I shouldn't

[kellinator]

I shouldn't have to be so defensive. I shouldn't have to write nearly-meaningless one-liners in my LiveJournal because I'm scared of what someone's going to say if I write what I really want to write. I shouldn't be hiding what I think just because someone will disapprove. I shouldn't have to look over my shoulder so much. I shouldn't have to bear the guilt for things I didn't do.

I shouldn't have to be on the run in my own life.

Comments

Damn straight

[nativeatlantan.livejournal.com]

Sister. Who cares. Everybody has their own opinion. You just have to decide if you care what they think.

Re: Damn straight

[gtallimac.livejournal.com]

Actually, you really shouldn't care what peeps think. It's your LJ and you can write whatever the hell you want!! It's the other people's perrogative if they read it. And hey, maybe they should so they know how you really feel.

Re: Damn straight

[tygerlilly.livejournal.com]

They're right you know. This is *your* journal. A journal is a form of self-expression. So express
yo-self!

Re: Damn straight

[nativeatlantan.livejournal.com]

Right. I agree. It's still your decision if you are going to allow what other people think/write to bother you.

[elizabethf.livejournal.com]

It's all about you. You write whatever you feel like!

[vidicon.livejournal.com]

I recommend a visit to this page. You can then define a subgroup of your friends -- like "everyone but X, Y, and Z" -- and then you can limit viewing of your post to just those whom it wouldn't make you uncomfortable to have reading it.

When I write in my journal, I am always aware of my audience -- but I have other places to write things that should truly stay private. But that doesn't keep me from throwing things out in public anyway if I feel like it. :) I'm sure you've seen examples.

I still try not to mention actual names, which limits knowledge somewhat to people who would know/have known anyway....

[*]

[traumedy.livejournal.com]

I shouldn't have to be so defensive.
I shouldn't have to look over my shoulder so much.
I shouldn't have to bear the guilt for things I didn't do.
I shouldn't have to be on the run in my own life.

I understand where you are coming from on this. I can relate, and I think that you have every right to feel this way.

The thing that I would offer is this: Then...don't.
It sounds too simple, right? It is. But it works. Stand tall, girl. You have what it takes to hold your ground. Perhaps you do not know it or believe it, but you do.

Thin walls

[static-eddie.livejournal.com]

Most of what needs to be said has been...
You know a bit about my predicament, and the others involved...I've had the same issue to deal with in my LJ...
Currently, my situation is such that any input -good or bad- affects people in the same dwelling who also use LJ... a war could evolve from careless words...
I try to work through it creatively, without lamblasting others... I'm writing more for me than anything else...trying to sort through situations, and perhpas getting some checks-n-balances from other P.O.V.s as well...
Likewise, I'm not rubbing salt in my wounds seeking out their LJ entries...
In support of what the others have said, this is a place for you to write whatever you want...
Don't give another power over your voice.

[seaofsin.livejournal.com]

i know where you're coming from.
in fact, i've been slowly making most of my friends-only posts public because i really don't care anymore...if someone decides they don't want to speak to me anymore because of something i write, it's their loss.
it's your journal and you have every right to say whatever you want.
of course next time i will make better use of the "create groups" option when i want to post something that may disturb one of my friends.

i contridict myself waaaaaaaay too much. :)