Should We Bring Back Diaries?!! (Oversharing On the Internet.)

[Lanolin]

Brevity is the soul of wit.

 

[seoulsearch]

I think Lynx should share a lot less. Try to be more like our sister Lanolin.

I think you covered the subject really well in your OP. So well, I don't think I could add anything new.

As one who had journaled a lot in the 19-24 area, I can say there a ton of benefits.
- Gets you to contemplate things our busy, distraction filled world doesn't afford.
- Improve your writing, thinking skills
- Gets to make decisions and do things because the important issues stay in front of you.
- Gives that self-sounding board, self-debate.
- Assists in God communication and contemplating scripture.
- Certainly can be your prayer list and grateful list.
- You can see where you're making progress or falling behind.

Of course I'm endorsing private journaling. Sharing personal stuff online is fraught with dangers of identity theft, cancel culture, people misunderstanding you and misjudging you, hurting peoples feelings and leading others astray.

Of course, as you said, we often get so many benefits from hearing about other's personal struggles. There's a wise balance and safeguards to follow. And as they SO wisely say, you can type it up (or even video tape it) but don't hit send! Wait a day. Reread it the next day... then edit, don't post or post.

I both don't want, and sometimes want, to share things online. I wonder about my motivations. Sometimes I wish I hadn't. But hope God was able to use everything for good.

Ok, the first part of this post REALLY made me laugh -- but it's because I would fit into that bucket, too!

Thank you for this thoughtful and very insightful post -- I especially enjoyed your list of benefits to journaling. I had actually forgotten how much it can help build practical, real-life skills!

I definitely struggle with how much to share, too -- especially now that I'm older.

I always hope that maybe I can talk just one person out of doing some of the stupid things I've done in my life -- and I appreciate it when others do the same, because I'm finally at an age where I'll actually listen!

As you said, we do our best and hope that God will use it for good.

Thank you so much for this post!

 

[Sculpt]

Oh you have NO IDEA what I've been holding back...

LOL! That is so true. For us SW fans...

 

[Sculpt]

Brevity is the soul of wit.

You is so right, Gurl!

 

[Sculpt]

Do you throw like a girl though?

That's the real test.
If you can welcome to women's test cricket. Or netball.

LOL! Can you imagine the poor dumb chump who was ever stupid enough to challenge Annie Oakley in shooting?

I thought you were going to post vid of a gurly throw.

https://gifbin.com/bin/052019/blond-girl-throws-first-pitch.webm

 

[Sculpt]

Ok, the first part of this post REALLY made me laugh -- but it's because I would fit into that bucket, too!

Well, you're probably looking fine if you can fit in a bucket.

Thank you for this thoughtful and very insightful post -- I especially enjoyed your list of benefits to journaling. I had actually forgotten how much it can help build practical, real-life skills!

I know, right? There are so many benefits to private journaling. I keep telling myself I'm going to restart. I guess if I write that in my journal I might remember to start.

I remember one of my first GFs enjoyed reading my private journal. She said as she was reading it she was rooting for me to ask out this girl in class.

I wasn't so pleased she was reading my journal.

 

[Lanolin]

Love the sticker that says 'over 50 million copies in print!'

 

[seoulsearch]

Dear Diary

Today I went to a funeral, it was sad. It was my across the road neighbour, who's lived there ever since I can remember. You know who she is. Anyway her daughter and family said they were going to do a loop of our street with her hearse before heading toward church, and all the neighbours could wave as she went past to say goodbye.

We got to the church, we were asked to wear purple, so I wore my purple puffy jacket and purple stockings with my black dress and new black shoes (thanks Shoe Warehouse!) and got some purple ribbons for my family to wear and also a purple scarf for my sister.

It was a beautiful service but am happy that L----- and her husband D--- are now together, that she stayed faithful to the end. She was the kindest Christian mum I ever knew. She was so funny and always when I popped round to see her would be smiling and laughing, she always had baking, or was knitting something. When it was feijoa season I don't know how many baskets of feijoas I took over for her to make us feijoa muffins. They were the best! She also put chocolate chips to them.

I dont' know if she ever tried to make mum's custard tarts Lord knows I could never replicate them. But she asked for the recipe after mum died (or she'd take them to her grave!) . On the service sheet was a recipe for marshmallow lolly cake. I will have to try and bake it sometime. I said to her granddaughter that she'll be the one doing the baking now.

At the funeral caught up with the old neighbours who moved from the house next door to their's who had Mcat before she came over to make herself at home with us. Am so bad at names but she remembered me.

Have had to say goodbye to too many in our street the past year. I learned that L------ had 4 births, all daughters, but the first one lived only 2 days and the third one was a still birth or as she put it 'born asleep' and the youngest had to be a C section. Never knew!
She also knitted baby clothes for everyone and am sure she knitted some for me, wonder if mum kept them somewhere.

