Bloggers--do your family members read?

[Cookin4Love]

Over the holidays, an interesting conversation was had ;) My FIL was talking to the assembled group about my blog. DH pipes up with, "What's her blog about?" FIL asked DH if he had ever read it. Of course, DH hasn't. Now, he certainly watches me take pictures of food, and sees me sittiing with my laptop while he watches FOX news, and he hears me say I'm going to update my blog, but...

Then, at another gathering, the blog was brought up by someone else. My mother says she doesn't read it, because she's not "into" cooking. She does, however, wish I'd write something she is interested in.

Now, I really don't care if they read it, but it seems odd. If I had access to DH's writing, you can bet I'd read it--I would be interested just because it's him. And my mom--well, I would read hers, too, if she had one, just as an inside peek into parts of her life I may not understand. Heck, one of my staff members has cooked his way through my blog, but my own DH doesn't even know what it's about? Seriously?

So, I'm just curious about the rest of you. Do the significant people in your life read your blog?

[DeeK]

My DH says he doesn't, but I think he may sneak a peak now and then. ;)

However, he does know what it is about and he always looks at the pictures I take, just not in "blog-form".

[mrswaz]

My family is similar to yours in some respects. My siblings read my blog, and my parents read my blog every once in a while. They all know it's not just about food, and they love checking in and seeing what goes on in my house from day to day. I think the only reason my dad doesn't check in more often is because it takes time to do so. DH reads it religiously, and often tells people that they should read my blog. He's my best PR!

The in-laws are the other side of the coin. DFIL doesn't read it because he doesn't care to look at a computer screen when reading- if I wanted him to read it I would literally have to send him a printed copy. :rolleyes: DMIL reads it sometimes, but she really wishes I would write more about the kids, because that's why she checks in. All of my BIL's and SIL's can't be bothered. They don't cook, don't care to cook, and don't check my blog because they're just not into food that way. (Even though it's not just about food.)

Like you, I don't care that people don't want to read my blog- there are plenty of blogs out there that I don't care to read. But. These are family members who in the grand scheme of things, don't know me very well. You would think that they would want to try and get to know me a little better since there is such an easy way to do so. It would be such an easy way for them to feel like they are a part of our lives here, since we all live on opposite sides of the country. What can you do though. :)

[lindrusso]

My DH doesn't read it, but after all, he gets to live it. ;)

My mom and MIL read it. Not sure about my SILs, but one doesn't cook much and the other has a very old computer and doesn't spend much time on it. I think my brother looks at it once in a while.

I can totally see family members not reading it. If you like to cook, you'd be more likely to read my blog. If you don't cook, I can't see there being much interest. You might get to know me a little better, but it's really all about the food. Or mostly.

[ljt2r]

This is an interesting thread. I have hovered on the edge of wanting to do a blog for about a year now. The thing (children) holding me back are aged 30 and 14 mos and I don't think I will be able to do one until at least one of them goes to school. :p Anyway, the point being, one of the other things holding me back is that I don't know if I would want my family to read it. :o Maybe I would feel differently after doing it, but I could totally see either brothers making fun of it in that way that younger brothers do or other people reading it just because it was mine, shaking their heads over my free time and rolling their eyes. And I think my family is awesome, but I do NOT think that they get blogs. Maybe Josie will pop in and tell me I am crazy. :o :) But anyway, just my POV.

[avariell]

Reading a subject-specific blog seems to require the reader to be interested in that subject. I wouldn't take it personally if someone didn't want to read my blog about food if they didn't really care about food. (Okay, well I am a bit of a liar because I took it personally when my younger brother was ripping on people for owning cookbooks at Christmas but I digress...)

The word BLOG to many people who are not as familiar with the internet translates to "online diary". Our brothers, as Laura pointed out above, would totally razz her for starting a blog. My older brother completely judges people for "sharing their personal lives on the internet". I do think those of us more comfortable with the internet understand BLOG can have many meanings. I don't think there is anything intensely personal about reviewing a recipe (no matter how much I emotionalize food ;)).

The ironic thing is that I am fairly certain our brothers (or really just people who don't "get" blogs and/or internet friendships/relationships) would never judge Laura for writing in a diary. However, I can understand why her gut instinct would be to not share her blog with many members of our family.

