tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post6967119149162014510..comments2024-03-14T08:18:20.779-04:00Comments on Sarah Laurence: Diaries, Cyberspace and PrivacySarah Laurencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423008641739156182noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-33545782220830116372009-03-26T20:13:00.000-04:002009-03-26T20:13:00.000-04:00Natalie, I used to pretend I was Harriet with my f...Natalie, I used to pretend I was Harriet with my friends too. How much fun that the same game could be inspired by one book on opposite sides of the world. <BR/><BR/>AnreA, welcome to my blog and thank you! I enjoyed your blog too. I’m happy to have connected with you through David. <BR/><BR/>Introspection, welcome to my blog and thank you! You live up to your handle in your thoughtful comment. How interesting that you could read so much into one post. I guess I am self-disciplined. That’s a job requirement for a self employed writer and artist. As a child, writing was just one of my dreams including a bareback rider in the circus, a jockey (there’s that horse theme!) a vet and a field biologist. I loved Nancy Drew as a kid and saved my collection for my daughter too. That’s great that you are following your passion for writing. You are more than welcome here.<BR/><BR/>Cheffie-Mom, thanks and welcome. It’s fabulous to see so many new faces here thanks to David. I enjoyed looking back at the world through younger eyes. <BR/><BR/>RuneE, congratulations to you on your POTD too! As my regular readers will attest, this post is unusually personal for me. This positive response makes it easier to open up. I think blogging is bolder than keeping a diary. You have to put yourself out there. Nice to connect with you.<BR/><BR/>Eddie, congratulation to you for your POTD mention on authorblog too. Welcome to my blog! Some of my entries really cracked me up – kids are funny. <BR/><BR/>Margaret, welcome to my blog and thanks for following too. The diary legacy issue is an excellent question. I should write this response for posterity and remember to cc my lawyer! No one has ever read my diary (that I know of!) before these excerpts that surprised even my parents. <BR/><BR/>My daughter asked me a related question: who is the diary written for? I think I was writing them for my older self – at one point I even mentioned an incident “which would make me laugh later” and it did! <BR/><BR/>I’ve told my husband and kids they could read my diaries after I’m gone. I should add to that: and do NOT publish/share them. My generation lacks the journaling finesse. What I wrote was extremely personal. As in interesting to me and most probably tediously boring or embarrassing to others. That’s the point of a diary – it is not self-conscious. Knowing that my family might see it after I’m dead doesn’t change what I write as long as they respect my privacy while I’m still breathing. <BR/><BR/>All, I’m so pleased by this huge response to my post and to the one I just posted yesterday. It may take me through the weekend to visit everybody, but I will. Thanks so much for such thoughtful comments. You’ve made me think more deeply about this topic. This discussion makes sharing so worthwhile.Sarah Laurencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00423008641739156182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-23653950230281344822009-03-26T15:56:00.000-04:002009-03-26T15:56:00.000-04:00I also came via David's blog. He has led me to so ...I also came via David's blog. He has led me to so many interesting places. I loved your post on your diaries. I also have a hidden bundle and still keep one. My one question about keeping a current diary is, what do you do with them? Do you leave them for you dearest to read once you have gone and does this have any effect on what you write?<BR/><BR/>I will be coming back to visit and am listing you on my daily read blog list.<BR/><BR/>MargaretMargaret's Ramblingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11736694208684946814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-32618059783660407482009-03-26T13:51:00.000-04:002009-03-26T13:51:00.000-04:00Hi Sarah. I've popped over from David to congratua...Hi Sarah. I've popped over from David to congratualte you on POTD. I just loved your post and it was wonderful to see your diary written as a child - it was so funny - so innocent and sweet kids are. EddieEddie Bluelightshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18069024660422117718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-37198099275010992392009-03-26T11:27:00.000-04:002009-03-26T11:27:00.000-04:00A very personal post - a post I wouldn't have dare...A very personal post - a post I wouldn't have dared to write. But then I didn't wouldn't have dared to keep a diary either :-)<BR/><BR/>PS Congratulations with the POTD!Rune Eidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01008247272056395901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-7924550260892582382009-03-26T10:49:00.000-04:002009-03-26T10:49:00.000-04:00Super post. The photos of the journals are great. ...Super post. The photos of the journals are great. I love how children view the world. I came over from David's blog - congrats on POTD.Cheffie-Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16568520021347503121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-16697364132267861562009-03-26T04:44:00.000-04:002009-03-26T04:44:00.000-04:00Hi Sarah, I am here via David's POTD. Congrats...Hi Sarah, I am here via David's POTD. Congrats for winning the POTD. It's an honor well deserved. I would have missed your blog had it not been for David - yes he is a gem.