Sunday, September 14, 2008

flip flopper

To go private, or not to go private...that is the question!
I keep going back and forth, any opinions PLEASE! I sometimes just feel weird that my life is an open book (well, sort of) but on the other hand, it is cool to see what other friends and family are up to. I would love some comments to help me with my decisions. Come on, I know all of you out there have a voice, let's hear it. Thanks!

Oh and another thing...while I'm at it, here is a way random link I stumbled across. Pretty interesting. I love that last line: "why not fill each minute with joy."

16 comments:

Kristin said...

I'm in the same boat as you. I wish they would make it possible for you to go private but for people to contact you if they know you. Kinda like facebook. Old friends keepfinding me and I keep finding them. It's really cool to re-connect with people or to find your friends blogs that you never knew had one. It does kinda creep me out though that some pyscho could steal my life from my blog. Not steal my name, but steal my image. I saw it on a CSI episode or something like that. This crazy lady copied pictures from someone's website and put them all over her house and then kidnapped the kid and the police didn't know who the parents were at first and ended up having to do a dna test. It was pretty scary. I know it's just a tv show but there could be some psychos like that out there. You've probably decided to go private by my comment alone now. Sorry I'm no help.

Brynn said...

Public! And add an invisible counter so you can see where people are coming from...

Michelle said...

I go back and forth on this, too. I had every intention to do so, and then one night I went "surfing" and couldn't get on to some blogs of ppl I know! AND I didn't have their email address to email for permission. It totally bugged me. So I decided NOT to go private.
But lately, I have been re-thinking the decision...and I may try it... again.

Cam said...

I am in the same boat. I have gotten some rude emails after the Prop 8 post. It started on that on that entry and now I just random rude ones. I mean what anonymous person leaves a comment (on my post about how I miss California) "But we're so glad you're gone." Not the worst thing I've gotten, but still. I don't need that crap.

Kristi Kroeger said...

I say leave it open. You never know who's life you can affect by the simple things you say or the convictions and beliefs you share. It's always the little things that add up

Paige Holley said...

I know how you feel. But I LOVE your blog! If you do go private, can I be invited to view? paigeholley@gmail.com
I hope you don't mind:)

Emma said...

I keep mine public because I'm not sure my family would read it if they had to be "invited". I just keep the really personal information out (like last names and names of cities). Also once you go private the rss feeds don't work. So all of my friends' blogs that are private I have to check them individually to see if they have posted. I still read their blogs, but I only check them about once a week instead of every time they post something.

I haven't gotten any anonymous comments that were rude, but I like having the option to moderate comments and choose whether to publish them or not. I don't have to go private for that. I keep anonymous as an option because lots of my family don't have their own blogs.
Good luck with your decision. I'll still read if you go private.

Leslie said...

i've gone back and forth, too. i just know that after people go private, i end up forgetting they have blogs.
i only check the private blogs like once every couple weeks, and since i can't get a feed from them, i lose track of my friends' lives. hate that part! i say, keep it open.

PB and JS said...

The only reason I went private is my mom said some crazy person might find my children from here. Then they would know all about them so it would be easy to lure them away. I wish Blogger would post your E-mail with the little saying that says it's private. Good luck!

Unknown said...

well.. let me just begin by saying that I am a regular "peeker" of your blog, and I really love it. I love that I can see what you guys are up to! And, I love ollie's funny little things he says. So, I say keep it public! But- I won't have my feelings hurt if you don't feel comfortable with random strangers reading your blog. I guess I don't really know. I would miss it though! :)

L.M. Steimle said...

i don't have kids so its different for me. but all i have to say is...you have A LOT of friends!

Susan said...

I don't mind if people I know want to go private, but it is annoying when you don't have an email address for them and they forget to invite you. My sister-in-law did hers like this: (Quoting her blog)
"I have had a few people ask me how I went about taking my blog private, so I thought I would just post how I did it. Go to Settings, and select Publishing, then choose a new blog address. Then go to permissions and invite who you want to invite. Create a new blog with your old blog address and have it say that you went private and how to get in touch with you."

I have found that this is a great way to not lose touch with others even if you forgot to send them an invite, but then you can still be private, too.

Susan said...

I forgot this....here is the link to my sister-in-law's page with her old blog address that tells everyone she went private, in case you are interested in that. Good Luck!

http://www.thefamilyoffour.blogspot.com/

schester said...

Keep it public. Just watch what you say and what pictures you post. Even if it is private, your information is still out there for anyone with some time to spare to find.

If you want to post pictures privately, do it somewhere you have more control over. Facebook could be a start, but you can't guarantee anything you don't have total control over.

As was mentioned before, you never know who you are reaching or who may find these posts inspiring years from now. You also have to keep in mind that the most dangerous things we do typically aren't online. The time your credit card is going to be stolen is when you give it to the waitress at the restaurant and she goes to the mall really quick, not when you shop online.

Andrea Bishop said...

I would stay open...if not add me to your special list!
andrealynnrd@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

if you go private and you dont mind I would love to have access...email me at alisongeake@msn.com I'd love to invite you to mine (It is private) I am the same way I dont like to think the "Whole world" is looking in on me and I've gone to other peoples who I dont really know them great and I think to myself I'd hate it if people were looking in on me....anyway thats why I am private....Your family is so cute!