How Truthful is My Blog?
In light of the latest shit to hit the blog fan, (Am I the only one that thinks a woman is behind all these writings?), I started thinking of suspicious things on my blog. What if people think I made shit up about myself???
What if they think I jump over the neighbor's fence to take snapshots of someone else's horses? Or maybe I do a google search of horse images and post the prettiest ones I find? What if E.Shrew doesn't really exist? He COULD be a figment of my imagination! And what about my tennis playing? You haven't heard SQUAT from me about tennis in forever. What if I MADE UP the fact that I play tennis?
If I was accused of pretending to be something I was not, I would get mad and be hellbent on PROVING to you otherwise. I would call your ass up and give you a piece of mind. I would hand E.Shrew the phone and make him prove to you that he exists. I would send you pictures! I know I chronicle my life and this blog with photographic evidence of my existence on this Earth. You always see me doing many different things with many different people. When I travel, I usually post new pics of those events on my blog too. I also try to meet new bloggers whenever I go to a new city. Brettcajun fans know that Brett EXISTS!
Having merely a blog, a profile pic, and an email address just wont do in the TRUTH test. A genuine person is going to have pictures of himself doing various things with various people. A genuine person will have an email address or be able to instant message you sometimes. A genuine person will have a home address, a cell phone or a home phone number. And finally... a genuine person will be able to meet you in person.
So ask yourself... does your favorite bloggers pass the truth test?
What if they think I jump over the neighbor's fence to take snapshots of someone else's horses? Or maybe I do a google search of horse images and post the prettiest ones I find? What if E.Shrew doesn't really exist? He COULD be a figment of my imagination! And what about my tennis playing? You haven't heard SQUAT from me about tennis in forever. What if I MADE UP the fact that I play tennis?
If I was accused of pretending to be something I was not, I would get mad and be hellbent on PROVING to you otherwise. I would call your ass up and give you a piece of mind. I would hand E.Shrew the phone and make him prove to you that he exists. I would send you pictures! I know I chronicle my life and this blog with photographic evidence of my existence on this Earth. You always see me doing many different things with many different people. When I travel, I usually post new pics of those events on my blog too. I also try to meet new bloggers whenever I go to a new city. Brettcajun fans know that Brett EXISTS!
Having merely a blog, a profile pic, and an email address just wont do in the TRUTH test. A genuine person is going to have pictures of himself doing various things with various people. A genuine person will have an email address or be able to instant message you sometimes. A genuine person will have a home address, a cell phone or a home phone number. And finally... a genuine person will be able to meet you in person.
So ask yourself... does your favorite bloggers pass the truth test?
posted by Brettcajun at Monday, May 15, 2006
28 Comments:
paranoid?
really, who gives a shit what other people think?
Hell it doesn't get much more honest than a Jiggy dance :)
Actually, you're one of the most open and honest bloggers that I've come across.
But you've hit on a problem that is common on the net. I don't have any problems with anonimity - for some that may be necessary and sometimes it gives them the freedom to speak out that they might not otherwise enjoy. What I do object to is when someone makes up an entirely fictional life and posts it as their own. That's dishonest and wrong. And those that do that generally have some serious psychological disorders.
Don't pay attention to what others think. We know you for who you honestly are. And that's more than good enough for me.
Kevin
Oh, I know I am very open about myself. Everyone that has ever met me know that I wear my feelings on my sleeves and I am pretty much an open book. What I was referring to in this blog post was about anonymous bloggers that may not be who they say they are.
Have we met? I was wondering who that was in the pictures taken in San Francisco.
Oh Sweety, you exist in my imagination. Ohmigod, do you ever exist...
