Here I plan on continuing the debate on whether blogging is right for…well, anyone who is thinking of blogging.  I’ll be touching on some of the realities and concerns that affect me in considering blogging. See Part 1 here.

Concern/Reality #1: Should I Really Post That?

This one is probably the biggest, which is why I put it first (probably should have saved the headliner for last to keep my massivereadership engaged, but I like to change it up.) It is especially ironic to discuss when I specifically stopped keeping a personal online journal because of the lack of authenticity it required.

Freedom of Speech and the Press seem to be the backbone of blogging, but when you start to view blogging in light of the fact that some employers are using blog content as part of their consideration of you as an applicant, it really brings those high sky ideals down to the hardest tundra of the earth.  You never know what someone will take offense to, and criticizing anything from conservatism/liberalism to Apple/Microsoft could make an impact on what people think about you. 

Seems obvious, but really think about it.  It really makes one contemplate what you publish.  If you have a job other than writing a blog and you are new to the blogging world, what you put out there publicly really could make a difference.

Once you are well known as a blogger and command a strong network of readers, you get a little more freedom.  Penelope Trunk indicates that the “Pay Your Dues” motto of the past no longer applies, but I think it still does in terms of freedom, and especially about blogging.  You might be better served by being careful about your posts until you have some time and respect under your belt.

But then, there are those who focus their blogs on being provocative or even incendiary as a part of their image, or brand.   Did they start out that way?  Probably not.  And they probably don’t have jobs in conservative fields, like the financial industry.

• So, how do you maintain the delicate balance between writing what you want and keeping up a good image? 
• Do you censor yourself?
• Do you write that professional, but negative, review?
• Do you leave certain topics alone?  (i.e., the big flame-war topics of abortion, politics, religion, etc?)

I obviously did not stay away from politics during this last election, but I also don’t show up on the scale of important blogs. So staying away from a topic that inflamed me is really difficult.

Concern/Reality #2: Wipe Away the Past

This is an extension of the previous question, but do you go back and delete old posts that are just not up to par?  After you’ve been blogging for a while, you probably have tweaked your style fully and fire off posts without much thought.  But should one be cognizant of the past posts where you were still working things out? 

This is a very real concern to me, on two levels. 

Do you get rid of posts that might not paint the right picture of you that you want the world to see?  Or do you bare all in a freedom of information act blaze of glory? 

Do you get rid of posts that might not be crowd pleasers, or - more succinctly - might have views that are swinging in a strong direction in an attempt to be of interest to everyone?

Concern/Reality #3: Harrassment

Sometimes, I wonder if I should blog because I am so offended by commenters to other blogs I read.  It seems like blogs and internet writing really draw the cretin from their slimy homes.  Especially if you discuss strong topics, make assertive statements, or just state an opinion of any sort.

Then there’s further harassment - as in, how much of my personal life do I put into here? Do my loved ones have rights to privacy about themselves insofar as it affects me? How much of a target of criminals do I make myself?

And what if I do become popular? Can I even deal with the emotional response to the huge amount of assholes that will inevitably show up and nay-say everything? Or in the case of Kathy Sierra, where harrassment becomes stalking? I don’t think so highly of myself, but keeping a blog means that the past is out there, and a lot of information are in one’s posts.

Concern/Reality #4: If a Tree Falls In the Woods…

Am I just wasting my time? There are just so many blogs that it seems hard to imagine that one might become more desireable to read than another. I could have the greatest revelation about how to achieve peace on earth, and no one would ever read it to know because I’m not big in the blogging world.  And also because I’m not well-known, any thoughts I might have on a topic have less impact.

I have a lot of goals with this blog, but I’m not sure they are attainable, and even if attained, fulfilling. It seems a far leap from when I just wanted to write down my feelings and experiences to produce a blog that regularly discusses topics with attention to detail.  I read a lot about what blogs should be or do - short posts with links and succinct information. And I’m not sure that I’m in the blogging world for that purpose. 

Which leads me to wonder if there is a place for a long-winded blogger such as myself.

Next blogging post Part 3: Goals and Positives.