What if you could read into the way someone thought? Their secrets and hardships being displayed in expressive words, in front of your very eyes. No gimmicks, no lies, just raw material at your fingertips. The average individual has some spark of interest when it comes to hearing or reading about the inside scoop on another individual's life. We tune in to reality television shows to get the latest feed of drama and thrive on knowing what someone else is dealing with. It is truly a weird concept if you think about it. I don't think it is right to read someone's personal journal entries if they do not give you permission to, but I do think it is a way for someone to live on after they are gone. I don't think I will ever burn, shred, or throw away my diaries and journals. I would want the people who love me to be able to look through them, and see what I was thinking. I want them to see what I went through. All of my hardships, all of the things that made me happy, my accomplishments, I want those thoughts and memories to be able to live on somehow. I think diaries are a way for a loved one to live on, and even a useful way for people to cope with the loss of an individual. In a way, they are memoirs. They hold all the memories of an individual that is truly priceless. I myself would keep and read diaries of past loved ones, I think it would create a sense of closeness to someone who is not even physically there. The disposal of these priceless memory holders is up to the writer. In a sense, it is their property so ultimately the person who wrote it has a say in what happens to the piece. As for me, my friends and family have full permission to read into my mind when I am no longer around, but in the meantime the entries are for my eyes only, and my way to continue to evolve as an individual. The lifespan of a journal is truly endless.
Monday, January 20, 2020
Week 3: The Lifespan of a Journal
What if you could read into the way someone thought? Their secrets and hardships being displayed in expressive words, in front of your very eyes. No gimmicks, no lies, just raw material at your fingertips. The average individual has some spark of interest when it comes to hearing or reading about the inside scoop on another individual's life. We tune in to reality television shows to get the latest feed of drama and thrive on knowing what someone else is dealing with. It is truly a weird concept if you think about it. I don't think it is right to read someone's personal journal entries if they do not give you permission to, but I do think it is a way for someone to live on after they are gone. I don't think I will ever burn, shred, or throw away my diaries and journals. I would want the people who love me to be able to look through them, and see what I was thinking. I want them to see what I went through. All of my hardships, all of the things that made me happy, my accomplishments, I want those thoughts and memories to be able to live on somehow. I think diaries are a way for a loved one to live on, and even a useful way for people to cope with the loss of an individual. In a way, they are memoirs. They hold all the memories of an individual that is truly priceless. I myself would keep and read diaries of past loved ones, I think it would create a sense of closeness to someone who is not even physically there. The disposal of these priceless memory holders is up to the writer. In a sense, it is their property so ultimately the person who wrote it has a say in what happens to the piece. As for me, my friends and family have full permission to read into my mind when I am no longer around, but in the meantime the entries are for my eyes only, and my way to continue to evolve as an individual. The lifespan of a journal is truly endless.
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It's interesting because I think you and I are on the same wave length when it comes to our attitudes on journals/diaries. I enjoyed your sentiment of the journal of someone who is gone as a way to keep them close...a way to understand what they were thinking through and dealing with at a point in time (or throughout their life.)
ReplyDeleteI thought your choice of imagery was, whether intentional or not, really effective. The idea of an open book, but nothing on that page being displayed. Kind of emphasized the point of it being "for your eyes only" while you're here, but free game once you're gone.
The one thing that I would question is if the lifespan of a journal is "endless". It certainly could be, but what someone does with it once the author is gone might not make it endless. Someone could recycle, burn, or trash it. And maybe they get rid of a diary, not out of lack of sentimentality, but out of respect for your privacy. I would hope someone would take a sentimental feel toward it and keep it through their lifetime and continue to pass it on as a historical record of a past family member. But I guess (when we're gone) that we'll never know for sure what happens to our words.
I really enjoyed reading your post. I connected to it because I share many of the same perspectives on journals/diaries. It was also well written in a very "conversational tone". Asking a question right off the bat drew me in and your writing style kept me engaged. I would definitely read what you have to write. I think the one thing that would improve your post would be some additional detail about what you would do if someone did read your journal without permission. Would there be different responses/reactions depending upon their relationship to you? How would a friend be treated if they peaked at your journal as opposed to a spouse/significant other, sibling or parent? I did really enjoy though how you wrapped up your post with a connection back to the title!
I know it's an assignment we're required to complete, but thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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ReplyDeleteOh, your voice in this is so good! Really well written, too. Your picture is fitting for the text, but I especially enjoy your title. Since you talk about a journal after the death of its author, referring to the journal's lifespan is a cool connection. The construction of your paper is good with a general flow to it, but the big chunk of text is a little off-putting. I would suggest breaking it into paragraphs, just to separate ideas and make it more "appealing" for the readers.
ReplyDeleteAs for the content of your post: I agree, it is very tempting to read someone's thoughts and secrets, but despite the temptation, it is morally wrong. If someone doesn't intend for me, or anyone else, to read their journals/diaries, then it is an invasion of their privacy and trust.
Our opinions do differ when it comes to destroying our journals, though. Although I would like my family to have some of my thoughts after I'm gone, I would only keep a journal on days where I am most emotional and therefore, motivated to write. So the content of my journals would likely be when I'm angry or frustrated with my family and friends, which I would not want them to read! Sometimes small moments seem so monumental when they're happening, but years later they're barely lingering in my mind. Words do live forever.