So now that I made our family sound pretty obnoxious... I just think there are some people who are interested in blogging and some who aren't. It isn't really a good or bad thing. I don't think I would ever expect my brother to read about my adventures in the kitchen - but then again, I don't really pay attention to whatever they might ramble on regarding hunting (or whatever interests they have). And who knows, if I actually had a blog, I might feel differently. ;)

[patsyk]

I only just started my blog recently and haven't given the link to my family (other than DH) just yet. I have shared it here and with some friends who I know enjoy sharing recipes and are foodies.

For me, I want to get it going and improve on my writing and food photography before sharing with my family... probably for the same reasons as shared above - not too much interest in my subject and fear of being made fun of by my older brothers and their wives... they just don't "get me" and my love of cooking. They prefer to eat out every meal they can. :rolleyes:

[Jazzmatazz49]

I think blogs are mainly for the enjoyment of the blogger. If anyone else reads it, that's an added bonus. Not many blogs become well-known or are even that interesting to outsiders. I'd cut them some slack if they don't read yours, although I'd surely check in at least once if a family member told me they had one.

[Cookin4Love]

You're right, Margaret--blogs are primarily for the enjoyment of the blogger. For me, it's a more elaborate way than a spreadsheet to track what I've made, what we enjoyed, what we didn't. If my priority was my "audience" rather than myself, I would be somewhat forced to keep up with mine on a daily basis, and I just can't make that a priority right now.

Really, I started this thread because I'm just curious if my family is the only one that just doesn't look. I don't CARE that DH doesn't look, but considering that he liked to read every single paper I wrote in college (even those about topics in which he had no interest whatsoever--which was most of them), it seems odd that he has never once looked at my blog--a much more personal peek into my head. While most of my blog is food-related, there are the momentary times I let down the barrier and show a bit of my inner self.

There are numerous blogs that I visit daily or at least a couple of times a week, and most of them are written by BB members. I always feel that I get to "know" the writers in a different way by reading their blogs. And at least I don't have to worry that anyone would make fun of me or my blogging. Even the non-cooks I know are pretty impressed that I cook enough to have a blog. My parents just don't care one way or another. My girls read it at least occasionally, because they comment to me about things on it. DH's family reads it sometimes, too, but they like my cooking, and most of them have at least a peripheral interest in good food.

[MISSINDI]

Interesting topic. My sister and mom read mine, though rarely comment, as do my SIL, BIL, family friends and neighbors. My sister's MIL and former college roommate do, my dad doesn't. Funnily enough, when my sister had her first baby in October, she and my BIL gave everyone my site's URL because I had the first pictures of the baby up. :)

While I feel that most of the strangers that come by regularly pop in for the food, the people that know us pop in for updates on Nicholas and The Girlfriend. That being said, I've gotten e-mails from regular readers (who I don't know) asking about the kids if I don't mention or post about them in awhile. Being it's been nearly three years now, I think a lot of them have felt like they've gotten to watch them grow up a bit. I know Nicholas' old teachers read it to check in on him, which I love.

Related, but on a slightly different note ... for those that lean a little more beyond food, how do you draw the line about what to share? I've definitely been careful about what I disclose of a personal nature because you never know who's reading about your family. A few too many episodes of Law & Order will make you more paranoid than perhaps necessary, but I'd rather err on the side of caution.

A few months after we moved into the new house, I got an e-mail through my site from someone who said, "I think you're my new neighbor." Considering our hometown (or even county) are not listed anywhere nor mentioned, I was surprised, but she was right ... she lives 6 houses up. She had been a regular reader of my site for about six months by then. Considering readers spans many countries, things like that never cease to amaze me.

When we went on a cruise in October 2006, I came back to an e-mail from someone who said, "I think we were on the same cruise together." Turns out she never read Sweetnicks before, but one of her co-workers is a regular reader and when she heard her itinerary, she knew we were on the same boat.

[615bride]

Hmm, this is interesting. I've never really given it much though. I keep a family blog that is password protected and almost everyone in the family reads that. It's mostly pictures of DS and since we're living far away from everyone while DH gets his Ph.D, it's their only way to "see" him regularly.

I also keep a knitting blog though (www.paperstarfish.prettyposies.com) and very few of my family members read it. Occasionally, I'll direct someone there to show them a baby gift I made, etc but not often. Maybe because I'm the only knitter in the family?!?!

[ljt2r]

.... Related, but on a slightly different note ... for those that lean a little more beyond food, how do you draw the line about what to share? I've definitely been careful about what I disclose of a personal nature because you never know who's reading about your family. A few too many episodes of Law & Order will make you more paranoid than perhaps necessary, but I'd rather err on the side of caution.

