Blogging: People IRL Just Don't Get It

I made a new friend IRL last week (IRL stands for "In Real Life," in case you didn't get the memo).  We met at an event that was going on in the basement of my commune and instantly bonded over music.  We've been hanging out a lot.  We stay up too late writing songs, listening to obscure progressive rock bands, and having profound discussions about the meaning of life.  I've known him for about a week and a half, but it feels like I've known him longer.  So a couple of days ago, I foolishly decided to share a secret with him.

"So I have this blog..." I say.

He gives me a suspicious look.

"Actually, I have two blogs..." I say.  "I have one blog where I just ramble about my life and another blog where I give advice in the form of a song to people I've never met." 

There's an awkward silence. 

"That's cool," he says, adjusting his big black hipster glasses.  "But I don't really give a shit."

He sees the disappointment on my face and attempts to sound like less of an asshole. 

"I mean, I've got you right here.  You're right in front of me.  You're like a whole collection of blogs.  I don't need to read about the version of yourself you put out there on the Internet for the world to see.  I don't give a shit about that, girl."

I've found that a lot of people IRL have that reaction to my blogging habit (though most don't articulate it quite like that).  I used to post the URL to my blog on facebook and then feel slightly unloved when only two of my 300something friends took the time to read it (my mother and my bandmate, naturally).  Then one day I realized that I didn't really want all of my facebook friends reading my blog.  I took the link down.  I joined 20sb.  I immersed myself in the blogosphere and found people from all parts of the world that could understand and appreciate my blog in a way that my friends IRL could not. 

Originally created to document a rock and roll tour that never left the ground, my blog has become a cozy little place to share stories and thoughts with people all over the world.  Sometimes I get paranoid about people I know IRL reading it and finding a way to get offended.  I also worry that my ex-boyfriend is reading it (I have no desire to keep him up on what's going on in my life).  But then I remember that he didn't even really read it during the year we were together.  And I realize that I have nothing to worry about. 

The moral of the story:  Only people that blog will really care about your blog.  The rest of the world doesn't give a shit.  But I'm totally okay with having it be like that.  It turns the blogosphere into a sacred hiding place of sorts. 

Anyway, I raise my cup of coffee to you, my darling blogosphere.  Here's to a great escape from all things IRL.

And with that, I shall sign off.  This is The Yank wishing you a totally supercalafragi-bad-ass Friday.  Keep on rockin in the free world.