I have a blog but I can’t say it has a purpose other than to ramble on and get opionions for stories. And yeah, I mean, I still care if people look at it. Why? Mainly because I’m trying to find a way to bring a very Christian perspective into a complete utter FANTASY! If anyone has any idea, what so ever, as to how you combine elves, magic, good vs evil, and Christ, I would appreciate it!

Anyhow… back to the topic. Some people’s way to be authentic is to be very vauge(I don’t know how to spell that, I hope you can figure out what I ment) because the internet isn’t totally safe. I know people (me included) who have blogs where the most personal thing they say is what book they just read.

P.S. This may sound false and that I’m just trying to be noticed but I love this blog. It’s the best I know. And believe me when I’m saying that I’m NOT lying!   

I wrestle with all of this stuff a lot, especially b/c I think that sometimes people get some false perception of who I am because I write a fairly upbeat blog. But are there parts of my life that are decidedly un-fun? Absolutely. Are there areas of my life where I’m unhappy? Absolutely. And I definitely talk about those things, work through those things – I just opt not to talk and work through those things with the internet.

Perhaps I’ll follow your lead and write a Very Authentic Post about all of this stuff sometime soon.

Also: feel free to dispel Linda Sue’s “delicate flower” perception. Really. It won’t hurt my feelings one bit. 

I’m happy to see someone with a big voice writing about this.  When I write this kind of thing, my husband and mom are the only ones that read it.

I’m hoping your post can expand the definition of “authentic” for some people.

Yes, John, that’s the point.  Thanks for asking.  No, no swipe at those bloggers.* Yes, a swipe was intended to those commenters or fans who label them authentic based solely on their posting something like what I described.

I’ve been called authentic for arguably lame reasons (because I said I was depressed?  Why not when I said I was ecstatic?) Not my fault when it happens?  It’s the labeler’s fault.

*[Edit: After posting this comment I realized that statement’s not exactly true.  I was taking a “swipe” at the practice of being crass and/or sharing way too much personal info.  That’s not healthy for reader or blogger, IMO.  Folks surely don’t always do this to be authentic but when/if they do it’s off-base.  And I was taking a “swipe” at the practice of stirring the pot for authenticity’s sake as well.  So, yea, I lied.  Sorry.  I didn’t really ponder the question too long before answering. I WAS taking a swipe at those two practices. But at no person in particular.)

Thanks for correcting me.

pretty simple points if i’ve got it straight now.

are you sure you weren’t taking just a little swipe at the first group you described?  your use of language makes me feel that way.