adventure

I just wrote out a lengthy post on this topic at hand in blogosphere, which I proceeded to somehow lose when I tried to publish it!;( And I didn't even realize it hadn't posted until I'd already done some editing, and so cannot simply "recover post" it...*arrrghs & sighs* So here, I shall once again try and express my thoughts on this idea of whether or not we should be posting photos to blogs, and on the importance of not being naive about potential downfalls in doing so.
I'm not one to believe much in coincidences, so I found it interesting last night, that shortly after I'd posted my last batch of photos to our photo blog, and was musing over some ongoing misgivings I've had in doing so, but have shrugged off as mere paranoia... I stumbled upon David W. Bole's Urban Semiotic post, “take your children offline NOW”, on this very topic. What uncanny timing for me, as I've been wrestling with these very thoughts! I have so much respect for Mr.Boles' gumption in his even broaching such an "icky" topic... and though I don't agree with everything he suggests, I am so thankful to him for bringing this issue up, and getting people to think about it, as it's such an important issue to consider. Honestly, I've thought of it before, and have had many of these same thoughts, but have put off *doing* what I've had in mind to do for too long, which is editing out our kids' names from our blogs. And I feel that the Lord has used his post as a catalyst for more action on my part, and more decided caution...
I was naturally filled with such a feeling of guilt, fear and foreboding immediately after reading Mr. Boles' post. I asked my hubby what he thought about it all... Should I delete our photo blog? *sniff, sniff* To which he level-headedly reminded me not to be hasty, that it's settings are "private", thereby limiting it's traffic availability somewhat... and also he reminded me that our name is not listed in any public phonebooks either, and we've only ever used our kids' first names, and we are careful not to give out our locale... So, I was calmed, but still creeped out about all these disturbing thoughts. I'm now glad that I didn't reactively delete our photo blog last night, as I had a mind to do then...thanks Chris for your calming words. I was still uneasy though with the situation when I went to sleep last night...and did even end up having a bad dream in which a disturbing scenario was played out, concerning these very thoughts...
So, as I woke up this morning with it still very much on my mind, I went right back to reading the comments left at Mr.Boles' site. I was so glad to also run across Razorskiss's thoughts on the topic. I think she brings some invaluably level-headed perspective to the table for this discussion, on what is safe, and what's not on the internet. She's verbalized some more of my own thoughts I've had as well as I've wrestled with WHAT to do? And so, I'm finding some clarity here now, I think(?). And I've resolved what I'm going to do...for now.;)
We're going to keep our photo blog, but I'm removing our kids' first names even, which will involve some extensive editing on my part, but is worth the peace of mind I think... just as a precaution. I'd rather err on the side of safety. And the kids enjoyed picking out nicknames for our blogs. Our 9yo son will hereby be called "Durer", after his favorite artist. And our 6yo daughter, who loves all things Indian, has chosen to be called "Pocahontas", which means, the one who plays mostly, appropriate, I think...;) Also, I've realized that though our last name is not in our email address, is is listed there (as part of my hubby's full name)in the "to" line if someone were to click on "email me". So, I'm going into our mail set-up area of our computer, and changing that too...now that I've noticed it.
Also, it's sorta sad to me to have to be using nicknames for my kids now, but I do want to be careful. So, do you think I'm over-reacting? Maybe so, but truly, as a blogging friend said to me yesterday, as we discussed this idea, we all do "need to examine and look at our own blogging practices."
So, I don't mean to put any of you on the spot, just curious what your thoughts are is all.
I see the discussion continues in blogosphere, with many absolutely doing away with photos altogether. I don't want to do that though, we've too many friends and family that enjoy ours...
It's sad that we even have to be so careful, but it's truly a sadly fallen world we live in, and prudence is in order...I'm glad to be "getting my virtual house in order...", though it may take awhile for me to edit out all the name references.;) It's not just myself, or my kids, I'm protectively thinking of...it's also the example of vigilance that I'm hoping to set for other bloggers, as I've admittedly been apprehensive over the looseness I've had, and seen others have, in publishing family affairs on the world wide web... So, here's to food for thought, and raising the bar a bit on my end.