<BR/><BR/>The first thing that struck me about your prize winning post is about you as a person. You come across as a person of immense poise, self descipline, and quietly confident yet not unvulnerable. Very humane, and an unconditional writer. your child hood writings stand testimony to all this, and your narrative in between shows you to be who you are now. it's a great write up.<BR/><BR/>And the matter in your blog: Reminds me of the days (years) that I wrote my diary. They are all there - me saying I will be a writer. I think were are times when I wanted be my 'mom', and then a film actor, a rock star, and also a country head, if you please. most times I became my teacher and took lessons for other kids. I was all in one, but it turned out that so far I havent become any of those. But the urge to write, (and write I certainly do though I am not a professional writer) has always been the strongest. I did write a couple of books (fiction) on the lines of Nancy drew, Mills & boon, and later Georgette Heyer (she has been my all time favorite). I still posess these treasures/manuscrpits, and wanted to inculcate this love in my daughters who are now grown up. Some how they are the facebook people ( even I am on FB) and the reading material they love is mostly autobiographical or Obamaniacal, or Wall street stuff at best. <BR/>But writing is such a pleasure. It gives me a high just to write. I may never be a writer, but I still write. Like you said "There is something special about writing only for yourself. You can be more honest." <BR/>And I am sure your daughter will be a writer too. Good Luck.<BR/>I will be back to read more of your blogs, if I may. <BR/>Thanks for sharing parts of your diary with us. <BR/>You are amazing...!!introspectionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10820207734329529880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-55548259688489386742009-03-26T03:58:00.000-04:002009-03-26T03:58:00.000-04:00Excellent!!!Intriguing post.Worth top rating at Da...Excellent!!!<BR/>Intriguing post.<BR/>Worth top rating at David´s POTDArneAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532050427854977774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-28323995500560524552009-03-26T03:46:00.000-04:002009-03-26T03:46:00.000-04:00Hi Sarah, I was 12 in 1978. I was just wanting to ...Hi Sarah, I was 12 in 1978. I was just wanting to say that my favourite childhood book was Harriet the Spy. My best friend and I used to 'be' Harriet and get ourselves in trouble too! Thanks for the memories.xNataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12919764140075852854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-35443529203694650172009-03-25T10:57:00.000-04:002009-03-25T10:57:00.000-04:00David, I learned darkroom skills as a young teen t...David, I learned darkroom skills as a young teen too and then became my school newspaper’s photo editor. I spent a summer taking dorsal fin ID photos of dolphins back in my field biologist stage. <BR/><BR/>I only switched to a DSLR (a Nikon D80) this past summer and am figuring out the manual settings and Lightroom as I go along. I tend to use more manipulations in tricky lighting situations like these sunset and sunrise photos. I avoid flash, tripods (except for shooting my portfolio) and unnatural manipulations. My photos are pretty close to what was shot. I like the sharpening feature for landscapes, but I try to get the exposure and composition right while shooting. <BR/><BR/>I’m looking forward to reading more about your approach.Sarah Laurencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00423008641739156182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-90679565385247080392009-03-24T21:37:00.000-04:002009-03-24T21:37:00.000-04:00Wonderful, Sarah, a real thought-provoking post. (...Wonderful, Sarah, a real thought-provoking post. (And thank you for the kind words about my own efforts.)<BR/><BR/>I really enjoyed your comment on my F-16 post. In answer to your question, I was 13 when I was taught the intricacies of managing a darkroom, mixing chemicals, printing etc.<BR/><BR/>I will explain it in my next ABC Wednesday post - but that is precisely the reason I do not edit images or use filters with my camera - the challenge is to produce an acceptable image of decent quality without any of the electronic equivalents of the darkroom era.<BR/><BR/>So it's just me and a camera in the outdoors - and it does not get more fulfilling than that.<BR/><BR/>Hope all that makes sense!!<BR/><BR/>Keep smiling<BR/><BR/>Daviddavid mcmahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009095220051075552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-52515240221868601962009-03-23T20:13:00.000-04:002009-03-23T20:13:00.000-04:00Dave, it is easier to stay disciplined about a blo...Dave, it is easier to stay disciplined about a blog because of an audience. Nice comments like yours are a great incentive. I realized, when reading back through my journals, that I was writing for an audience: myself in the future.Sarah Laurencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00423008641739156182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-64119700237019088362009-03-23T07:50:00.000-04:002009-03-23T07:50:00.000-04:00I'm fascinated by diaries, have often kept one, bu...I'm fascinated by diaries, have often kept one, but don't have the discipline to keep it up. An extremely interesting post.