Danielle,

One of the challenges we face today is to discover and express our public identity: hopefully one that is authentic, as well as many faceted. In the Internet, every blog entry, every comment, or even book review we write says something about who we are as a human being. It’s important for each of us look closely at what we are saying: is what we write a statement of our true opinion or an expression of judgement? In your example, you don’t like the content of, and therefore don't read a popular blog. That’s it. Nothing more.

Just because we can write whatever we wish on the Internet without signing our name or attaching a photo, does not mean that our words are any less our own. People get this mixed up. We often think that we can say anything we want without the consequences, or “be� someone we’ve always wanted to be without anyone discovering the difference to the person we actually “are�.

Perhaps, in the end, each of us who chooses to blog have to test the borders between giving our opinion rather than making judgement, or writing something personally dear to our hearts rather than divulging intimate details of our lives to total strangers, or participating light-heartedly in this exciting global community rather than trying to win a “position� at the top rung of the blogosphere ladder. The fact that we do not always find the right tone or, even, the right words, shouldn’t stop us from continuing this venture, don’t you think?

lia from luebeck, germany

(one of the co-authors of the Red Tent Blog)

Danielle! Yo! Over here! After English, we're sneaking off campus to go - oh, I better not write it down in case this note gets intercepted. But me and the other nerds/geeks/outcasts/kids from art class are - well, just meet us in the back parking lot, okay?

Nerd's Eye View

*sings* we're all in this together, once we know, that we are, we're all stars and we see that... wildcats everywhere, wave your hands up in the air..

ahem. /end Disney's High School Musical outbreak.

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Anyway - I actually just logged in so one - I could sing the wildcats song while I posted and two - so that I could agree with you whole heartedly. It has amazed me since I started blogging (way back in 2000 or so, on open diary. heh.) how vindicitive people can be to those they haven't met in real life ever. I don't get a lot of hits, and even fewer comments, but I fully realize that what I post is for ME and thus other people may not love me and might even hate me. In the grand scheme of things though - what does it matter? There are billions of people on the earth, loads of them traversing the interwebs, and most of them _I_ don't like either! So why get all upset and in yo face bout it?

Me, I write for me. I read for me - I read those that make me laugh when I need it, or connect with me on some level - however it may be. Screw the world if they don't like it. I am who I am, and I'm ok with that.

Though a comment or two would be nice. Cuz ya'll know my kids are totally more awesome then yours. Yeah. And ya'll should come and agree with me totally 100% of the time. yup.

j/k, really.

Clearly I'm not one of the "popular kids" and never have been - but I like me, and that's all that really matters in the end. I just wish people would spend less energy getting all irate about silly things, and just let people be the individuals that we are.

I'm sick of people so determined to stick to the status quo (ok, i'll really stop the HSM references now. Honest.).

That I would only hear about Pam's fun excursion an hour after they left... or I'd get the wrong parking lot.

Gee, my blogs are pretty much the same way! That's OK. I'm happy; and if I'm not, I'll tell you all about it. Danielle, I've had your blog on my blogroll for ages, but never put together you and your blog! If you're coming to BlogHer, we might have to have a couple glasses of Jamisons and talk. (well, except I'm an older white woman... If you flip me the bird the whole time, I'm outta there). And (whispers), I don't care to Dooce either. But then I don't really read mommybloggers much.

Lessa, I'd come visit your blog and even leave a comment (heck, I'd you to my next blog tipping day) but I don't know what your blog is. Looks at calendar. BTD is next Saturday!!

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Deb's Daily Distractions

*LOL* Sorry - guess linking myself would be a good thing huh? You can find me here: http://eclat.reachthecolors.com - as well as many incriminating photos of my kids, and even a video of my "perfect" mother, the grandmother of my children, belching like a champ.

Yeah - we're high class all the way. *L*

I just wonder how much of the high school mentality is in our own heads. I am a long, long way done with high school (25 years). I feel like my age and life experience has given me a good perspective on this stuff. I don't want everyone to like me. I don't expect that everyone wants me to like them. I try to give people a gentle benefit of the doubt when I find their logic, their choice of subject matter or their writing less than stellar. Some people will always be more popular and in some cases that is because of luck or timing rather than sheer talent. That's ok - that's life. That's why Britney Spears sold a zillion albums while deserving others languished in obscurity.

Life isn't fair. And that is okay.

http://redstapler23.blogspot.com

Hope you are well. Looking forward to posts in the Race & Ethnicity section!

I think alot of that sort of thing is in people's heads. I don't subscribe to the notion that certain bloggers are in cliques.

In the blogosphere, all I've ever encountered is support, friendship and fun. When it becomes mundane, upsetting or negative, I will bow out.

Sorry but I think this whole labelling thing is a bunch of bull. I'm sure the 'blog celebrities' (your words) would agree: we're adults, and high school was a long time ago. And any bloggers that don't agree? I would't want anything to do with anyway.
Karen

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Troll Baby

Troll Baby Graphics

Hey,hey,

Interesting perspective, here's another: we're all born and die with one unit of value--no one can take it away from us, no one can give us another one. Everything else is simply opinion or preference. I think Lia is on to something with "authenticity," and on the internet, as in life, I will tend to gravitate toward the supportive, friendly, and fun, as Karen prefers.

In the big picture, does it really matter if someone ELSE thinks there are cliques? We don't have to buy into that idea. You are ultimately the only one who matters, who it's all about. We can acknowledge the validity of any single person's blog without tagging a judgement onto it, keep right on surfing, sipping what sustains us, and sailing by the rest.

I'm glad you didn't stay away, Danielle, and that you're back on line, stimulating dialogue and communicating about issues that strongly impact your thinking. I for one would not want you to feel that your concerns are not being heard, and I look forward to reading more.

Claudia