One thing that’s deeply fascinating is what people classify as private. It’s more apparent here than on screw-the-users-places like Facebook and it makes it clear that the social web has a long way to go and that there needs to be more choices with real differences. Sort of a pick and choose you own adventure but with content. No one has the same definition, no one shares things to the same degree. What’s deeply personal to me isn’t for you, not completely even though mostly we do agree on certain conventions imposed by society, upbringing and well, weather?

Some very private people may post nude photographs of themselves while at the same time feel anxiety about writing about their thoughts and days. For me, it’s the opposite. I’m not comfortable with myself enough to be naked except in special circumstances that almost never happen. At the same time I’m pretty open about my depression. Perhaps too open even if I hesitate to write about thoughts on suicide — they have happened — but even that feels easier to do than photos of my chest. Too me, even GPOYW is about learning to like myself.

I think what I’m trying to say is this: I’m thankful that there isn’t a faux-privacy option like Facebook or bolted shut like Livejournal here. That you have to decide what to share and not, I think it makes it more personal somehow. It’s less about catering to a select few and more about actually reaching out. Cryptic is good and can blow minds of people it’s not intended for. I don’t want to hide for half the world I inhabit — even if I might hide for the other half, the one that’s flesh and bones and cheese.

The “friends only” is one of a few reasons why Livejournal and me never clicked. I have friends who use it but I haven’t logged in to read for years. Locked away one-way content is not for me in any direction. That’s what mail is for.