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-40179230549124699062009-03-22T19:29:00.000-04:002009-03-22T19:29:00.000-04:00Cynthia, it is interesting how FB has created a g...Cynthia, it is interesting how FB has created a global directory allowing for reconnections. I will join FB eventually, but I’m so focused on my writing right now and don’t want any more distractions. <BR/><BR/>I hope you share some of your childhood journals too. I’m honored to have you all in my life too.Sarah Laurencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00423008641739156182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-91163459620481938812009-03-22T14:56:00.000-04:002009-03-22T14:56:00.000-04:00Sarah, when I read, "I’m a private blogger – ...Sarah, when I read, "I’m a private blogger – is that an oxymoron?", I thought of you! You are that careful reflective writer who seems to know what her next step will be and how to avoid missteps. <BR/><BR/>I tried to keep my children out of cyberspace exposure but they have their own minds. At 17 and 22, they get to decide. I controlled it when I could. I still talk with them about images that they post and what they might indicate. <BR/><BR/>I'm surprised at how facebook connects us to people from the past. I just opened an account and already five high school and middle school friends have found me. I like it that I can select who I will respond to, but I'm also still learning...and have had some strange encounters. Some people are more cause oriented and shocking than me...and the short cuts in communication take a bit of getting accustomed to. (What did that mean?-kind of experience.)<BR/><BR/>I so enjoyed your childhood journal writing! I might dig out mine and see what it says about the child I once was... Delightful! <BR/><BR/>Sarah,thank you for sharing so much of yourself here...I feel honored that you would include us in your life. <3Cynthia Pittmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12656761837022197235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-23850703854600953082009-03-21T16:21:00.000-04:002009-03-21T16:21:00.000-04:00Anil, next time I’m visiting my parents in NYC, I’...Anil, next time I’m visiting my parents in NYC, I’ll see if I can scan a childhood photo. I do remember the effort of writing. I still prefer to typing to writing longhand. My biggest surprise was discovering that I wanted to be writer back then. <BR/><BR/>Your words on how time online affects us offline are making me think. I actually remember life before the internet. I think the benefits of being connected outweigh the cons as long as we don’t let time online replace face to face time with friends and family. It’s all about finding balance and creating limits, like my blogging only weekly. <BR/><BR/>Interesting comment!Sarah Laurencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00423008641739156182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-28919392375142451052009-03-21T15:42:00.000-04:002009-03-21T15:42:00.000-04:00This post was a delight as much for your diary ent...This post was a delight as much for your diary entries from childhood as for your reflection of the dilemma technology casts our way. <BR/><BR/>Looking at the handwriting I can imagine the effort that must have gone into each word as you wrote across the page, and the dedication it will have involved. A diary must've been more than a 'book', a companion no less. Surely you were destined to be a writer. I was hoping you'd put up your picture from when you wrote the diary entries :)<BR/><BR/>Many things you said about FB and the open nature of the Internet strikes a chord. <BR/><BR/>I wonder if it is at all possible to "live" without getting online, and if one could then what might one lose out on 'living' (assuming one would lose out on something) the way we know it in an Internet-enabled society. <BR/><BR/>If it were inevitable that we get online then given the caution (driven by fears unknown) we 'need' to bring to our 'existence' online might change us in ways we might not have otherwise. The more time we spend online the more it can strengthen our conditioning around our 'behaviour' online, and chances are some of that conditioning might influence the way we look at our world offline!<BR/><BR/>I find this a dilemma of our generation.Anil Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02422187314611747278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-86677730732355470332009-03-21T09:58:00.000-04:002009-03-21T09:58:00.000-04:00PG, how horrible to have your diary violated! I c...PG, how horrible to have your diary violated! I could understand why you’d want to burn those chapters of your life. It’s a sign of how well you’ve rebuilt your life that you can keep a journal again.Sarah Laurencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00423008641739156182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-88334033547349374642009-03-21T09:07:00.000-04:002009-03-21T09:07:00.000-04:00I burned my rudimentary teenage diaries, and I'm s...I burned my rudimentary teenage diaries, and I'm still glad I did so! I did take it up again, back in 2002, and now, as I think Pepys said, it keeps me, I don't keep it. Or something like that!