Well, I have no doubt that soon my blog traffic will be back to its normal level. But, before it does, all you sociologists and others that are now visiting this site, I have a question for you:
How the heck does the blogger meeting at ASA work? If we are trying (probably in vain) to remain anonymous, how exactly do you meet face-to-face and talk about blogging?
*Anomie suggested the Scatterplot Effect title rather than the Freese Effect to explain the jump in stats.
UPDATE: While there are GREAT comments on this post, more comments on anonymity or not at bloggers’ parties can be found at Belle’s cross-listing of this post here. Now I really have something to consider. Cross-posted on scatterplot twice in one week means that people may have actually looked at my blog. Before, I really didn’t have to worry about that!
UPDATE TWO: I have the solution, we all just need to get these. Seems better then assless chaps (although I do have my eye on this pair, I quite like the whole outfit).
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There’s no real way to completely protect your identity. You can introduce yourself as “pitse1eh” (how would one go about pronouncing that?) or just call yourself “backstage,” but even then, if anyone sees you later during the meeting, you will have on your name tag and your cover will be blown.
I just figure, other bloggers can know who I am. They will keep my identity safe!
Comment by Anomie May 15, 2008 @ 1:38 pmPitseleh, yiddish word meaning “Little One.” From this Elliott Smith song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDMeEtUCq54
So I guess it’s something to consider. Do you “out” yourself now, or wait until it becomes obvious from your blogging (and, eventual hopeful publications) who you are? I suppose you could go around looking for a woman at ASA wearing Ninja socks, with a wedding ring, and demand that they raise one eyebrow, and when they can’t, you’ll know it’s me.
Comment by pitse1eh May 15, 2008 @ 1:42 pmWell, in all honesty I don’t think trying to remain anonymous is very effective among actual sociology bloggers (or any bloggers, for that matter). It’s not usually very hard to figure out who people are or at least where they come from. Personally, I think the most important thing is not that our online network doesn’t know who we are but rather future employers, no? People who it would bother. Other bloggers seem complicit and therefor not very threatening. I use Kristina B because that means that if you Google my first and last name the first hit is not my blog. I don’t care a ton if people find it, though. Maybe I should, but I can’t bring myself to… but anyway, I guess it’s up to you. Regarding the party, you if you want to remain anonymous there, you can just show up (knowing it exists credentials you as a blogger or a blog reader, right?) and not mention your blog!
Comment by kristina b May 15, 2008 @ 3:00 pmI am not really anonymous. I just avoid googability. And if you read all of my frustrated ruminations on work/life balance, you’d know why. I am too personal for the legal academy–and yet they love me for it! I think law profs read my blog to get a break from law served straight up. Mine’s with a twist!
So I come out to everyone. I say “yes, I am Belle Lettre, but my real name is _____, I’m at ____ University, and please don’t tell my advisor or anyone at my school.
Most people who read you like you, and will be very protective of you. That’s what I’ve found. Those who don’t like you–avoid them and don’t let them match up blog identity/real identity. I once avoided a ___ Area Blawgger Meetup (so called because blog + law = blawg) because Ann A/thouse was going to be there, and she hates me and makes fun of me whenever I write a feminist post. Ironically, she would have been my advisor had I gone to Wisc.
Comment by belle lettre May 15, 2008 @ 3:34 pmOh, and I come out to so many people because blogging is great networking. I would never have the connections and readers (of my real work) that I do without it, or be invited to law prof conferences even though I’m not a prof yet.
So maximize the networking. Although at Unfogged parties everyone goes by their pseudonym because real names are not recognized, so they’ll split name tags: Alison/aka Asilon.
Comment by belle lettre May 15, 2008 @ 3:36 pmI think we should still call each other by our blogger names at the blogger party, even if we know the real name.
It’s kind of like a secret superhero/villain identity. And the blogger party is the meet-up. They never revert to using each other’s lay names, why should we?
Comment by Anomie May 15, 2008 @ 6:35 pm@ Anomie: Superhero or super villain? Which do you style yourself after? If I knew it was going to be my super alter ego, I may have thought harder and came up with a name that looked better on a cape.
@ All: Certainly many things to think about. I am not sure still why I feel the need to be anonymous, but I figure that once I ring the bell of telling ya’ll my name, I can’t unring it. Besides, I’m not sure what all of you would gain. At some point, if we wanted to vet each others papers or something, I guess limited name knowledge would be worthwhile. Ack. I don’t know. But, then again, I have months to decide, yes? It may be worth it just to get the damn ribbon.