Anyway. Maybe I am over-sharing but I have to write things down otherwise I'll forget. Good memories. haha she certainly lived up to her name! I found a little fridge magnet of flowers to put on her fridge, as a thank you to their mum/nana for all the baking she shared with us over the years. And their old grandfather clock, that's been there forever was a hiding place for christmas presents and snacks. They always always gave us a christmas gift every year and card they sent through the post even though they could have crossed the road and put in our letterbox themselves. I mean D--- was literally our Santa Claus. And she was Mrs Claus.

R.I.P

I'm truly sorry to hear about the loss of your neighbor , but very glad to hear that she is now reunited with her husband.

 

[passion84god]

I tried starting a Diary once, but I'm a bit dyslexic, and I started a Dairy by mistake. After about three weeks of having chickens peck at my feet and dodging pyramids left by my cow , I gave that up.​

 

[Lanolin]

It is very interesting to find out what Mr Bean got up to in 1993

 

[Lanolin]

But I found this note in the back so I quickly put it back under the bed

 

[zeroturbulence]

I sometimes get the urge to journal, then I try to figure out if I should start one online (but private) or if I should grab one of the old blank journals I bought years ago.... Then if I decide to use an old journal I start looking around for my favorite pen... Then I get tired and the urge to journal is gone...

 

[Lanolin]

I sometimes get the urge to journal, then I try to figure out if I should start one online (but private) or if I should grab one of the old blank journals I bought years ago.... Then if I decide to use an old journal I start looking around for my favorite pen... Then I get tired and the urge to journal is gone...

View attachment 292515

Sound like you have some symptoms of ADD there...

 

[zeroturbulence]

Sound like you have some symptoms of ADD there...

Nah just old age and being sedentary and out of shape. I get tired just going up the stairs.

 

[Lanolin]

Bridget Jones managed to keep a diary and she was overweight....


Mr Darcy found it in the end...he didn't read it, he just bought her a new one.

 

[Jesusgirl777]

* Do you ever find yourself watching, reading, or hearing something online and cringing over how much that person is sharing?

Yes. Once from a girl I was talking to in person and I cringed thinking "I don't want to know all the graphic details!" But she was hurting and needed a listening ear, so I stayed quiet.

* What do you think are some basic guidelines for what can and cannot be shared?

Not sure about guidelines but this is what I do. I pray, "God give me wisdom."

Not every thing needs to be shared with everyone. When I share my heart with the Lord, I don't feel the need to share it with others unless it involves another person that I need to talk to. But I also have a few close friends that I trust. It all depends on the context. Some things I share only with God and some things also with those trusted close friends.

* What kinds of things do you like to hear people share about -- and when does it become too much?

Their testimonies, success stories, and anything someone trusts me enough to share. But I also hope they use wisdom and not share things I don't need to know. For example, someone can just say "I made a mess", or "I fell into sin with someone" Instead of "I did A, B, C...."

* What should people do if they feel a NEED to share, and praying alone isn't quenching it? (Should they just write in a journal, tell only closest friends, etc.?)

Write it down or record yourself talking about it. Then delete it.

Be prayerful about who you share things about your life with.

* Are there any healthy ways of meeting a need for attention through sharing?

I think as long as the focus is on ourselves, our desires, pain, and on others, we are very likely to share to gain attention or validation. But if we discipline ourselves to keep our focus on Jesus or bring our focus back to Jesus, it will help us overcome the need to share what is not required.

* Have YOU ever wanted to start your own social media account?

I share a small part of my life on social media, but I do it after an event is over. If I travel, I post after I come back and not while I am visiting that place. I don't share my live location, and keep my social media account private.

 

[Lanolin]

I think some people are more reserved than others.
Some people want to tell you their life story as soon as they meet you. I have found Americans are particularly effusive. They all want to know if I am single..or married, where I'm from, where I'm going, how many children I have, what I do for a living, how much money I earn,,, (jk) and whether or not I am saved.

This is very hard to say in one sentence. I can't just give out my personal diary or details to anyone so that they can steal my identity. Some people are naturally curious and I have to accept that, they want to know everything about me. It makes me sometimes uncomfortable (I ALWAYS get asked the question...where do you come from?') meaning where was I born and I can only say 'in the hospital' so many times. People are also persistent. They want to know my ancestry and everything!

 

[Lanolin]

Dear Diary
What I have a list of things to buy before I go travelling. Black leggings. Drawstring bag?
Today 2 appointments

Tomorrow got to drive Dad to museum

Also ... return library books and pick up book on penguins.

Arrgh when am I going to fit in finding a job?? Maybe later.

Garden tasks.. buy new pots. Figure out what to grow for spring show, look at spring schedule. Weeds and mulch. Harvest tangelos

Answer all CC posts. New song on Smule. Practise choir/guitar.

Pay sis moneys owing for airfare.

Write back to neighbour.

Does everyone need to know this? No. But I just wrote it down so *I* can remember it.