Monday, March 23, 2009

Privatized ...

So, I'm debating whether I should make my blog private or not ...

Those of you who DO have private blogs ...

What made you decide to go private?
Do you like having it private?
Do you feel like people still read your blog even though it is private?

What are some reasons to stay public?
Would you still read our blog if we were private??

I feel like I'm pretty careful about what I post but, I just want to be sure about the safety of my family.

Anyways ... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE give your input on this!!!
Thanks! :o)

12 comments:

Heather said...

So here's my input as someone who was once private, and also as someone who was recently urged to go private by her boyfriend after recent events:

People don't seem to read as often, because they can't add you to Google Reader and stuff like that, and have to remember to check it. That's what happens with me and my private friends.

With being public, I find it kind of fun to meet new friends or have nice strangers express admiration.

Most of all I decided to stay public because of Elder Ballard's inspirational words in a talk entitled "Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet." I have been inspired and uplifted by many people I've randomly found who have no idea who I am, so I like the idea of throwing more good out there in a medium that is rampant with filth.

Obviously, there are definite benefits to going private, but for me - the benefits of public far outweigh them.

That's my two cents. Good luck in deciding!

Maranda Whittle said...

I like being private, just cuz it makes me feel a little safer, but I do think people forget to check your blog as much. I decided to go private, because my friend's brother works for the FBI and he said that bloggers are the stupiest people on earth. They give out way too much info and anybody and everybody can look at it. That kinda scared me. And I always told myself that the 1st time I ever got a weird comment from someone that I didn't know, then that's when I'd go private, and I got one from some weird guy saying how cute my kids were, so I decided it was time! I wish there was a way to let people on here know when I updated it, but oh well, I think I'll still keep it private.

Maranda Whittle said...

And from your friend, Heather, that's a good idea, but maybe you can just make a blog of uplifting things seperate from your family blog?? That way, your family blog can still be private. Just an idea.

Heidi Joncas said...

I think about going private all the time. But I have come across old friends and have been able to reconnect with people through my blog. It does worry me that weird people can look at my family. I actually think I am going to go back and start editing a bunch of my posts that maybe share to much info on my family. I also know that you can lock your photos so that no one can copy them and save them to their computer. If I ever figure that out I will let you know.
I hardly ever remember to check the private blogs. I have an old friend that I know who has a blog, but I can't contact her because it is private. Oh well. One thing I have thought of doing is making my main blog private but having a little blog that says who we are and if you know me leave a comment and I would let them see my blog. But it seems complicated to do.

Nicole said...

I like public blogs, I just try and keep mine as safe as possible by giving general info. No specifics on birthdays, exact locations, etc. There are weirdo's everywhere sadly. I feel just as threatened taking my kids to WalMart for fear someone will "look" at them. That is the sad way our world is going. Just stay smart and aware and you will be fine but if you think it is better for yours to be private do it!

The McLaws Family said...

I would definitely read if it were private. I love looking at your pictures and reading about whats going on with yu guys!!!

JR and Steph said...

That's where I'm at. It's so hard to decide. My whole reason for starting my blog was to keep my parents updated on what's going on and I know If I went private they probably wouldn't get onto it as much. I would still read yours if it were private though. It's scary because you don't know what kinds creeps are out there. My cousin just found out that someone had set up a facebook of her and taken pics from her blog to do it. She has no idea who did it, but she's worried and that totally freaks me out.Not to worry ya but ya just never know. Anyways let me know what ya decide.

Candace said...

My blog has been private from the beginning and I LOVE the freedom I have to write whatever, whoever, whenever I feel like it. I think the #1 reason I have it private is...my kids! I just want to keep them safe.

I'm sure people don't check mine as often because, like Heather said, you can't have a feed from your blog for a blog reader. But I don't really care about that. The people that I really care about sharing this stuff are the people who care to check. Plus, my immediate family is on my email list, where anytime I post they immediately get an email.

I would definitely check your blog if you decided to go private! I regularly make my "rounds" on my private blogs I follow!

Morgan and Tyler said...

My hubby made me make our blog private. He's SUPER paranoid about ppl. having access to info about us, and we don't even have kids! Also, there is a setting on here that will automatically send out your posts to ppl. when you make a new post...so that way if there are ppl. you really want to read your blog, just put them on the list and they'll get an email of whatever you post. My mom likes that function because she doesn't have to check it all the time. Anyway, that's my input...I'll still read if you go private!

Kara said...

Hard decision, I've thought about going private but I like that people can find me but even more than that is the fact that my extended family checks my blog and the majority of them are not computer savvy and probably wouldn't know how to or bother to check if it was private.

Quinn said...

I haven't tried it, but I have so many family members that don't have gmail, and can NOT get into computers much to make an effort to view our blog (I should say Stephen's family, not mine). I'd never hear the end of it from my father-in-law about making it more difficult for him to keep up with us.

I haven't had any hackers, or problems with a public blog either, so no scares there. There are still some friends blogs that I can't get them to allow me, so there might be someone you leave out, probably unintentional, but its bound to happen.

Alicia said...

Check my blog. I just posted a little something -you inspired it because you're a gem. I like having my family blog set to private and having a public blog on the side. As far as getting my testimony and gospel out, both my brother and I have public blogs set aside for just that purpose. So I have a bunch of blogs, but it works for me. Also, I'm glad that someone mentioned that you can rig your blog to send out emails whenever you post. That's how my mom reads my blog. I set it up to e mail her. I also set it up to email me, that way I can forward to blog to other family members who want to read but have trouble accessing the private function. So that's my input. I love your new background. And I would check your blog to read it. I need my Kason fix!

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