Comment by pitse1eh May 15, 2008 @ 9:33 pmNaming is important. I love giving people access to my identity by naming myself, and occasionally, by a picture, which is like a big gift in the blogosphere. Putting names to pseudonyms, and faces to names is quite powerful. I don’t feel truly connected until I have done so, and then the distinction between blogospheric pneuma and the hearty handshake of the real world elides. I’ve made really good friends through my blog, and while reading each other brings a certain level of intimacy (there are tons of people who know a lot about me, more than anyone at school), sharing the real identity is even more intimate, in a way. I don’t thrown away my secret identity, but I do let people accesss it if I trust them enough and want to have more of a relationship with them, be it epistolary, professional, blogospheric. Most people who casually email me get a “hello, thanks for reading,” but some with whom I’ve had a few interactions and conversations–”this is going somewhere”–totally, I tell them, and at the minimum is granting them a certain access to “my backstage” of sorts, and sometimes, most awesome friendships and professional relationships.
Like I would totally tell you and WickedA my name and institution, but don’t expect reciprocity. But as far as I’m concerned, we’re homies, and I would be glad to meet you and have you over for dinner for ASA 2009.
It is true that once the cat is out, it’s out. But I’ve never regretted coming out to anyone, except people at my school. And so many people know who I am, that it’s a benefit and burden–benefit being the career enhancing contacts and reviewers, the burden being I can’t use my blog for every kind of riffing anymore. If you really want this to be your backstage, you do have to keep it private, especially from the higher ups in your field. Otherwise, you will be managing impressions in ways that don’t really fit the original purpose of your blog.
Comment by belle lettre May 15, 2008 @ 10:16 pmIn general, I don’t have a problem with a select few knowing who I am. I’m pretty sure one of you already does. But, then again, there is the fact I have 0 social skills (oh, a socially awkward sociologist? No! Never!). On top of that, I can be much more brilliant when I’m not encumbered by who I actually am, and how brilliant I am not. For Belle and Anomie, I see you as your avatars in my head. Kristina is easier, as I’ve seen your picture (and often picture you as the one where you are flipping the bird). I guess you all just picture my feet. But, I read your linked post up there, Belle. I don’t feel the same way. Usually, when I read something and then see a person or their picture, there is a huge disconnect. I don’t feel like I know them better, in fact, it seems to highlight how I don’t know them at all. It impinges the physical on what, until then, had been a pure mental connection–which, in someways, can be deeper. It, for me, is kind of like watching the movie made out of my much loved book. It never lives up to expectations because the characters do not match up (with the exception of BBC’s Pride and Prejudice, because Colin Firth is my super secret lover).
Comment by pitse1eh May 15, 2008 @ 10:39 pmYou know, interestingly, I’ve just recently had a very related experience.
I started reading the blog of a local prof in an undisclosed field that is unrelated to sociology (or law or anything even remotely social science-y) a year plus ago. She blogs anonymously, but over time I figured out her institution and then eventually her name. And we have become bloggy friends. There’s no real professional connection other than the broad umbrella of academia, so the connection is purely personal.
Anyway, it’s important for her to remain anonymous. She blogs about things that, while they are not unethical, would still potentially cause her much strife at work. So, as it turns out, we were both going to be in the same physical place and came to realize it. And, at first it was like, well, this is maybe not a good time to meet because not everyone knows the superhero identity issue blah blah. But when we got there, it was unavoidable. We couldn’t pull off our original plan of winking and nodding but not talking. It was too…. I don’t know, “put on.” So we had an interesting exchange that was weird, because it’s always weird to meet some one in real life that you’ve only known online.
Anyway, I guess I just really got at the issue with that last sentence. My internet activities are increasingly the same as “real life”. It’s not like all this time I spend reading and writing online somehow doesn’t count. I’m with Belle, here. I figure why waste these connections’ potential by remaining removed from them?
So, yeah, I’m not trying to convince you of anything Pitseleh. Just exploring the idea.
Comment by kristina b May 16, 2008 @ 12:52 amRelated: isn’t it interesting how it’s fine to interact with some one online that you already know personally, but if you meet some one online there’s a little bit of awkwardness interacting with them offline? Anyone else have this experience?
