{I understand that people do not like to reveal their complete identity on the Internet. I respect that. Believe me, I get it. There are many days when I wish I used a pen name or surname versus having all but my blood type out in cyberspace. BUT… I have a couple of questions.
Do you have a hard time believing people that don’t show their face on their blog?
Do you find yourself coming across more and more blogs that are full of lies (remember, it’s the Internet)?
Should anonymous-faceless bloggers be able to complain about anonymous readers/commenters?
Where do you draw the line between too much & not enough?
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{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
i’m skeptical of anonymous bloggers and anonymous commenters. and no. i don’t think that an anonymous blogger can complain about an anonymous commenter. i have the guts to stand behind my words and put my name and face out there with everything i say. so people that comment on my blog should do the same thing.
.-= Erin @ Blue-Eyed Bride´s last blog ..Weight Watchers Wednesday on Thursday: Week 1 =-.
YES! It’s hard to trust bloggers that don’t show a face. What are they trying to hide? Why all the secrets? All the time and effort that goes into blogging, wouldn’t you want to show your readers that you are in fact a real person and not telling a bunch of lies?!? It’s really hard to trust the authenticity of someone like that. I honestly think some bloggers get a kick out of not showing their face or trying to hold back. Maybe they think it’s mysterious or something? I find it kind of annoying personally.
.-= Brown Eyed Girl´s last blog ..What were we thinking? =-.
What great questions. The bloggers that are completely faceless lack credibility, in my opinion. I want to be able to associate a face with a “personality.” And if you dont ever let people in on who you are, then you have a hard time connecting with people. I don’t ever use real names on my blog, but I always put pictures up. I also feel like it is one of thoe situations where if you are so anonymous, then you should not be able to complain about other anonymous people. There are a couple blogs where the writer is so full of it, it is comical and addicting to read what lies she is spewing.
Very well said …. I understand keeping super personal information, like address, off the blog. But, if you won’t tell you name or city, etc then it seems a little sketchy!
*found you blog through Mer and read regularly
.-= Kelsey´s last blog ..Shopping in YOUR closet: Scarves =-.
It is one thing to not want to use your name or your husband, kids, and friends names etc., but It is hard to believe someone that never posts pictures of their life. I like putting a “face” to the story. If you want to remain anonymous you don’t really have any room to complain about people anonymously commenting. In my mind it’s the same thing.
.-= Kelly´s last blog ..When Life Hands You… =-.
Can I just get a HELL YES to Erin’s comment?!?!?
I do have a hard time believe faceless bloggers. I may not put my name out there, but I do show my face. Also, if anyone ever emails me I always respond with my name. There have been several bloggers recently that I thought to myself, “I have to call bull shit on that.”
Also, I don’t really think it’s fair to comment about anonymous commenters when the blogger in question is anonymous. I mean what i say and say what I mean. I don’t hide behind anonymity EVER.
.-= Mojito Maven´s last blog ..work attire FAIL =-.
Good questions! I like the bloggers who post pictures of their everyday life. I don’t mind if they don’t use their real name I just like to see what they are saying. I am a curious person and it is always so much better to be able to put a face with a bloggy friend.
.-= Danielle´s last blog ..Weekend Recap =-.
Interesting! As an “anonymous blogger”, I still don’t trust those without pictures. Weird. I initially decided not to use my name and picture because of my job, but quite frankly, I’m about tired of “almost forgetting” to call my husband “The Mr.” instead of Greg and not putting up great pictures of our fun. Thanks, Nina, you’ve inspired me to come out. Haha
.-= Anna´s last blog ..Do you tweet? =-.
I am new to the whole blog thing and I decided to use my name and my friends’ names. Is that too risky?? I am nervous about the balance of being authentic and then also protecting myself. I would love some advice on “best practices” for lady bloggers!
.-= meg´s last blog ..Hmm…How do we feel?? =-.
As a blogger that has chosen not to use her or anyone else’s name, its not only a preference, but also a requirement. Due to my hubby’s job, I’m not at liberty to put our ‘real names’ out there. But also due to my job, its best that to keep my name off of the net as much as possible. That being said… I do use the real names of our pets!! I enjoy blogging and I actually wish I could disclose more than I do, but unfortunately my husband would kill me.
Do I trust bloggers that don’t show their face or disclose any personal information? Well it all depends. Do I fully trust bloggers in general… that’s probably the better question? This is a tricky lil world we all ‘live’ in.
