my name. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteI've never tried to be anyone else so hopefully people who meet me IRL aren't like who are you? LOL. I would love to be your real friend! Maybe one day our paths will cross :)
Haha all you have to do is google my first name and the word "run" or "marathon" or the like and I am the first one to pop up. That's the problem with having a non so normal name. You can't really BE anonymous. Have fun in Chicago! If you come to the Bay Area, we are totally going to hang out.
ReplyDeleteI love that show! Nev keeps it less trashy than it could be. It's like a Jerry Springer episode with a more mature host.
ReplyDeleteWord has spread pretty thoroughly in my real life that I blog, but if I meet someone who runs, I don't tell them about it right away. Like some other people mentioned, it's a little embarrassing for some reason.
i'm not anonymous at all. i thought about trying to be-but it just seemed to hard. the bf prefers to be, so he is that way-for now :)
ReplyDelete