http://www.contentious.com/2005/08/11/survey-question-3-disclosing-a-hobby/ Amy Gahran's news and musings on how we communicate in the online age. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:36:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://www.contentious.com/2005/08/11/survey-question-3-disclosing-a-hobby/comment-page-1/#comment-31906 Katie Sat, 03 Sep 2005 06:42:32 +0000 #comment-31906 Interesting survey; it's been a thought-provoking read. I think that the reason for resorting to "code words" like personal information is twofold: Firstly, I believe that by personal they really mean information that would be considered too private or uncomfortable (or likely to induce heated, passionate debate) for most casual conversation. Marriage and tame hobbies obviously don't fit that category, whereas sexuality, illness, and oftentimes even religion and politics would. It's a "dinner table conversation" kind of gage, seemingly. Also, and this is something I've discovered in my blog, they aren't necessarily objecting to discussing anything taboo, non-mainstream, or controversial. Sometimes they just don't want it then, in the context of that particular blog. For example, I'm in the sex industry. Pretty controversial. My blog is a work blog, with a little personal. I can get away with politics, and sexuality is a given- religion might be pushing it- but if I start blogging about illness I'm going to lose readers fast. It's too personal for them, for that kind of blog. If I had a strictly personal blog and they read it there, the reaction would likely be totally different. From your results it seems like more of an audience comfort level thing, about audience expectations. Interesting survey; it’s been a thought-provoking read. I think that the reason for resorting to “code words” like personal information is twofold: Firstly, I believe that by personal they really mean information that would be considered too private or uncomfortable (or likely to induce heated, passionate debate) for most casual conversation. Marriage and tame hobbies obviously don’t fit that category, whereas sexuality, illness, and oftentimes even religion and politics would. It’s a “dinner table conversation” kind of gage, seemingly. Also, and this is something I’ve discovered in my blog, they aren’t necessarily objecting to discussing anything taboo, non-mainstream, or controversial. Sometimes they just don’t want it then, in the context of that particular blog. For example, I’m in the sex industry. Pretty controversial. My blog is a work blog, with a little personal. I can get away with politics, and sexuality is a given- religion might be pushing it- but if I start blogging about illness I’m going to lose readers fast. It’s too personal for them, for that kind of blog. If I had a strictly personal blog and they read it there, the reaction would likely be totally different. From your results it seems like more of an audience comfort level thing, about audience expectations.

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