Luckily, I haven’t had a lot of nasty anon comments to complain/worry about.
.-= mrsjetplane´s last blog ..TONIGHT is the NIGHT =-.
I have an anonymous blog for right now. Eventually, I plan on posting a picture, but I want to wait til the time is right for me. It’s just a guilty pleasure. It’s just an outlet for me to write what I want about anything I want to. When you have an English degree and have been forced to write things on topics not of your choice for like forever, it’s nice to just write about what you want and not even have to worry about punctuation. LOL=) I don’t use my name, but I find it no different than an author who uses a pen name versus their legal one. My name is unique, and a typical hyphenated Southern two names for a first name. There aren’t many with the same name as me running around. I respond to any emails, giveaways giver/recipient, thank yous, etc. with my real name. I can see where it doesn’t make me credible. But then again, anyone can upload a picture to a blog of anything. I just hope that I don’t come across as not credible. I don’t hide what city I live in or things like that. There are actual pictures of my Puggy on my blog. But, some people have to actually see things to believe in them. I get that. I love your blog and read it everyday! I am a real person ya know=)
.-= SouthernBelleJM´s last blog ..Can somebody say A.W.K.W.A.R.D.? =-.
I will say that I read more blogs that have actually faces and that I have talked to the person over Gmail or just blogging. But you have to be careful no matter what because it is the internet!
.-= Mrs. Guru´s last blog ..Review Changed =-.
“Anon” blogs & “Full Frontal” blogs are both on my Reader. I don’t fully trust these bloggers who keep their ‘real’ life separate from their ‘internet’ life. Why the secrecy? I truly only understand if they stay anonymous for their jobs. Otherwise WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?! What’s the point of blogging then?
.-= Ally Dubs´s last blog ..No Internet ROYALLY Sucks. =-.
I don’t have a problem with anonymous bloggers, but I don’t find their blogs quite as interesting. Part of why I read a particular blog is because I want to get to know that person, and I think it’s the same with my readers. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t have tons of photos of myself on my site, but that’s a matter of preference. I post lots of pictures from my life, however, and I do so because I think that is why people visit my blog – they want to get to know me, hear my perspective, and see how I live.
As far as anonymous bloggers getting irritated with anonymous commenters, that strikes me as the pot calling the kettle black, you know? I can understand if they’re complaining about a negative commenter who just happens to also be anonymous, but to just complain about someone because they’re anonymously commenting seems a tad hypocritical.
.-= Practically Perfect…´s last blog ..“Never the Bride” Book Review + A Free Book =-.
Yes. I am very suspicious of anonymous bloggers. I totally understand a desire to hide one’s identity to a certain extent but it still tends to make me wonder. Anon. commenters don’t bother me as much, but I don’t have much experience with them as most people who comment on my blog know me in real life.
I do have a hard time trusting people who choose to be completely anonymous. There have just been too many stories lately of anonymous bloggers making up major parts of their lives. Because of that it has caused me to be more skeptical. When reading somebody who is completely anonymous I find myself asking: hm… is that really true? When I feel like I never have to question somebody who is not anonymous. I dont know if what I said even made sense, but to answer the first question YES I have a hard time believing people who don’t show their face and no I don’t think they should be able to complain about anonymous commenters.
.-= Megan´s last blog ..Weekly Weekend Update =-.
It is very hard for me to believe people who don’t show their faces… “Don’t believe it till you see it.”
I’ll read them… but I always take them with a grain of salt.
.-= ClassyFabSarah´s last blog ..Funkalicious =-.
In defense of writing blogs anonymously, I’ll give my reasons for it. I’m currently in med school and am very uninterested in being reprimanded if I write about my bad day at the hospital or a doctor that was rude to me. Much like posting a picture of yourself with a bong on facebook, potential residencies can look at your blog and decide that you are a poor candidate. Truly, I’m just not comfortable with posting my picture and my name on the internet. Frankly, if someone doesn’t believe me or doesn’t want to read my blog, that’s his/her business. I write for myself, not for others.
.-= Short White Coat Notes´s last blog ..Fall TV 2009 =-.
Well, I am guilty of being one of the anonymous bloggers on here. Now if you email me I am totally open and forthcoming, but I don’t put pics of me or family on the blog. My BDiL probably would not want her pic on here due to her employer. In my defense, I am not hiding anything, but NONE of my friends in my hometown are into the blogging thing, and I’m pretty sure they would think I was nuts for my interest in it! I am certain that their assessment would be that I have no life so I live on the computer. I know – I shouldn’t care what anyone says . . . I guess I just don’t want to constantly be explaining this or that if people who know me find my blog. But I am totally honest in everything I say. However, I have read blogs that I questioned the veracity.
