why do you keep an LJ?

[dancingleaf]

Last night I had an argument with my spouse.  It's part of a long standing argument involving how we see the world.  His view saddens me.  I suppose he is entitled to his opinion but still... can I deal with this opinion? Can I live with & love a person knowing he believes this to be true? If I spoke with someone in person about our disparate world views that person might be inclined to take sides, but most certainly their perception of him/us would be changed.

I haven't written the entry yet.  And if I do it will probably be locked to my eyes only.   But this leads me to my question - why do you keep a LiveJournal?

I've taken a break before. I even dumped my old journal and switched to this one. I write my entries for me.  What anyone else says doesn't really matter.  It does, but... not in an essential way.

I view it partly as therapy- it helps me to formulate my thoughts, to let go of angst or irritations. It's partly a log book -just where was my brain in Sept 07 or April 06? And lastly I view it as a way to interact with other people - since my real world seems to be rather limited in that respect. My real world friends don't see eye to eye with me on some subjects and I refrain from speaking my mind because it could cost me their friendship.

I'm both more invested and less in my online existence. More - in that I can speak freely, explain fully, without interruptions- I can even go back and edit my thoughts for clarity if need be.
Less - if someone says something that really, truly bothers me - I only know them through the monitor, thus they are easily eliminated.  I might miss them but I can only know them through the characters on a screen anyway. I can't bump into them in the store or where ever. 

People that I know online might have habits that would make them impossible for me to know in person.  What - you're NOT a dog person? Ugh - she wears so much Perfume - It makes me physically ill. I hate that she always says  'youse guys'. 

Even so there are still times that I need to write private locked journal entries that are just for me. These are usually intense therapy type entries OR whiney, self-pitying crap that I would be ashamed to share.  Sometimes I just really really need to get it out.

There are tons of things I should be doing rather than writing or reading LJ. but... so what as the commercial says I regard it as time well wasted.

So... what's a nice (gender specific noun) like you, doing in a place like this?

Comments

[ata1anta.livejournal.com]

So... what's a nice (gender specific noun) like you, doing in a place like this?

Keeping up with people I know and some I only know as a couple photons on a computer monitor.

Giving my brain a break from the really boring stuff I get to do at work.

Some entries are public, some are friends only, and some are private. Some are stupid, filling up bytes talking about the henna I used in my hair. Some are venting about things I have no control over.

[tangyapple.livejournal.com]

r u kidding? g, i dunno, like -- to talk 'n stuff? i mean, i just lurv all you peeps, and with LJ, OMG it's like just soooo ez to chat with y'all. it's bitchin' dude. :Þ

(Just teasing! ;))

I guess I can't make up my mind how I want to use LJ from one day to the next, hence my current dilemma and so-called 'hiatus.' *L* I'm going to try to not take it so seriously. :)

[bradandjanet.livejournal.com]

I forget why I started it, I really do.

I keep it to stay in touch with my friends. I've met more than half of them in person and it's good to stay connected in some way, especially now that I'm further away from them.

[ishtara.livejournal.com]

I have always been a journaler. I dabbled on and off as a kid. I have kept a paper one seriously since 1997. I started my personal journal in 2003 because I had a friend who had one. She was my only "friend" and it was cool to read her stuff. Then I kept picking up more friends.

I use it now, mostly as a continuation of my paper journal. (I now print off my LJ entries and keep them in my journal binder) I sometimes post polls or throw out ideas for discussion. And I use it for social networking (like FaceBook) to see what others are up to or to post something to a large group of people.

I also have 3 sub-journals (including this one) that relate to specific areas of my life (dance, my kids, another hobby). Some people friend them if they have an interest in that area of my life. I like them because I can not write for a couple of months if I'm not doing stuff and then pick it up again. I can read this one back over and see my progression (or lack thereof) as a dancer and maybe learn stuff about myself.