A few months after we moved into the new house, I got an e-mail through my site from someone who said, "I think you're my new neighbor." Considering our hometown (or even county) are not listed anywhere nor mentioned, I was surprised, but she was right ... she lives 6 houses up. She had been a regular reader of my site for about six months by then. Considering readers spans many countries, things like that never cease to amaze me.

When we went on a cruise in October 2006, I came back to an e-mail from someone who said, "I think we were on the same cruise together." Turns out she never read Sweetnicks before, but one of her co-workers is a regular reader and when she heard her itinerary, she knew we were on the same boat.


I have wondered about this before. I keep a picture "blog" that is password protected for the kids for long distance family and friends to see. When I read food blogs that are full of pics of the writer's babies, etc I always wonder if that is a good idea. I love looking at the pics and seeing their kids but I still wonder. Am I the only one with such paranoias?

[Cookin4Love]

I have wondered about this before. I keep a picture "blog" that is password protected for the kids for long distance family and friends to see. When I read food blogs that are full of pics of the writer's babies, etc I always wonder if that is a good idea. I love looking at the pics and seeing their kids but I still wonder. Am I the only one with such paranoias?


I am very careful about how much information I put out there, especially since I do sometimes include pics of the DGDs in my blog. People who know me and try to find my blog without the URL just give up. I don't use my first name (or my last--ever), I don't tell where I work, I don't give identifying info about the DH...nothing. I think the real danger, in other words, is not in posting pictures, but in providing information that would allow a deviant to find you and make contact.

For my major picture sharing, I set up group rooms at Costco.com's photo center. That way, all of us at an event can post our pictures for the group to see. All my family members--and only family members--are invited to the room.

[helios7]

My blog is inactive right now (or at least I'm not working on it these days) but I definitely had family members reading it. DH, my parents, my brother-in-law and friends were all regular readers. I was okay with it, however sometimes I had to keep in mind my audience and be sure that I really wanted my brother-in-law to know X,Y and Z. But I did appreciate the support.

[MISSINDI]

I think the real danger, in other words, is not in posting pictures, but in providing information that would allow a deviant to find you and make contact.

I think this is key - almost a connect-the-dots sort of thing. I don't include individual names or anything locational (no specific store/restaurant/work info). I know one blogger who quit posting because of a stalker, so the reality is that the potential is there.

[DeeK]

I was okay with it, however sometimes I had to keep in mind my audience and be sure that I really wanted my brother-in-law to know X,Y and Z. But I did appreciate the support.


I know what you mean. Sometimes I'd really like to let rip sometimes on my blog, but considering who may read it ... I keep my temper under wraps (at least MOST of the time).

[Cookin4Love]

With regad to needing to watch what you say based on your audience--I think bloggers need to consider that anyway. Nothing on the Internet is private. Because my job is fairly public, I'm very careful not to express opinions or relate things in a way that could bring discredit to my employer. There are already too many stories out there of people losing opportunities because of things they have posted on the Internet.

It was really brought home to me at the beginning of the school year. One of our brand new teachers wanted me to come to her room and see a bulletin board she had done. She got the idea from something I had posted (under my real name in the old days) over 10 years ago on a teacher board. I realized then that our words gain some degree of immortality when they are written and posted in a public forum.

All of this is part of the reason that I keep my blog essentially focused on food. For me, it just wouldn't work to get into other areas.

[mrswaz]

I think the real danger, in other words, is not in posting pictures, but in providing information that would allow a deviant to find you and make contact.


I think this is dependant on the blog, really. In the last year I have become affiliated with my small-town newspaper, and I would have to say that about half of my audience has become local people. I live in a small town, and everyone knows everyone, and they want to know identifiers. They want to know what grocery store I'm shopping at so they can shop there too. They want to know which bake sale to stop in at because I'm providing some of the baked goods. They want to know which farmer I buy my beef from, and exactly how to cook that bison from the bison farm. Shoot, I have neighbors who check out my blog just to see exactly what that was on the grill for dinner last night. I don't share my last name on the blog, but local people know it from the paper and could easily contact me.

But I am comfortable with the transparency I have on my blog. I think that's the key. If I lived in a large city or more urban area I would probably re-visit my blogging and what I put out there, but I'm comfortable right now with what I share online.