Maybe that will be my big reveal in the future – pictures! Good topic, Nina.
xoxo
.-= Preppy 101´s last blog ..Monogram Giveaway! =-.
While I think that a certain amount of privacy is good, I also kind of doubt “anonymous bloggers”. I wonder how much of what they say is true since they seem to hide behind this idea of who we think they are. Does that make sense? I try not to use real names and try not to disclose my hometown (try!), but my blog is covered in pictures. I love blogs with pictures of people’s lives. It’s how I feel like I get to know them!
And anon comments in general piss me off. If you want to say something bitchy, then man up and put a name. That’s all I have to say about that!
.-= Perfectly Imperfect´s last blog ..Week(end) Wrap-Up =-.
Great post! While I don’t divulge all on the blog I make a point to not be anonymous. I wish I would not have told family and close friends about the blog so I could speak a little more freely.
This is a very interesting conversation. When I first started blogging, I didn’t put up any pics of myself because of my job at the time. I now post the occasional pic of myself, as I agree with others – being able to put a face on someone’s writing definitely makes the blog more interesting. I can understand people’s interest in being anonymous though, it definitely makes you feel more “free,” but it probably results in some “little white lies” too!
.-= Pink Maple´s last blog ..We interrupt this blog break . . . =-.
i just had my first anonymous comment on my blog recently and it just makes me wonder who it is… because im sooo curious about everything and anything! lol.
why do people stay anonymous even when the comments are nice/positive?
.-= xo.´s last blog ..*happy weekend* =-.
I HATE anonymous comments (I also hate spelling “anonymous”). I just don’t know how much to trust anonymous bloggers – I sometimes wonder if it’s reality or a creative outlet. Personally, I hate posting without pics. I think they make blogs more fun to read! Well-written post, Nina!
.-= Mel´s last blog ..Really? Really? =-.
I think the people that have blogs where they don’t show their faces or use their real names do it for several reasons. First of all, it can interfere with certain jobs if people knew you had a blog. Some people don’t want friends or family members to know they have a blog. Especially these days you want to be safe when you are putting information about you or your family on the blog. There are too many creepy weirdos out in the internet world too! I think it’s a personal choice, and those bloggers should have just as much respect as the ones who have a blog with pictures and real names.
I don’t like it when people don’t post pictures of themselves. It makes me think they are creating a fictional blog.
.-= Marissa´s last blog ..Happy 25th Birthday to me! {September 14} =-.
In my opinion, if someone has a blog and they do not want it to be seen by co-workers and family, then it should be PRIVATE!
I, for one, come back and read the ones that post pictures, etc. but that’s what I’m drawn to read. I’m not all for “TELL EVERYONE ALL YOUR BUSINESS” – but I don’t get how anon bloggers can get upset with anon comments …. it’s practically the same thing? Right?
Great post, Nina!
.-= Natalie´s last blog ..Favorite Song Sunday =-.
I don’t post photos of myself, but post photos of the family, trips, house, etc. I also use an alias.
I used to read a blog that I just knew was full of crap, she never posted “real” photos, just things captured from the internet. Said it was for safety reasons, I always thought “yeah, someone could really find you from a photo of your kitchen!” The life she blogged about was so out there, but it made for entertaining reading!
.-= Steph´s last blog ..Well, The Party Is Over… =-.
First I think this is a great, thought-provoking topic. I have to say however that I’m guilty of not posting photos (or a great deal of personal information). Although I would like to start putting out more photos because while I don’t want my coworkers/clients to be able to easily find my blog, I’m getting tired of being so hidden. For me, it’s hard to find a balance between being Anonymous and being completely open. I envy bloggers who have the confidence to share so much. Maybe someday I’ll get closer to that.
What an interesting topic! I’d call myself a semi-anonymous while I’ve never posted a picture of my face close up, I have posted far away and I always respond to emails with my name!
I’m not a huge fan of anon. comments though. If you’re going to say something, own up to it!
.-= Barefoot in the Park´s last blog ..It’s a conspiracy. =-.
