No one's ever understood me like you, Tom

[pegkerr]

Was watching the second disk to the DVD Chamber of Secrets yesterday, and saw the interview with J. K. Rowling for the first time. Was very struck by her discussion about Tom Riddle's diary, and how when she wrote it it seemed very dangerous to her. Only afterwards did she realize how much it's like an Internet chat room.

Or LiveJournal, isn't it? As she puts it, "You put words down, and words magically appear in response. And it drives you to put down more and more of yourself--but you don't really know who is out there responding to you."

Hmm. I have been pretty open about my life in this LiveJournal. Yes, I do put down more and more about it. I look at my User Profile page, and damn, a lot of people have linked to me.

Er, there aren't there any Tom Marvolo Riddles out there, responding to me, are there?

Hmm. *Shivers a little and goes off to ponder this*

Peg

Comments

[gissa.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I found this journal entry following the link through a post you made in a books community which we share. After a fashion, the convoluted trail leads to this. Since its a thought that I haven't quite worked out yet, I'm not sure if I have a lot to add to the discussion besides some random thoughts. LJ is a strange dichotomous concept for me. On the one hand, there's this paranoia about revealing too much and on the other at face value the purpose of having a journal is to bare all. Sometimes I think that since it's a great big universe out there that there's nothing to be afraid of and sometimes I see every word uttered as somehow forever set in stone. I went to 'friends' only' after an experience where I met a couple (man and his wife) in real life who happened to mention that they had read my entire journal start to finish in anticipation of our meeting. They weren't LJ members but happened to find out that I had it and got curious. Now I don't think that there's anything horribly secret or sacred about my life, but I felt on such an uneven footing with this couple. Like they knew all about me or thought they did, and I was still going through the formalities of just meeting them. So I decided to become friends only just so that I would have a feeling of equal footing. Tit for tat. You read me, I read you kind of thing. As for the motives of random people who get added as friends, I'm not too concerned about that yet. The ones I meet in real life become friends or not on their (and my) own merit. The others can analyze and judge me all they want. Anyway, now that I said all this, may I add you please?

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Sure, be my guest. Thanks for commenting.