[ljt2r]

I am very careful about how much information I put out there, especially since I do sometimes include pics of the DGDs in my blog. People who know me and try to find my blog without the URL just give up. I don't use my first name (or my last--ever), I don't tell where I work, I don't give identifying info about the DH...nothing. I think the real danger, in other words, is not in posting pictures, but in providing information that would allow a deviant to find you and make contact.

For my major picture sharing, I set up group rooms at Costco.com's photo center. That way, all of us at an event can post our pictures for the group to see. All my family members--and only family members--are invited to the room.

I am bumping this thread because I am really thinking of starting a blog but I continue to struggle with this issue. Can strangers with similar interests ever find your blog then? I mean, going back to how this thread started--if I don't think my family (except maybe Josie) is interested in reading my blog, is there a point to doing one if no one can find it? My 2 favorite blogs I found by surfing the web. And yet my favorite blogs talk a bit about their lives as well--not in a share your innermost thoughts way (that is not my thing) but in a hey my daughter learned to sing the ABCs and so we celebrated with cake way--but if you have enough of those, you start to get to know the daughter. Which as a food blog reader I like. And I also start wondering what is the difference between that (the blog) and this (the CLBB)? "People" (meaning that although I believe most of you are real people genuinely interested in food I don't have any real way of knowing) around here know basically where I live, that I have 2 daughters, am a SAHM....

Maybe I just want someone to tell me I am being overparanoid and to relax. :o I think I have watched too much Law and Order as well...

[mrswaz]

You really can be as anonymous as you want with a blog. :) When you first set one up with your profile, you could easily put your name down as Mickey Mouse, and there isn't anyway for anyone to dig deeper and find your real identity. (At least with Blogger, which is what I am familiar with.)

The people that you want to find your site, you give them the URL, and then it's up to you as to the other traffic you get. A big way food blogs get traffic is through their blogroll. When you put a link to a site you enjoy, often times, you'll get a link back to your site from them. My traffic is pretty easily split between referrals from other blogs and direct hits.

I get most of my Yahoo and Google hits because of my post-titles. Apparently that is what the search-bots look for. For example, in my recipe blog I have a recipe for Mom's Fridge Pickles. If you type that into google, the first thing that pops up is my blog. You can also sign up for the social networking sites like technorati if traffic is your main concern.

While I pay attention to my traffic, it's certainly not what drives me to blog. Blogging has become a serious hobby for me, and I really love doing it. I love preparing a new recipe and thinking about how I'm going to be sharing it with my readers. Blogging is really enjoyable to me, and I suggest that if you're thinking about doing it, just sign up and give it a go. If it doesn't take, you can always hit the delete button and pretend it never existed. :)

[schuh]

I don't watch Law & Order so maybe I'm not paranoid enough. About the privacy issues:
- Because my family participates in cooking contests, our names and images are already "out there" in the media/on the Web. I've had total strangers call me on the phone -- some from nearby and others from across the country -- usually for advice on entering the Pillsbury Bake-off. Although some people may be a little goofy, nobody seems threatening. So I don't know that having a blog increases our risk over and above that.
- I took my kids' names off of all my blog postings and just use their first initial. I have cut way back on using photos of them. I have never used my last name. BUT if someone wanted to find us they could - but again, is my risk increased over and above the contest publicity?
- When I was a finalist in the PBO in 2004, someone figured out that I was a finalist before I had posted the news on the board. As far as I know, I have never used my full name on this board, so to this day I'm not sure how that person identified me on that list. Yes, schuh is part of my name but still. THAT sort of freaked me out because I am much more open on this board than I am on my blog and I sure wouldn't want some people to see what I've written about them.:eek:

As far as people reading my blog...
- The reason I started it was that so many family members were asking about how I was doing with cooking contests, I figured it would be easy to keep them up to date by writing a blog. Plus I could share some recipes with them. So it kind of bums me out when people like my sister don't read it.
- On the other hand, my SIL just told me she reads it every day, and so does my MIL. But the way they told me wasn't like "I love it" ... I had the feeling they were looking over my shoulder. It made me wonder if I wrote something that offended them.
- There are people I see who tell me they read my blog all the time, and they NEVER leave a comment! I wish they would once in awhile, just so I know they are reading. Plus, bloggers like getting comments!
- I just found out that my husband was showing people in his office one of my posts in which I had used scatological humor. His coworkers were shocked. Now that I'm aware that his coworkers/boss could be reading, I try to be careful.
- My kids know about my blog but don't read it. But in case they decide to check on the blog, I stay away from profanity, etc. I could very easily go there if I were anonymous but I don't.

Wow, long post...