In a forum that's open to the world, writers must choose censorship, full-disclosure or something somewhere between the two. All of these users have their diaries set up so that anyone can read them, but their levels of confession vary.
I try not to censor myself as much as possible, says Mould. I think that it's an open forum and I'm going to put out what I think, and people can post back what they think. That's the way it works, and I like it like that. I go anywhere from periods of day-to-day activities, song lyrics and rambles off into nothingness. It's a variety of things. It depends on how I'm feeling at the time. In fact, Mould tells everyone that he knows about his livejournal and still tries to not let that affect his writing. I've gotten myself in trouble a couple times, says Mould. Sometimes emotions take hold. So why take the chance? Why not? It's enjoyable, he says. Every comment back is someone responding to what you've written, whether good or bad.
Petrovich, on the other hand, mainly keeps her diary on DiaryLand.com as a way to keep track of her friends' lives and let them know what is going on with her own in a sort of group e-mail, rather than to share anything with the masses. Though her diary is open for the public, she isn't worried about anyone finding it. It isn't super personal, says Petrovich. It's not like I'm sitting there going on and on about the intimate details of my life. I'll say whatever I want, but the fact is, even if it's something super personal, I probably wouldn't tell all my friends either. So I'm not going to tell a whole bunch of strangers. If there's something I want to say, I'm going to say it regardless of who reads it.
Burke, however, feels that being open is the key to LiveJournal. Mass e-mails - that's not your diary, he says. Write them a letter. That's not the point of LiveJournal. I have no interest in that. It's them not being open, and that's boring. You put your diary on the Internet. Why wouldn't you be that open? Like Mould, Burke tries not to censor his writing at all He says he will leave out minor things when someone else's privacy is at risk, but that only tends to be a name or a noun. Censoring about myself, though - I'd say it's zero, Burke says. In fact, I do the opposite of censoring sometimes. I say things I don't mean just because it's in the moment.
Courtney Fleisher of the Kent State Psychological Clinic, though unfamiliar with the sites, speculates on the effect that they may have on students. She says that the need to express oneself and leave others to deal with the impact of their words is simply a part of adolescence and late-adolescence. A lot of people may become a bit more private with time, says Fleisher. It's the idealism of the age. Self-expression is important developmentally. This is why students at colleges and universities are often outspoken. It is consistent with where they are in development.
At 28, VanBlarcum considers himself out of this age group, and his livejournal reflects that. I don't post anything that I wouldn't want someone else reading, VanBlarcum says. I don't post too much interpersonal things on there. I'm not going to be prone to talk about my relationships. I'm not going to flame someone openly. I think the worst thing I've ever said on there is I called my roommate a stick-in-the-mud. Most of the time I don't say anything derogatory. I'm pretty open. I don't say anything too personal, though, but then I'm a very reserved person. Some people are so extroverted; it implies they don't feel things about their lives or others lives should be hidden. I could never do that. I'd be embarrassed.
Mould admits that it is an exhibitionistic thing to do. At any time someone could read my journal, he says. It's exciting. They can sit and go through my daily life, and I don't know what people think when they read it. But this is what I think - take it or leave it.
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