N! Love this post! While I don’t post my name – I go by my monogram KAG, I still put myself out there with pics, etc! I have a real problem with bloggers who write about themselves yet never post pics or give anything away about their identity. I have actually stopped reading anonymous blogs because I feel they are all toooo often Fiction!
xoxo KAG
.-= KAG´s last blog ..My New Style Obsession: Kate Middleton =-.
Wow, great topic indeed. For me, I use my first name and not my last. This is because of work. But, I also don’t blog about family struggles, work issues, fellow employees, etc. I just don’t want to go there and feel the aftermath if anyone would see it.
Now, what I do have a problem with on other blogs, is when people “sugar-coat” their life. I just feel like I can totally see thru what they are writing or posting. I once followed a blog where everyday the girl posted what she wore and it was ALL pics from the JCrew site. It was NEVER a pic of herself. Now, really, you wear EVERY item of clothes EVERYDAY of JCrew ONLY? Really? Not one thing is from somewhere else? If she received a present from her husband (car, jewelry) and it was a picture from the brand’s website. I just didn’t buy it.
I come from a pretty wealthy family and let me tell you, if my mom walked thru Target and saw a cute shirt, she bought it. Please don’t lift yourself up by lying that you ONLY wear JCrew clothes and shoe every day.
It just buggs me. I can totally respect pple that don’t post their family pics. But at least they are real and honest on their blogs.
.-= Heidi´s last blog ..This, That and the other =-.
Well…
I have had less anonymous blogs in the past. It was my own fault for linking them to my Facebook account and letting family see them. It became a total issue of my mom stalking my every move via the blog (I’m a very, very domestic thirtysomething housewife, not a party gal who posts ridiculous pics…). So, when I started the blog I currently maintain, I wanted a little distance from the “real world”. I don’t care at all for my blogworld friends to know my name and personal details, but I would feel censured and stifled if my real-life friends and family were as up on the minutia of my MJM blog as they seem to be of my “real-life” blog.
I am a professional writer, and I find that, from a content perspective, when we deconstruct our lives to a more abstract plane (e.g., “Nashville” becomes “Southern City”), it often invites our readers in to a more comfortable world. They don’t have to know the topography of the city. They can extrapolate the information they need and add their own experiences. They aren’t bogged down with details like “I met the girls from the Junior League of _____ at _____ restaurant, then we went dancing at Hotspot_______”, which often serve to alienate the reader from the scene. If it’s done well, a degree of anonymity is good.
For my own purposes, I have some pics of myself on the blog, and some of my dog. Mr. Mag is wildly camera-shy and doesn’t post photos of himself on his own Facebook, so that would be a highly unwelcome intrusion if I posted his photograph on my blog. I think that photo-anonymity can be done well if the blog is on a more abstract topic such as style (i.e., personal photos are replaced with storyboards via Polyvore or Posterous every day) than if the blog serves as a journal. There is something really odd and off-putting about telling everyone your personal stories without adding photographic displays…
Finally, I think it can’t be stressed enough that it is such a rough job market out there. I think that anyone who is currently in professional school is being inundated with ridiculous threats about the dire consequences of blogging/Facebooking/Twittering, and now that there are so few jobs to be had, it seems even more careless to post personal information online. Law students live in fear of the background check for the Bar, and as Short White Coat notes above, there are similar threats hanging over med students’ heads. Because of the nature of their service industries, anonymity is key. And once they enter practice, it would be terrible for a client/patient/employer/opposing counsel to actually have the ammunition to say “How were your cocktails last night?” or “How are things going with Hookup Boy?”
So, while it would be more genuine for bloggers to be more forthcoming, I can totally understand the wall of anonymity. I know I’m exercising faulty logic here, but anonymous comments are another story. That shizzle is just rude.
.-= mint juleps & magnolias´s last blog ..What to Wear to Junior League? =-.
Hi Nina, this is an interesting topic. I think that everyone has their own reason for either being “out there” or keeping it anonymous. I keep my exact location a bit anonymous but as soon as I have a decent photo (I’m too picky) of me, I plan to post one or two, especially with my wedding coming up. I have yet to not trust a blogger whether they are forthcoming or anonymous because I wouldn’t really understand the point of having a blog that was fiction. Why not just call it a story then so that people could enjoy them but be aware that it’s fiction?
.-= Cari´s last blog ..What I Did =-.
I’ve gotten to the point where I can’t read faceless anons. I know I don’t use my real name for professional purposes, but I gotta have something in order for me to feel some sort of connection to a blogger.
.-= slynnro´s last blog ..Yay or Nay, Enablers? =-.
