As new buds on a tree begin to bloom and grow.....so may my new approach to blogging begin. Hello to you all..... I realized I have been a little remiss in posting lately. I think the reason for this is twofold.....For one I am bushed....I have just completed what has seemed like the longest set of shifts in a long time. It was no longer than any other set, but it just seemed that way. I think it had to do with having to do 3 night shifts instead of my regular 2. I also think what made it so challenging is that 3 out of my 4 shifts I was involved in what is known as a "Code Blue", two of these codes happened in less than 24hrs and to compound matters our unit was running short staffed which seems to be the norm for most nursing units lately.
My second reason, primarily is a result of a trend I having been observing in the blog world which I am finding very disturbing. In my previous post I told you about my dear friend Cathy and how her blog was hijacked...then I find out that another fellow blogger had someone in her office print excerpts of her blog and give it to her boss....needless to say her blog is now closed, another blogger had to close her blog due to somewhat similar circumstances, then there was another blog in which someone took information from this persons blog and published it in their local paper, the up roar this caused resulted in the blogger having to leave her small community. The interesting thing about all of this is, all of these bloggers are connected to the medical field. I find this very disturbing. I don't know if it is just a coincidence or if there really is something to all of this. Being in the medical field myself it does give me concern. My blog by no means has had the popularity or notoriety as the blogs that I have mentioned.... and maybe that has been my saving grace. I truly am baffled as to why people would do this to others and what is their motivation? But I must say it has given me a wake up call.
I no longer feel like I can blog freely as I have done so in the past. In my sheer naivety I have blogged about everything in my life. I have shared pictures of my family, places I like to visit, things I like to do.....oooops......now in hind sight......maybe that has not been such a good idea. I mean I may have inadvertently put my loved ones in harms way without realizing it. In this case ignorance is not bliss.
Hence I have chosen not to post any further pictures of my personal life, but rather post pictures that I find reflect the topic at hand. My topics will be of general interest issues in which I hope will promote dialogue with the exchange of thoughts and philosophies. I have also chosen not to post as frequently as I have in the past.
What I promise I will do, is continue to participate in the Saturday Photo scavenger hunt.....I just love checking out all the blogs and their pictoral interpretation of the weekly theme. And continue to visit those blogs that have become such a part of my day. There are some really super bloggers out there....so many kind, gentle and sincere bloggers that I would truly miss if I didn't visit.
So with that being said.....I do wish you all a grand day.....and be safe!!!
And as always.......Cheers!!!!
20 comments:
honey not all of them are medical blogs, cathy's is not. hope you keep posting my friend... we've come a long way, and i hope to go a long way in the future!
smiles, bee
I find the things you written here about blogging problems very disturbing, frightening and sad.
So sorry you feel that you must change you delightful style of blogging.
Mary Ann, I have seen a lot of that in the political blog arena where the authors have nothing to do with the medical field. Perhaps there appears to be a connection to you, because you may finds blogs in that field more interesting.
This is really nothing new. The same thing was happening when people were calling home based computer bulletin boards with 8 bit computers and 300 baud modems in the 1980s.
It is sad that some people have so little purpose to their lives that all they can find to occupy themselves is trying to make life miserable for someone else.
I can't say I blame you for feeling fearful, and hope the feeling is temporary.
Someone cautioned me about posting photos of my grandson because of the perverts out there in cyberland. So I don't do that anymore, but I do love seeing photos of areas where bloggers live. It makes them seem more "real," somehow. But keep on writing 'cuz we all love to visit. Maybe we CAN get some interesting dialogue going.
That is just awful! A person should be able to blog freely and without worry as long as they aren't spreading lies.
Got my connection back for a bit, good to see you.
Mary Anne, I try to keep my blog as impersonal as possible as well, never referring to my family or my Munchkins by their real names, or posting their photographs. You know, you should get a site meter. That way you can track who is visiting your blog.
The Internet is a wide open, wild, wild west.
I don't understand how people can do the things you have mentioned here, though. It's just cruel.
I do love seeing pictures of the Island, though. My heart is really there, and it's wonderful to see photos of the beaches there.
Cheers,
Josie
It really is a shame that some have to ruin it for others...I'm still feeling comfortable with my blog and I do keep track of who visits me with Site Meter...so far I don't see any suspicious activities! lol I do understand your fear, though, so you have to do what you're comfortable with!! xoxo
People sometimes tend to forget that what they blog about can be read by anyone. I know I post a LOT of personal stuff.