I agree a bit with Tony. I don't understand why this is all so controversial. If something moves you, it moves you. Does it matter if it's real or fake? I think the more interesting analysis would be looking at how you perceive the blogs and if you are doing it from a healthy perspective (i.e. not comparing oneself to the other person without limits, etc.). I think that the problem isn't so much in the contect as it is in the readers. It's just like the James Fry thing. I don't care if his book was slightly fictional. When I read Augusten Burroughs, yes, I think a lot of it is exaggerated or completely fabricated. That's fine. It's a story for me. My only true existence is my own. I can learn just as much from a piece of fiction as I can from observing someone else's life in my little opinion. But I'm glad to know that you're honest, as I do value that in a person.
I agree w/tonym.
I'm confident in who I am. I don't give a rats ass if someone believes I exist or if my stories are true. I wouldn't feel the least bit compelled to prove my existence either.
Having met the Brett man, I can vouch for his sexiness!
Actually, I’ve recently discovered that my favorite blogger probably doesn’t exist. Or at least his persona is one that is at the very least embellished – at the most, a complete fabrication. Quite by accident I discovered an anomaly when corresponding with him that when questioned on, he has decided to perpetuate the lie rather than come clean. When questioned further, he has completely cut me off. What does it matter? Who cares? I for one do.
I’m not talking about the little stretches to the truth that we all tell just to make the story more interesting. That’s poetic license and I’m fine with that. Hell, I do it myself to a certain degree. I’m talking about a complete fabrication of an entity to gain whatever it is they want to get. Deception is deception and even if intentions are good, it’s still deception. It causes me to be just a little less trusting and a little more jaded, and THAT is why it is so damaging. When we are dishonest about ourselves, we hurt others. It’s not fair to fuck with someone’s mind just because you want adoration or attention only to cut them off when they question things that just don’t add up. And besides, one’s real personality is always much more interesting than a façade. Every time. No question.
Decency and integrity matter both in “real life” and “cyber life”.
I have to agree with Tonym....I don't even pass your truth test and I know I EXIST LOL....to each his own :) Being open and honest....as I am on my blog, also....has it's drawbacks.....as people will challenge ya lot more than they would if ya talk bout nothing bout the weather.....but I don't blog to please others!!! At any rate.....I've read ya a lot in the past.....and this is the first time I've ever commented.....hope you aren't offended! Lastly anyone who questions your existence really needs to look at their motivations! It's like the McCarthy Communist Scare in blogland.....if you don't fit their pigeon-holed description of being real....then ya ain't real.....poooey on that!!!!!
is smoking some wacky tobacy. Just kidding, I get those thoughts myself many times.
Brett,
I've known you since before your blogger days. We're not strangers. I gave Scotty the same advice that I'm giving you now....
Don't sweat the petty things, just pet the sweaty things.
Life's too short for bullshit from people whose opinions shouldn't even matter.
Huggs!
Screw the other crap...who cares as long as you are having fun and not hurting anyone...BFD-buddy!
So, do you really play tennis?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
hey JC,
Yes, he has a great set of fuzzy balls!
No really, he's got these cute white shorts and they show off his thick tree trunk legs with bludging thighs.....OKAY! I need a cold shower now....
Damn you Kevin...You stole my line. Brett...only an honest person would get out and do the JIGGY dance.
I sure as hell know that you are not a figment of my imagination. I've seen and 'touched' the real thing. Allelulia, I've been saved!!!
I think you are fake and ALL of this is fake! lol. Just kiding. I have been through this when I was called up on the red carpet and my blog was questioned. I immediately got defensive. When RfR commented, he set me straight, as did others that I need to simply NOT worry about it.
I don't anymore. I KNOW I am real and that is all that matters. If I read some that aren't real, as long as what I read moves me, I really don't mind. I don't like being decieved though.
Just write what you think and want, brett. I think you're about one of the most open bloggers about so don't sweat it.
Though a pic of you sweating wouldn't be amiss :P
Paul
Hi Brett,
As far as the site being written by a woman, last time I checked i still had a dick. though a woman has added to the site, yes.
