BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids MNK - Dirty Little (but great) Secret

I interviewed for a writing position the other day, and they were asking me if I'm into blogging, and also asked about my favorite websites. I told them CNN, and I told them I'm quirky, and like to read about psychology and women's issues (this site!). And I told them I read blogs, like Washington Post's On Balance blog. It's so funny, because I spend so much time on, and get so much out of this blog, but it isn't something you can lead with, you know? Especially on an interview. Because I would worry about coming off like a neo nazi feminist/child hater. Even though this board isn't ANYTHING like that.

Anyway, what I post about is private, in my mind. I'm the same way when people ask me what I'm reading - I get all squeamish. I mean, sometimes I read fiction, but mostly I like to read about what makes people tick. Psychology type stuff.

Are you guys open about posting on this board? My close friends know about it, and my therapist and DH knows. But I don't think I would ever tell my childed friends that I hang out here.

No-one in real life knows I post here except for DH.

I don't want co-workers, friends and family keeping tabs on me. That includes my on-line life. Main reason I don't have a Myspace page. My private life is just that, private. I don't want to have to worry about something I wrote that someone in life might take the wrong way. I sometimes bite my tongue so I don't hurt someone's feelings. This is a place I can come to vent-anonymously.

I think we can find out much too much about people on the internet so I try to minimize my "exposure".

I wouldn't tell people about it either. Just my husband, really. I know, we spend so much time writing here it would be wonderful to be able to use that....but what I write is much to private too.

DH knows, but he doesn't know where the board is. And every once in a while I'll say to a friend "a girl I met on a forum .." I don't say it's a CF forum!

I also HATE when people ask what I'm reading. I never ask people what they are reading. I often read junior room books when I can't concentrate (you know, like if I'm at work, you don't want to get caught up in a complicated book) so sometimes I get embarrassed. I have very different reading tastes then people "think" I should (because I'm smart, but if I'm relaxing, I generally don't want something too tough.)

lngilbert, I'm the same way! Whenever people see what I like to read, they say "well I would have expected to see some serious literature books" but gosh, I read enough of those in school--I just want a fun escape at this point

As for the MNK forum, only my DH knows about it. I don't think I will tell anyone else! This is the one place outside my home where I get to really be me, especially about the topics we discuss, and I do not want to jeopardize that freedom.

My DH knows, too, but he can't find anything on the Internet and wouldn't look anyway. I read him some of the more interesting or funny things (and I made him take the personality quiz - he kept cracking up with amazed laughter, because his description could have been written about just him). My best friend knows, but he hears more that's inside my head than any of you do, so I wouldn't care if he did go looking. That's it. I don't mention it to other people. I am good at web-searching, so I know others could find this site if they heard enough details, and I like being able to be open here. I'm an INFJ, so most people don't really know me. I rather like it that way. I'm so open and happy in public, but it's really hard to truly understand me.

I, too, hate it when people ask what I'm reading. People think I'm so literary, and yes, I like the classics and I frequently re-read "Atlas Shrugged", but I'm also really partial to sci-fi and horror. I love Stephen King, and I am totally addicted to Laurell K. Hamilton's books. I love books about vampires, but I've told some people what I'm reading when they ask, and I feel like they instantly took a different view of the type of person I am.

Sometimes I take books in German with me when I'm out in public because then people don't know what the title is... Someday my German will go so far downhill, though, that I won't be able to do this anymore and actually understand the story.

I've mentioned it casually when I was telling a story yesterday - but I didn't say the name of the forum, or much else about it. This woman is also CF, and I was telling her about the 8 year olds breast feeding you tube video. My BF knows the name of the forum, but she's WAY too busy to go looking up my posts, and she respects my privacy a lot, and she's not that type of person.

But I wouldn't tell anyone else. No one else would get it, which is why I am here in the first place!

It seems like a casual conversation point when someone asks you what you are reading - but somehow it isn't! I guess it depends on what you are reading. I feel like saying, how about we get to know each other better before you see my bookshelf!

I've had two friends send me invites to share what I'm reading with them, and I haven't responded to either request. I will probably just blow it off indefinitely. The one person that asked is an SAHM with two boys, and I really don't want to tell her I'm reading CF books. And I don't always read what people think I should be reading. I guess I'm just private that way, too.

There are other things that I do that other people might consider silly. I'm not a huge video game fan, but I like the games they have on Webkinz, so I actually have a Webkinz. You can play solitaire and lots of fun games on there. I know some people would say I have too much time on my hands, but I know some parents play video games, too. We don't have a video game system, so I just play online. It's harmless, and it's not like I play for hours. But there are some things you just can't tell people.

I don't like to discuss either. My DK knows and I did show my BF what that troll was writing to ask her if she thought it was strange that a mom would be on this site bashing.

I feel like this is private and mine. I think I am really the only one out of my CF friends that really embraces being CF (and I have very few friends that are CF). But I really love...love being CF and this site makes me feel even better about it.

My DH knows - I've spoken about the site to my mother and sisters.
I have spoken generally about the site to others...referring to it as a women's site.
I don't mind people asking me what I'm reading...usually nothing except the newspaper. I read all day and find at the end of the day/week, I want to do something physical and/or mindless.
I'm taking a break in 2 weeks so have packed some holiday reading - relaxing seaside holidays are ideal for reading...sightseeing holidays not so much...just the guide book.
On relaxing holidays, I love to read biographies and autobiographies - love reading about other people's lives.
I'm taking "Capote" (Truman Capote) & Helen Mirren's biography on this trip. (my sister gave them to me for Christmas)
I'll ask my SIL what she's reading - she's retired and reads all day, every day... (when she's not entertaining, cooking, swimming, sailing...she's CF BTW) I know she doesn't mind - she loves talking about her books - they're often sitting on the coffee table in full view anyway...

I mention it if it happens to come up in conversation, especially with other CF people. My boyfriend is the one who knows most.