So I started this journal in some attempt to develop some research interests in blogging. It was supposed to be the place where I separated my work from my play. Here I was going to post lofty thoughts and theoretical insights, and be incredibly clever, all the while maintaining my inane side in my other journal. I figured that the stuff I didn’t want people to know would go over there, and here would be some semblance of intelligence.

Twere not to be. You see, instead of being able to neatly separate the personal from the political (or whatever phrase is current), I merely slowed down on both fronts. The theoretical separation of personal and research became a gulf. Many times, as I went to post in either place, I felt restrained cos a) it was too personal for here, or b) it was too deep for there. In the end, I barely posted in either place.

Now I know that some people have both private and public journals, some apparently languishing (like both of mine did) and there are one or two contemplating this kind of schizm. My daughter did the same thing (and has done it yet again with her film journal), but her academic journal remains dormant (her other journals also remain dormant, but she’s trying to finish her dissertation goddammit!).

So I think I’m kinda interested, in an un-official academic way (not academic as in let’s publish this, but more an academic this is an opportunity to understand this phenomena (which is just as well cos I’m good at the latter but seem to be missing it completely on the former (can we say oh noes, tenure coming up, pull ya frelling finger out!!??))).

So, those of you who have attempted said schizm and those contemplating schizming, what were/are your reasons? Do you think you will be able to maintain the distinction between the journals? How did you/will you bow out if it doesn’t seem to do what you thought it might do? Is that even a valid question?

BTW while this journal has languished rather unloved, it will continue to do so. I’m going back to my original journal, which I have just renamed (cos the old name was kinda inane, picked because I couldn’t get what I wanted at the time, only to find that it really isn’t what I wanted anyway and it only took more than four years to figure that out). You are very welcome to friend that journal and I will reciprocate. I’m not big into commenting, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t value your insights, differences and thoughts. I still think there’s something to be drawn out from the vicarious interactor, which reminds me, I should finish writing that paper.

Oh, my other journal? ([info deleted] who said I couldn’t still be inane?) And this journal may still get an occassional post of the deep and meaningful kind. I’ll see how it goes.