When I first started blogging I expected no-one would read it. (Well, actually I expected to immediately become an a-list uber-blogger, but…)

Now it appears I have a small group of loyal readers, some of whom I’ve never met in-person before. And they contribute, leave comments, etc. This makes me happy. Thank you guys.

Some of the readers I have met. Hi guys. Some I know very well.

I’m good with all this; I have a mental model of who the likely readers are, and I self-censor to stay within fairly reasonable bounds and keep things cool and happy.

Two weeks ago, however, a series of events blew my mind. Within that single week 3 people that I really never expected to read the blog mentioned it to me, mostly in passing. In fact, to my surprise, I was introduced at a talk I was giving by my blog by-line (”A Cruel and Petty Dictator”).

Now I’m kinda spooked. These folks are clearly not regular readers, but they are a fantastic demonstration of just how accessible and ever-lasting everything you excrete onto the net is. When technophobes, random professional and personal acquaintances, recruiters, and any other dick-or-harry can ask you, apropos nothing, how your weekend trip to Seaworld was, that’s just odd. It puts you at an unusual information disadvantage - you have no idea who this person is, but he knows how many kids you have and what they look like, how you spent your weekend, and which movies you like. Heck, he knows more about you than some of your best friends. He’s FriendFeeded his way to the front.

It’s not that I really care - it’s not like I lead a particularly interesting or exotic life or have too many things to hide - but I’m realizing it leads to further sub-conscious self-censorship. And that sucks. I was much more likely to rant stupidly (one of my favorite hobbies) when I thought 2 close friends would be reading it than now that I know random semi-acquaintances will be.

I think my trouble spot is the semi-acquaintance part. People I know, regular readers, and random strangers, excellent. But people that read up on me just before we meet and spring it on me out of nowhere spook me.

Photo by TCM Hitchhiker.