So what's this blog "truth test"? A specific number of pictures with action shots? I have an address, and a phone number. And it works! Up until someone decided to go postal all over my site, I had a photo album with over twenty pictures in it on my about page. I actually wanted to have an element of control over where those pictures end up go, so I took them down until we decided what we were going to do with the site. All pictures were taken within the last year.
However why is it my responsibility to rabidly defend who I am, and even the fact that I exist. I started the blog ultimately for me. To write. If there is a sincere concern about the validitity of an issue, I attempted to answer. When it was clear that was not going to do, I ignored the noise. My security level is not contingent upon being seen as the most open blogger in the world. I am satisfied with my level of disclosure, and if you have read my site at all, which I don't know if you have, you would see that as well.
There are people with not one picture on their site ~ ever. But that's there right. Does it mean they are fake? No, it means for whatever reason they wish to remain anon. Can't we let then do that and gauge our responses accordingly?
This is more of a general question than one directed to you Brett, but I will direct it to Curtis since he seems to have commented on this specific issue on half of the sites discussing it. Curtis the last I heard from you was like over half a year ago when you asked me a rather personal question on tribe.com, then never made contact again. Why is the automatic assumption I am not being truthful the only option you are willing to entertain? And why would it concern you if you don't read my site? The "research" that has been done would not hold water for more than a few minutes. Why do I not challenge it, you might ask? I refuse to put myself in the position of defending something that in my mind doesn't need to be defended.
Thanks for indulging this novel Brett. I'm genuinely asking these questions, not trying to be a smartass :)
Brett,
Yes, I can honestly say after meeting you in person, you portray exactly who you are on your blog. And you are correct, any "REAL" person can be reached...whether it be in email, in person, or instant messanger. That is why I have you on my contact list....just so I can reach out to you occasionally. To hell with all of the "phony" bloggers out there, and look atit this way, they do not give you a bad name, you shame them with your integrity and honesty. We all are lucky people, your readers that is, for knowing such a wonderful, compassionate, caring person...and you are not hard on the eyes either! Love ya darlin'.
Easier than putting your addy and phone# how about just getting on Yahoo and turning on your camera.
:)
I touched the Slab! It's real!
I tend to pessimistic as well. I have a boyfriend, we have great sex, but every time i read a sex blog i start to feel like its inadequate. This can only mean one thing, the sex blogs are making stories up!!
Ummm, I don't really post pics on my blog. Mainly because I'm a computer nerd at work and though I would like to invest more time in my blog.........the last thing I want to do when I home is start up the computer.
Tonight I won't be blogging as I have a tennis lesson, and tomorrow I have an online class to work on and so on. I agree with a lot of what is said here..........who cares? Be who you are.........post what you want........screw anyone who has an issue with it.........time is too short to let them get to you.
I guess I better dig a pic up from somewhere.........Ok, try here:
BigMuscle #37487.
Honest that's me...........!!;-)
seriously - if you were going to pretend to be someone else - wouldn't you pick a better picture?
:p
hehe... I know I would (other than my own)
On that note lets talk about "Ethan Reynolds"
I'm as real as I choose to be. Moby said in his profile," Being true to yourself involves understanding and acceptance as much as honesty." Good words.
I'm having a tough time with accepting some of the blog fights going on. Some of this is letting go and moving on. I mean for Christ sakes a blog is only a blog. Maybe I should get out more...
Anyway I know I'm real (either that or this fat person sitting in my apartment is an imposter!). Love your site.
Jimmy from Oviedo FL
i give a shit what other people think when they're lying about me. I care about that very much.
You want to lie about yourself? Fine. You want to create a whole persona online? Fine, too.
But when you start trying to set up your fictional self with dinners and meet-ups with real-life people, then it becomes a little bit more, doens't it?
BrettCajun exists because I probably couldn't cook up someone as sweet and hot as he is. :)
Yeah, there's a difference between needing anonymity for personal reasons and just making up a complete online persona. I would hope that the people with whom I converse on a regular basis are true.
And having seen some of your pics, I know you are for real.
Now what's this about some people getting to touch Slab?
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