Comment by kristina b May 16, 2008 @ 12:54 amYou have a problem with me being secret lovers with Colin Firth? I think Colin Firth may also have a problem with that.
I don’t think this is not real life. Perhaps it comes down to what it means to me to be in a physical face-to-face interaction, which (especially with new people) tends to be very awkward for me. There is something about the reality of the body that throws me off. Perhaps a lot of it has to do with my relationship to my own, which is a love-hate one. With hate usually winning out. I’ll have to give that some introspection.
Ohh, and I started writing that before your addendum. But, definitely I have problems meeting someone in RL that I just knew online. I think it’s part of the embodiment thing. For me anyway.
Comment by pitse1eh May 16, 2008 @ 1:00 amCF doesn’t have a problem with it because he doesn’t know! I come to him secretly in the night, and then I erase his memory with my mind powers.
Comment by kristina b May 16, 2008 @ 9:58 amWait! You and Colin are secret lovers too?!? What a small world.
Comment by pitse1eh May 16, 2008 @ 10:00 amTrying to figure out pseudononymous people’s secret identities is a bit of a hobby of mine
. Makes me feel like I have special computer powers or something. Or perhaps I just like having secrets. Pitseleh, I think I know who you are. I haven’t tried to find Belle Lettre yet.
ASA will be the first time I really meet people in RL that I had previously only known online. Last year doesn’t really count since I’d only been blogging for about a month and a half at the time.
I wonder if sociologists have a greater tendency toward social awkwardness, much like psychologists are supposed to have a greater tendency toward mental illness.
Comment by Anomie May 16, 2008 @ 11:15 amAnd I think Wicked Anomie sounds like a supervillian name. The villians are always more fun, anyway.
Comment by Anomie May 16, 2008 @ 11:16 amAnomie–Either email me and tell me who you think I am (pitselehsbackstage@gmail.com), or what’s the fourth letter of my first name? I’m curious to see if you do. I’m pretty sure that Kristina knows who I am. Kristina–Do you?
I always say, those who can’t do, teach (or study). We are the “other” as we can’t do what we study. Or, that’s how I think about it.
Comment by pitse1eh May 16, 2008 @ 11:17 amhaha, re: seeing people as their avatars:
At least I get to be a cartoon character with a cape. If it weren’t August, I’d find a green turtleneck to wear to the gathering. That would be neat!
Comment by Anomie May 16, 2008 @ 11:18 amYou could get one of those mock turtlenecks. But, I do think you need to wear the red cape.
Comment by pitse1eh May 16, 2008 @ 11:21 amhmmmm…we’ll see. we’ll see….
Comment by Anomie May 16, 2008 @ 11:23 amOh, an Anomie totally gets a cookie. See, this anonymity thing, I knew it wouldn’t work.
Comment by pitse1eh May 16, 2008 @ 11:25 amDon’t worry; your secret’s safe with me
.
Comment by Anomie May 16, 2008 @ 11:29 amAhh, but not, evidently, safe in general. So, I guess this answers my concern about the blogger meeting. Seems redundant to worry about it. Not that I think any of the three of the people commenting here would do anything negative.
Comment by pitse1eh May 16, 2008 @ 11:32 amYes, Pitseleh, I think I do… you are the second author of a certain paper that was sent to me a while back, no?
Comment by kristina b May 16, 2008 @ 11:48 amYep. Well, first author now.
What’d you think of it anyway?
Comment by pitse1eh May 16, 2008 @ 12:52 pmOh, and the body thing I was talking about, Drek kinda talks about it today:
Comment by pitse1eh May 16, 2008 @ 1:46 pmhttp://totaldrek.blogspot.com/2008/05/psyche-out.html
So far, I love it. What a great idea. Actually, that paper is on my list of things to read more carefully now that the pressure of the spring semester is lighter.
And I didn’t mean “second” in the academic sense, I meant it in the sense that the other author was the one that happened to send it. Sorry
Comment by kristina b May 16, 2008 @ 3:10 pmOh, no worries. We were going to have a marathon game of Where’s Waldo, have a knock down drag out fight, or do a treasure hunt to see who was going to be first author. But, then we started another project which he will CLEARLY need to be first author (with his mad computer skills and my lack there of). So, since I did most the writing on this one, I took it.
Comment by pitse1eh May 16, 2008 @ 3:18 pm