I don’t see a difference. I think it is presumptuous to assume they are “hiding” something. I’ve also seen blogs WITH pictures that have turned out to be fake. Most people can’t plaster themselves all of the internet and not have repercussions in some part of their life whether personal or professional. I don’t post pictures, but I use my real first name only because it is so common. I also don’t mention where I live other than the state. If my boss knew I had a blog I would be fired immediately. Why should I risk it just to appease a bunch of strangers?
I often wonder how people CANNOT be anonymous. People post their houses, kids, full names, where they live, hometowns, etc. Everything short of their social security number. It isn’t hard for some creep to figure out who you are. Not just friends and family read blogs unless they are private, so really ANYONE with a computer can figure things out. I think not being anonymous or semi-anonymous is irresponsible. There is the other side of it.
Food for thought.
As one who writes “anonymously” (as much as one realistically can), I’ll say that I am who I say I am, but I feel forced to keep it somewhat impersonal. I can see where people see that as being phony – although it does hurt to see some of the claims made here – but it really is just out of concern for my family’s privacy and my profession (the law, a notoriously conservative one).
Do I want to put more out there? I do. Do I think it hurts my site to not have personal pics and stuff up? I do. I might do so once I feel comfortable with the personal & professional ramifications of that, but I’m still mulling it over.
.-= Legallyblondemel´s last blog ..A Case of the Kimberlys =-.
I find it hard to trust some Anon bloggers and I also do not find most 100% Anon bloggers as interesting as those who “let me in” a bit more. I completely understand keeping some things private, especially to safeguard your career but I think most of that can be remedied by not disclosing where you work, not trashing or disclosing too much about work, and using a name-handle if your name is unique. I know there are times that I’ve been frustrated or careless and have let too much slip about my work but I am who I am – loud mouth and all!
I guess my biggest problem with some bloggers is their refusal to post pictures… if you are going to share the details of your personal life, why are you so opposed to showing your face? It just seems odd to me! I feel much more connected to people’s stories (and am much more apt to believe them!) when I have a bit more context.
.-= kate´s last blog ..outtakes =-.
It is interesting that many people seem so firmly for or against anon blogging. In my opinion, it is a deeply personal decision, because if you put your picture and personal details out there, pretty much any internet savvy person can find you. I personally have had my identify found out by someone I know. My former boss secretly read my blog. While it did not directly impact my professional life, it probably could have. Many people are anonymous for professional reasons, which is completely legitimate. How can that reason for blogging anonymously be questioned? I prefer blogs with pictures, because they are interesting to look at AND read, but if i like the writing, I won’t let the anonymity deter me from reading. I am sure we’ve all read anonymous blogs that we know are fakes because the details are way too outlandish to be true. I ignore those and keep moving.
.-= ms mindless´s last blog ..good news and bad news =-.
OOH quite a conversation starter my baby sister… I don’t think i”ve ever received an anon comment. and I know i’ve never left one. It is a weird sense of security we get when we write about our lives. It took one weird/intrusive thing to happen to me to go private … however, the support I’ve gotten and the friends I”ve made have made it all worth it. I also put a lot of myself out there and so do a lot of other girls.. so that needs to be respected. I used to write a sports column in a newspaper. I had my pic up there and everything. One day I got an anon letter from someone . It infuriated me. I wrote my next column saying that if I had the guts to pour it all out and take the risk than they should too. Hmph!
xo
I have to say that I am a “faceless blogger”. I’m a new blogger though. I am “faceless” for the moment being because I’m a nanny. I’m with 5 kids, all weekdays, and I live in a ”city” area. I don’t know who’s out there. Who’s reading my blog. Who’s hearing what I say online. I’m with kids. Kids that aren’t mine. That’s why I started out being ‘faceless’ (as in, I don’t post pictures of MYSELF on my blog.) Will that change? Possibly. But in my opinion, you can never be too careful.
Nina, I have pondered this topic many times! I have no problem with anonymous blogs and have a few in my blogroll, so obviously I like some of them. BUT, I have to be honest and say that blogs which post no personal pictures are not quite as interesting to me. I can understand not posting your name and city or even state for safety reasons, but if you cannot post one photo of yourself then what are you hiding? I do think that it makes it a bit hard to feel like this person is one of your “friends”. And as silly as it sounds, I do feel like I am friends with some of my favorite bloggers even if we’ve never met IRL.
.-= Petunia´s last blog ..{a new look for PIP!} =-.