Public verses Private

Several things have occurred to me recently, and many of them are about our public verses our private lives. Let me explain some of the reasons for pondering this.

Ian said this on my comments yesterday: "And, even though Rob and Laura slept on twin beds, Rob once asked Laura, mid-afternoon, if she'd like to go and "rest." Subtle, but to the point. So, we know Rob and Laura had sex."

Okay, people, I was not thinking of having sex with Dick Van Dyke. I find it interesting that his name is not fodder for jokes, but as I just typed it, well, lets move on. I was thinking that even on sit-coms, there were "private moments." Not everything was out-in-the-public. Sure, for media outlets, it makes financial sense for there to be avenues that are no-holds-bar. Is that the phrase?

At work yesterday, a co-worker announced to the group (men and woman, different ages, backgrounds, etc.) that "I had the best sex last night." Er, we really did not want to know about it. And I am not just talking about sex.

I really don't care to hear about medical operations or unusual discharges. And I don't know what the big deal about the color of a baby's poop really is. Such a lovely shade of green, I was told once. Now, I will admit, without the personal knowledge of having children, perhaps something goes off in your brain, and when an infant "performs" in the pooping sense, perhaps that is a victory of sorts. I can understand pooping in the potty, or peeing in the potty, especially for the spraying little male cherubs, but for the color of an infant's poop. It is not like the infant thought, "I have an idea. I think I will poop green today."

Four, maybe five people I keep up with blogging have changed the URLs to their sites recently. Some of it is them wanting to do something different, but part of it is that "someone has found my site." That also reminded me of privacy.

If anyone ever found out who I am, I think I would disappear. So I use an older photo and blur it. Luckily most people who know me either can't read or don't read blogs.

There are some positives about having things more public. I think things like abuse are now more in the light; people can find each other and heal. And I have, on occasions, shared deeply personal things with friends because I thought that offering would help them heal from something they were going through at the time.

Past generations were a bit more discrete. I can remember finding out really BIG things when I was in college – Great Granny So-and-So killed herself? Why did someone not tell me about this before? Aunt So-and-So had breast cancer? Hey, I am family too! Why did you not tell me earlier? I am not really saying putting things out in the public are good or bad – guess part of it is a matter of taste. Just don't tell me about your gall bladder operation or that discharge that is puzzling you. Because not only is it not really my business, but I don't want to know.

PS: If you have slept with anyone famous, I will say I don't want to know, but I want the blow-by-blow (so to speak) details. Honest!