I don't know why people do mean things that that. It's sad. :(
Is there no place one can go to be free?? I would really like to find that place. Governments suck, jobs suck, and now blogging is starting to suck! What the hell!!!!
I got some "feedback" a couple weeks ago with respect to my blog -nothing as drastic as what you are talking about -but it pertained to some things I posted that were somewhat of a personal nature. One allowed me to see that some people, no matter how you write things, are going to get bent out of shape simply because they do not actually read the words there properly. But a misunderstanding, any way you cut it, can start all kinds of other little uproars.
For myself, I chose to ignore the flare-up simply because I knew where they came from and considered the sources in both cases.
But, for you- I can readily understand your being edgy about your blog, posts and photos. As others have said, it is a shame some have to do things that causes grief and aggravation to people, forces some out completely, others to change their mode of operation.
You have to do what you feel comfortable with and I will miss your photos for sure but I have confidence too you will find ways to make your blog just as interesting and exciting as it has been in the past too. Peace.
This post reminded me...at my previous employment a supervisor got fired over some illicit stuff on her website...probably a blog...I did not know what a blog was at the time...
I enjoy those that share their lives but I'm like you we should all be as careful as we can!
What bothers me about some blogs I've run across lately is they are mini advertizements for what the blogger has for sale...I mean post after post of it....
I like the idea of "thought provoking idea's and interaction"...I'm looking forward to what you might share...not that you weren't great...I've always liked your blog!!
:)
Just stopped by to say hi and admire your lovely photos. I see on your profile that you like "The Flame Trees of Thika," and coincidentally I just finished rereading the book for probably the fourth time. ;)
The blogosphere is a wonderful and unsettling place. Wonderful in that it expands our horizons but unsettling in that it exposes us to people and situations that aren't necessarily of our choosing.
I think it's all still evolving. In the meantime, I just try to self-edit as much as I can and be careful not to post something that I might hesitate to publicly "own" if it later comes back to bite me.
FWIW, there have been recent crackdowns on military blogging as well, so I don't think this phenomenon is limited to medblogging; it's just that medblogging is perhaps a smaller world so we are painfully aware when something happens to disrupt it.
I don't think that you would have any problems with your blog, like those other people have. Even when you talk about your personal life, you still distance yourself enough that it would be hard for someone to point out who you are.
But, you have to feel secure, and if distancing yourself even more by doing what you said...that's perfectly understandable.
I'm just thankful that you will still be blogging at all, and still visiting your friends here in blog land.
I'm back again - I was just informed yesterday by my cousin's grandson that apparently our school here has opted to ban my blog on the computers there. Hmmm. Wonder which post it was that I did that ticked them off? My young cousin seems to think it was a very nice post I did back in January about him! Go figure, huh.
mary anne, i was looking at my first posts ever and you, the curmudgeon, and dr. a were the first people i ever met on blogs. i am happy to say i still communicate with all three of you!
smiles, bee
wow, it is sad to find when we can express ourselves thru our words and pictures and then someone wants to come along and take a freedom aways from us so sad. Maybe this is why everybody use to write in a journal before and no one saw it until they were dead so no one could use it against them. How sad some people can be so cruel. I always enjoy the very personal side of blogging. I love hearing all the experiences people have that are so similar and some so different.
It's rather sad that so many people can't see blogging for what it is, a chance to share ideas, perspectives, opinions and pieces of ourselves. I admit, I've personally been attacked and have only just 3 days ago, felt strong enough to get my blog back up, albeit a new address. I regret deleting my original blog in a fit of frustration! Please don't stop sharing, it's through your life stories and pictures that we gain a sense of relationships and community.
If anyone who knows me in "real life" happened across my blog, they'd recognize me in an instant... so even I take chances even though I haven't posted my picture or the pictures of anyone else in my family. I've also tried never to say anything on line that I couldn't hear read back to me in court... or in church. I'm sure I've not always succeeded.
I've tried also not to make it worth anyone's while to "find me out." I'm certain it could be done -- probably very easily -- I just don't want anyone to feel that it's somehow necessary.
I think a lot of times people who are found out -- and who lose their jobs or 'have to leave town' are people who lash out at people from their anonymity. You're not ambushing people, Mary Anne; that may be your best protection of all. At least I hope so.
I appreciate and understand your caution.
It's sad to see what is happening.. such a shame... Im glad you aren't stopping entirely though. Take care ok.
I didn't know the extent of all this: I just got 'up to speed' by looking in on Dr. A & Moof. Wow....
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