<BR/>I'm so glad that your daughter's diary is kept private; my foster mother and her daughter read mine, and told me so - I felt completely stupid, violated and betrayed, and I think that is why it took me so long to start keeping one again.Gretelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00399585879728373265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-85609392825700304992009-03-20T20:09:00.000-04:002009-03-20T20:09:00.000-04:00Alyson, the view makes those early school day morn...Alyson, the view makes those early school day mornings worthwhile. I can imagine you as a diary keeper child. I was hoping to wait for high school, but all of my daughter's friends have FB accounts. It’s also been a way for her to reconnect with a teenaged girl she met in England. I find parenting to be a conversation with issues I hadn’t anticipated. It is a scary world.<BR/><BR/>Mary Ellen, it was bitter sweet reading those old entries. Childhood felt a bit safer back then.<BR/><BR/>W2W, thanks. I try my best. My commenting community is wonderful, but it’s impossible to know who else is reading and why. As an optimist I believe all my readers are good people, but as a realist, I take precautions. <BR/><BR/>Charlotte,☺!!!!Sarah Laurencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00423008641739156182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-78206269920565438132009-03-20T18:08:00.000-04:002009-03-20T18:08:00.000-04:00What? You kissed Roland? FOUR times?What? You kissed Roland? FOUR times?Charlotte Agellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13589955947324137234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-54369719571309288032009-03-20T16:11:00.000-04:002009-03-20T16:11:00.000-04:00Sarah, your posts about the privacy issue with soc...Sarah, your posts about the privacy issue with social networking are honest and informative. Blogging is a great tool for self-promotion, but whoever uses it runs a risk of exposing personal as well as familial weaknesses/quirks. There's also the distinct possibility that some people will misinterpret and be confused, angered, or hurt by what is said or even not said. You have done a good job of sorting out some of the tangled mess that blogging/networking can sometimes become.walk2writehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13501812375142037251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-20841652970480389212009-03-20T09:42:00.000-04:002009-03-20T09:42:00.000-04:00Sarah, this post made me feel so melancholy today....Sarah, this post made me feel so melancholy today. It's wonderful to have a record of one's childhood days - especially for you in your budding writer stage - and yet having the record reminds us of how time has past and how much the world has changed. A lovely post.Mary Ellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14416798580398814009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-65278966116891450812009-03-19T23:55:00.000-04:002009-03-19T23:55:00.000-04:00That last photo is simply breathtaking!I adore rea...That last photo is simply breathtaking!<BR/><BR/>I adore reading my old diaries. Only wish I did it more now. Your entries from childhood are so precious!<BR/><BR/>My daughter has begged for a facebook account, but we've said not until she's 13 and only if we're monitering. It's so scary out there! In terms of parenting, it's a whole new world.Alyson | New England Livinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16209837924378793507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-66963185171884036422009-03-19T19:28:00.000-04:002009-03-19T19:28:00.000-04:00Lakeviewer, thank you. We connected through Davi...Lakeviewer, thank you. We connected through David didn’t we?<BR/><BR/>Phoenix, thanks and welcome to my blog! It would be easier to blog more freely if I weren’t using my real name and photos. You don’t need to worry. I agree that the comments (like yours!) add so much to a blog.<BR/><BR/>Gemma, thank you and welcome to my blog! That is a sad and funny story. It must have been a good code. I have to say, reading back through my middle school years did NOT make me pine for those childhood years. Other kids can be so cruel, and as child, you have so little control of your life. There were plenty of joys too. <BR/><BR/>Rose, your daughter could always delete old posts if she’s worried or start a new FB account. As parents or grandparents, we do have to be extra cautious as sad as that is. It was funny to read from a child’s perspective now that I’m the parent. You are right about what seems important differs by age. These journals will help me write from a child's perspective or reach a younger audience. I’ll keep writing in my diary and my daughter still writes in hers. <BR/><BR/>Donna, it’s fun seeing which bloggers were also diary keepers. My daughter will eventually drag me onto FB, but I can monitor it from my husbands account for now.Sarah Laurencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00423008641739156182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259325291907281485.post-65769155937550874572009-03-19T18:56:00.000-04:002009-03-19T18:56:00.000-04:00What a fun post! Your childhood diary pages are so...What a fun post! Your childhood diary pages are so neat to see. I have kept diaries and journals since I was very young too, and it's fun to go back and read them. <BR/>Good for you for looking out for your daughter. I know several people who join Facebook just to help keep an eye on their kids. You can't be too careful on the Internet when it comes to kids.Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10352909161587824227noreply@blogger.com